looks like all clipped? nice job. nice fish.

seems like this lake is finally starting to produce again! Great news with us all waiting for NOAA to decide when to open the other fisheries! Thanks for the report!

Looks great and thanks for the report.

How do you release 4 rainbows and one kokanee, keeping 5 kokanee, while using corn without violating the " all fish caught while using bait (corn) count towards your 5 fish limit whether released or not"? Inquiring minds want to know. Bob R

Caught the rainbows fly fishing on top first thing in the morning . They were rising everywhere. The Kokanee that was released was too small

Also I didn't have my limit when I caught the small one

I think Bob was the only inquiring mind. lol! Internet po po!

And after looking at regs, there is no minimum size limit on fish in American Lake, so you were done at 4 kokes whether or not you released the small one. Bob R

Yeah it's the rules. But, if you caught a dink with trolling gear that wasn't hooked lethally or in a damaging state, that would be a better option than keeping it. Proceeding to catch one more fish doesn't seem like a crime to me (even if it is the rules). I believe that the "bait" rules apply more to still-fishers with powerbait and the like that inevitably guthook a majority of their catch, which is poor sportsmanship to release back into the lake. I'm not condoning the disobeying of the law here, I'm just saying that you could turn a blind eye to a little thing like this.

"a blind eye to a little thing like this" seems reasonable, but people don't work that way. What one fisherman says is a "little thing" may be totally different from another's point of view. That person may think that fishing with power bait and catching and releasing is "no big deal if they aren't gut hooked".That is why there are rules, if you are going to decide for yourself (or other posters) that some rules can be ignored you aren't an ethical fisherman. That's the fact you are ignoring. Bob R
P.S I don't fish with bait while trolling if I want to be selective. My favorite fishery requires single hooks, and we just troll spoons or other lures in those situations.

bob...po po is slang for police...not poo

bob...po po is slang for police...not poo

Those of us who actually fish know that the rule is meant for those still fishing where the fish will swallow the bait. I have released a lot of kokanee over the years cause i do not eat them.Yes i stop after 5 fish cause i follow the rules. I use gulp maggots and every fish i have released has lived. In fact there really is no difference between in releasing a fish caught on a none baited dick nite or a wedding ring spinner tipped with a gulp maggot. More times than not you will hook the fish in the same spot with either technique. The only difference is a technicality to a rule that was not pointed at the application. I think law enforcement know this happens, but is not worried about it.

Well let me start by saying i would never intentionally break any fish and game laws. I am an avid outdoorsman and pride myself in being by the book. I grew up fly fishing and bass fishing so the idea of keeping fish is a new thing for me. I just got my boat from grandfather less than a month ago. Having always thrown fish back I didn't think much of throwing that one Kokanee back. Obviously i appreciate someone letting me know to take a closer look at the regs. I have been back to American lake several times now and have settled for less fish becasue of releasing unwanted rainbows. So i apologize for starting an online fued. But lets remember people make mistakes and this site is supposed to a positive outlet for sharing whats working. Thanks all for the comments . Well anyway im always on american lake so hope to see you out there.

wow. time to chill this thread.