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I don't see why and eel skin would be any different from a Zonker strip. Also, Swiss Straw is organic. Under those criteria, any fly with Swiss Straw would be illegal. And what about dubbing? Fur? Fibers are individual filaments, so fur and dubbing would not qualify. Fibers would be like micro-fibbets, or boar bristles.
What a dumb law. I would write my elected officials and get them to change it.
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I have to admit that the NYS fishing regulations include 2 decent 'definitions' insofar as they relate to the initial topic of this thread or at least the part about 'eelskin':
1)Natural bait means all baits which entice or might be ingested or swallowed by fish including, but not limited to, fish (dead or alive), fish eggs, worms, shellfish, crustacea, amphibians (salamanders, frogs and toads), insects (including all stages of development such as larvae, pupae, etc.), pork rinds, liver, meat, corn or other vegetable matter, tapioca, candy, cheese, bread and putty or dough-like scented baits.
2)Artificial fly means a hook with no more than two points dressed with feathers, hair, thread, tinsel or any similar material to which no additional hooks, spinners, spoons or similar devices have been added.
I believe when a reasonable person, i.e. state game official, applies these 2 definitions to a fly (as we think of one) tyed with an eelskin shellback, although perhaps personally distasteful (no pun intended), he/she will conclude that that fly is perfectly legal.
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I will give my next meager paycheck to any Fish Cop who could positively identify EEL SKIN as a component material of a fly if/when a fly is examined with no foreknowledge of what said Fish Cop is looking at.
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When I read some of these regs that have been posted, I get the impression that if a person is using a Mepps Spinner in "Artificial flies only" areas, they will be legal?!! Give me a break!
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Warren,
That is correct, actually. I was fishing the Ranch of the Henry's Fork last summer when a pickup pulled up (at the top of the Ranch pkg. lot) and this guy jumps out, comes down to the bank of the river and chucks a spinner all the way across and starts reeling in as fast as he could...................
He may well have been "legal".
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Sometimes in the last half century, eelskin wallets, belts, etc., were in vogue. If it's the same stuff there should be some hanging out at thrift stores and in the backs of closets waiting to be repurposed. I remember the wallets cause problems with credit card strips, or that was the story going around.