Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 040 - Game and Fish Commission
Sub-Agency 0001 - Game and Fish Commission Regulations
Chapter 46 - FISHING REGULATIONS
Section 46-2 - Definitions

Universal Citation: WY Code of Rules 46-2

Current through September 21, 2024

Definitions shall be as set forth in Title 23, Wyoming Statutes, Commission regulations, and the Commission also adopts the following definitions:

(a) "Artificial Flies and Lures" means manmade flies and lures. Artificial flies and lures do not include living or dead organisms or edible parts thereof, natural or processed foodstuffs, scents, flavors or chemical attractants, whether added in the manufacturing process or applied afterward.

(i) Artificial lures are single devices regardless of the number of hooks, including spoons, spinners and plugs made of metal, plastic, wood or other non-edible materials, or plastic products made to resemble worms, eggs, fish or other aquatic organisms.

(ii) Artificial flies includes flies, streamers, jigs, or poppers tied from such materials as thread, feathers, hair or tinsel.

(b) "Aquaria" means any enclosures used to contain organisms that prevent escape. Aquaria shall have a closed system of water circulation with no risk of contacting the surface waters of this state.

(c) "Artificial Light" means any man-made light or lighting device.

(d) "Bait" means living or dead organisms or edible parts thereof, natural or processed foodstuffs, scented or flavored plastics or other materials and flies or lures containing a flavor, scent or chemical attractant used in the taking of fish.

(e) "Baitfish" means nongame fish not designated as aquatic invasive species that were collected or purchased for use as bait.

(f) "Business Establishment" means a single business location with an associated physical address designated on the live baitfish dealer's license.

(g) "Commercially Produced Live Baitfish" means adult fathead minnows that were propagated and reared in a Department approved private fish hatchery.

(h) "Creel Limit" means the total number of game fish a person may harvest and reduce to possession during any one (1) day regardless of the method or methods of harvest.

(i) "Dates" means the dates mentioned are inclusive.

(j) "Day" means calendar day.

(k) "Drainage" means the river or stream proper and the area of land, including all streams and standing waters, that drains into that river or stream.

(l) "Fishing Contest" means:

(i) Any event for taking fish on waters of this state, excluding licensed fishing preserves or hatchery catch out ponds, where cash or prizes are awarded or an entry or participation fee is charged; and,

(ii) Fifty (50) or more adults (18 years of age or older) or twenty-five (25) or more boats participate on a given date.

(m) "Fishing Contest Permit" means a document issued by the Department that grants the permittee authorization to conduct a fishing contest.

(n) "Gaff" means a spear or hook, with or without a handle, used for holding or lifting of fish.

(o) "Game Fish", unless otherwise provided for specific waters or drainages, means:

(i) bass (GENUS Micropterus and Ambloplites);

(ii) bluegill, pumpkinseed and sunfish (GENUS Lepomis);

(iii) crappie (GENUS Pomoxis);

(iv) walleye and sauger (GENUS Sander);

(v) yellow perch (GENUS Perca);

(vi) trout, salmon, and char (GENUS Salmo, Oncorhynchus, and Salvelinus);

(vii) whitefish and cisco (GENUS Prosopium);

(viii) grayling (GENUS Thymallus);

(ix) pike (GENUS Esox);

(x) catfish and bullheads (GENUS Ameiurus, Ictalurus, Noturus, and Pylodictis);

(xi) burbot (GENUS Lota);

(xii) sturgeon (GENUS Scaphirhynchus); and

(xiii) freshwater drum (GENUS Aplodinotus).

(p) "Lake" means a body of standing water in a depression of land and includes reservoirs, ponds (excluding ponds created by beavers) and gravel and mining pits.

(q) "Live Baitfish Dealer" means a person licensed by the Department to sell live baitfish.

(r) "Live Baitfish Dealer of Record" means the designated individual legally accountable for all aspects of the live baitfish dealer.

(s) "Length" means the total length of a fish in inches, as measured in a straight line along a flat surface, from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.

(t) "Nongame Fish" means all fish not defined as game fish or aquatic invasive species, including baitfish.

(u) "Possession Limit" means the maximum number of game fish that may legally be in possession at any time and in any form. Game fish in transit or storage, including home or domicile, shall be considered in possession. Possession limits apply regardless of how many days an angler has fished. Fish taken under another state's valid license do not apply to Wyoming's possession limits, unless otherwise specified for Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

(v) "Seining License" means a license to seine or trap fish issued by the Department for the purpose of taking baitfish.

(w) "Special Fishing Contest Provision" means a provision promulgated for exclusion of fishing contests from specific waters.

(x) "Special Winter Ice Fishing Provision" means a provision promulgated for the ice covered period of specific waters.

(y) "Stream" means water in a permanent bed or channel with a current that is usually continuous in one direction and includes creeks, rivers, irrigation ditches, drains, canals, sloughs and ponds created by beavers. Streams may not flow continuously during low-flow periods. Ponds or puddles in a stream channel during low flow periods shall be considered to be a stream.

(z) "Trout" means brown, cutthroat, grayling, golden, rainbow, salmon, tiger trout and other trout hybrids in combination unless a specific species is referenced. Trout excludes brook trout, lake trout and splake.

(aa) "Trout bead" means a bead constructed from any non-edible material to resemble a trout egg that is fished on a line or leader above a hook or artificial fly. Beads associated with spinners, bait harnesses and other types of artificial lures are not considered trout beads.

(bb) "Wild Caught Live Baitfish Possession Area" means the specific locations in Area 2, 3 or 5 where wild caught live baitfish may be possessed regardless of whether they were captured by a seining license holder or obtained from a live baitfish dealer.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wyoming may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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