The fishing regulations for Idaho define fishing, among other things, and list things that are illegal when on and about places where fish may be.
Playing tag, as I have called it a number of times in the past, is not fishing and is not illegal as those terms and conditions are listed in the Idaho fishing regs. I did discuss this method of enjoying time on the water several years ago with the fellow who is presently the director of Idaho Fish and Game. He did not disagree with me that playing tag as I described it would not require one to hold a fishing license in Idaho.
Yesterday I “played tag” on a northern Idaho freestone creek ( not saying whether I presently hold an Idaho license or not ) and had a really unusual experience. Several times, three or four, I had three fishies hit a hookless FEB Salmonfly on a single cast. A fish would hit it, I would pull the fly away, another fish would hit it, I would pull it away again, and a third fish would hit it.
On another four or five casts, I had two fishies hit the fly before I fully retrieved it for another cast.
On a bunch of other casts over the course of about 45 minutes, I had an additional fifteen or so fishies hit the fly.
Talk about fast and furious action on a 30-40 yard stretch of water. No way to actually hook, “fight”, land and release that many fishies in that short a time.
John
The fish are always right - even when playing tag.