The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Apologies if this is rehashing something already well covered - I have not seen it discussed on the board here.

DFG's New Year regulatory changes include, beyond the well publicized steelhead report card changes, a "Second Rod Stamp" which, if I understand it correctly, is something required on all fresh waters except those that are artificial lure / barbless hook only.

Meaning (I think) that if you're fishing a stream that also allows bait and/or barbed hooks, and you carry more than one rod, you must have a Second Rod Stamp. Is that how you read it? For instance - if you're drifting the lower Sac and carrying two rods with you, you must have the stamp. Or, if you're headed up to the North Fork of the Yuba and want to take along that sweet little 3-weight that the missus got you for Xmas along with your trusty 4 weight - you need the stamp.

Is that your interpretation?

That's not how I read it Ric. I have the lifetime license with all the stamps. From what I understand you need the second rod stamp if you are going to fish with two rods in waters where that is allowed. I would love to be ticketed somewhere where it is not allowed for having two rods in possession with no two rod stamp when I was only using one. I don't think they can make that stick.

Charlie is correct. The second rod stamp has been available for a number of years(at least 10 if memory serves me). I use to have one years ago. It allows you to fish two rods at the smae time but only in lakes and reservoirs. You can have as many rods as you want with you but if you put a second line in the water you better have a two rod stamp.

You only need the second rod stamp if you are fishing two rods at once. One for power bait and one for night crawlers. I think the only thing new is they are now allowing it on streams where as before you could only fish two rods on lakes and ponds

Second rod stamp only applies to select Lakes and Reservoirs. It does not allow you to fish two rods in any rivers or streams. You will get a ticket if you are fishing two rods in any area that does not allow it. (Which is pretty much anywhere other than specific lakes and reservoirs listed in the regs, I've seen and been with wardens who have given many tickets for this...its your job to read and understand the regs fyi..) It is designed mainly so that you can troll with two rods ala downriggers and such off a boat. Hope this helps.

I checked, they opened it to inland rivers, with a list of exceptions.

Second-Rod Stamp (effective Jan. 1, 2008)
The second-rod stamp will now be valid in inland waters except those waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used. See sections 7.00 and 7.50 of the sport fishing regulations for the waters where only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used and Section 1.53 for the definition of inland waters.

After reading a wee bit more, and reading these replies, I think this is right. Both lines have to be in the water.

phew ... no need to concern myself with it. I have a hard enough time keeping ONE line in the water.

Thanks, all.

I have never seen anybody attempt to fly cast with a rod in the left hand and a rod in the right hand. It would definitely be a first.

As I recall, At two prior FFF international conclaves Switzerland's Gunter Feuerstein and one of his compatriots put on a demo with not only two rods, but then crossing their hands and casting from the other side using their brand of elliptical motion.