Cast suspicion before buying gear

The next time you walk down the aisle at your favorite fishing tackle retailer, take a few minutes to get a really good look at the offerings placed ever so carefully along the display racks. Observe the variety of shapes and sizes. Take special notice of the bright, eye-grabbing colors. Focus your attention on the carefully researched and professionally designed packaging. Then ask yourself the following questions.

"Is that fishing lure designed to catch fish, or is it designed to catch me?" And, "Is that product legal in Nevada, or anywhere else I plan on using it?"

I suppose the answer to the first question is really a matter of personal opinion and will vary from product to product and from angler to angler. The answer to the second question is generally more cut and dried. Either a product is legal or it isn't, and you should be able to find that information in the fishing regulations.

Through the years, however, I've learned some anglers believe products can be used legally in their local waters just because they find the products on the store shelf. What they don't understand is retailers are not restricted from selling a fishing or hunting product just because it is illegal to use in Nevada. After all, some products that are illegal to use here could be legal in other states, and most retailers aren't about to turn away profits. Cast nests are a perfect example.

Cast nets are popular among anglers who pursue striped bass at Lake Mead. They use the nets to catch live shad so they can use them as bait, which is perfectly legal as long as the net meets the legal requirements. By statute, the radius of a cast net can't be any larger than 3 feet. But sometimes anglers find themselves in legal difficulties when they are found throwing a net that is too big, and oftentimes the net is one they purchased at a local store.

While fishing at Lake Mead recently, I saw two young anglers making their way down the fishing pier with fishing rods in their hands. When they reached the end of the dock, one of the boys pulled out a new cast net that was still in the box and proudly showed it off. He was excited to try out his net on the shad that were hanging out in the shallows.

One of the adults on the pier, someone who obviously was familiar with the youthful fisherman, asked whether the youngster had double-checked the size of the net before he bought it. That initial question opened the door to a teaching moment in which the elder angler explained the 3-foot-radius requirement for cast nets. When the pair double-checked the physical description of the cast net, they learned it had a radius of 31/2 feet, making it illegal.

Obviously, the boy was disappointed because he had made the trip to Lake Mead with the goal of catching shad in his new net.

As I left for home, the anglers on the dock were caught up in a vigorous discussion about whether a retailer should sell products that are illegal to use in Nevada but not illegal to own. Product buyers aren't going to worry about that. Their job is finding products that sell, and if a product sells, you'll find it on the shelf.

With striped bass keying in on shad, cast nets are sure to be a hot seller. If you are thinking about buying one, do yourself a favor and read the physical description before laying your hard-earned cash on the counter. Otherwise, you could end up shelling out a few bucks at the courthouse.

Doug Nielsen is an award-winning freelance writer and a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His "In the Outdoors" column is published Thursday. He can be reached at doug@takinitoutside.com.