Is it legal to net a fish in the river that is swimming free and it is non hooked? Just a random question.

 
http://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/general-regulations/

Use of nets

Nets may only be used to take fish as follows:

• The use of a landing net to complete the catch while angling is permitted.
• Personally harvested baitfish may be collected with the various nets as described on Baitfish Regulations.
• Smelt, suckers, alewife and blueback herring may be collected by dip nets as described on Tidal Hudson River Regulations.
• No other use of nets to collect fish is permitted.

 

Added thought,  "But it was hooked right up to shore and I just netted it after it got off the hook," might well get you a ticket.

No!, is the short answer. You might get something upside the head on top of it. 

But, honestly, I've seen guys doing it in Naples Creek in the Finger Lakes, and both Trout and Orwell Brooks, although I don't frequent those for angling, just go fish watching now and then,  teams of herders with a net man in all places.  A Game Warden with a ticket quota should have no problem finding a few once it gets cooler!

Netting rainbows?  There's a new primitive.  Is this a tribal right?

fichy
Netting rainbows?  There's a new primitive.  Is this a tribal right?

I believe it was one of the families from out of the hill country in the Finger Lakes, the ones who live on deer and fish because (they claim) they are too poor to pursue it by the rules, or buy food for the house.  I didn't believe my eyes, especially since it was clearly visible from the road, and I see the ENCON guys in the area a lot, went off looking for them when I saw it. In the SR area it was always Sammins they were after.  I know one of the guys, he said he didn't want to waste the time, just harvest some fish, and he never came back after he tried the fish!  I have been coming up with excuses and mis-directions when he asks me about trout.  I would call it a tribal wrong!