08-24-2010, 05:38 PM
Just got off the horn with Deb Baker at Idaho Fish and Game Enforcement Dept.
Here's what she told me:
The official regulations that state "may not be removed from the water" mean just that, they are not to be removed from the water for any purpose, including removing the hook.
The part in the regs where it says "back into the water" is a species identification reminder that includes an illustration and is meant for those who are unfamiliar with the species. If they've already taken it out of the water before they realized it was a bull trout, it needs to be put back into the water immediately.
I should add that she asked me to email her the link to this thread, which I did.
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Here's what she told me:
The official regulations that state "may not be removed from the water" mean just that, they are not to be removed from the water for any purpose, including removing the hook.
The part in the regs where it says "back into the water" is a species identification reminder that includes an illustration and is meant for those who are unfamiliar with the species. If they've already taken it out of the water before they realized it was a bull trout, it needs to be put back into the water immediately.
I should add that she asked me to email her the link to this thread, which I did.
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