Setline fishing rules are set by each state, not by federal law, so whether you can legally run a setline, how many hooks it may carry, how it must be tagged, how often you must check it, and what you may keep all depend on where you fish and sometimes on the specific lake or river. A valid fishing license is the baseline everywhere setlines are allowed, and many states add a separate setline or trotline permit on top of that. Some states ban unattended line gear entirely. Before you buy hooks or cord, confirm two things: that your state allows setlines, and that the particular body of water you have in mind isn’t carved out of that permission.
Setline, Trotline, or Jugline
State codes treat these as different gear types, and a rule that covers one may not cover another.
- A setline (or set line) is a stationary line with a single hook tied to a fixed object such as a tree limb, bank pole, or stake. Some states call these limb lines or bank lines.
- A trotline is a longer main line stretched across water with multiple hooks on short drop lines spaced along it. Many states cap trotlines at 50 hooks.
- A jugline is a single baited hook attached to a free-floating object like a sealed jug. Most states limit juglines to one hook.
The distinction matters because a state might permit setlines while banning trotlines, or the reverse. Read your state’s definitions before matching your rig to a regulation.
Where Setlines Are Legal
There is no federal rule granting or denying setline fishing. Some states allow setlines and trotlines statewide with a standard fishing license. Others restrict them to certain rivers or reservoirs and keep them off trout streams and sport-managed lakes. A handful prohibit all unattended fishing gear.
Even in permissive states, individual waters often carry their own restrictions. A reservoir managed jointly by a state agency and the Army Corps of Engineers may ban setlines even where surrounding state waters allow them. Check the regulations for your specific body of water, not just the statewide summary. The state fish and wildlife agency’s website or printed regulation booklet is the authoritative source.
Licenses and Permits
A valid fishing license is required everywhere setlines are legal. Resident fishing licenses typically run between $15 and $50, with non-resident licenses higher. Some states add a separate setline or trotline permit for an additional fee.
Applications generally ask for a Social Security number, proof of residency for the resident rate, and photo ID. Many states exempt children under 16, and reduced or free licenses are often available for seniors, disabled veterans, and active-duty military. Lost licenses are usually replaced for under $15.
Selling any part of your catch moves you into commercial territory. Commercial fishing license fees often start in the hundreds of dollars for residents and climb into the thousands for non-residents or specialty endorsements. Commercial licensing also brings catch logs, dealer reporting, and tax obligations.
Gear and Tagging Standards
Hooks and Line
For trotlines, most states cap hooks per line (commonly 25 to 50) and require minimum spacing between hooks, often 18 to 24 inches. Many states also limit how many lines one person can have in the water at once. The main line itself has to be strong enough to hold in current; nylon cord and braided twine are standard. Gear that breaks loose and becomes debris can be treated as a littering or conservation violation in some states.
Circle Hooks
A growing number of states require circle hooks on trotlines and setlines instead of J-hooks. Circle hooks tend to catch in the corner of the mouth rather than deep in the throat, which improves survival for undersized fish and non-target species that have to be released. Where mandated, the minimum size is typically 5/0 or larger.
Identification Tags
Nearly every state requires setlines and trotlines to carry an ID tag with the owner’s full name, address, and license or permit number. The tag has to be weatherproof and visible, usually at the anchor point or above the waterline. Engraved metal tags or laminated cards hold up; permanent marker on plastic fades within weeks. Officers use these tags to match gear to anglers during patrols, and untagged lines are typically confiscated on sight.
Species You Can Target and Bait You Can Use
Most states restrict setlines and trotlines to catfish and nongame species. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are the main legal targets in the majority of jurisdictions. Game fish such as bass, walleye, trout, and crappie are almost always off-limits for harvest with unattended gear. A game fish hooked by accident must be released immediately; keeping it can draw a citation even during open season for rod-and-reel anglers.
Bait is regulated too. Most states forbid using game fish as bait on trotlines and setlines even when the same species can be used as bait on a rod and reel. Moving live bait between bodies of water is illegal in many states to slow the spread of aquatic invasives like Asian carp, round goby, and zebra mussels. Some states ban live crayfish as bait outright or require that crayfish heads be removed. Unused live bait goes in the trash, never back into the water.
Where and When You Can Set Lines
Setlines are banned near dams, spillways, locks, and bridges in essentially every state that allows them. Buffer distances vary, with 200 yards below a major dam a common minimum. Lines cannot block navigation channels, obstruct boat ramps, or cross marked swimming areas. Many popular lakes and reservoirs are designated for sport fishing only, meaning setlines and trotlines are off the table regardless of species.
Some states restrict setlines to nighttime use, requiring deployment after sunset and removal before sunrise to reduce conflicts with daytime boat traffic. Others allow lines around the clock but require them to sit at a minimum depth, often three to four feet, during daylight to avoid snagging propellers.
Seasonal closures are common during spawning. Southern states frequently close waters during spring catfish runs. Northern states may close certain waters during walleye or bass spawning windows because unattended gear can still hook those fish even when they aren’t legal targets. Closure dates are listed by water body in the state regulation booklet.
How Often You Must Check the Line
Leaving a line out indefinitely is illegal everywhere. Every state that permits setlines requires regular inspection, typically every 24 hours. Some require checks every 12 hours. A few effectively require the angler to be present whenever gear is deployed.
The reasoning is practical. Fish left on a hook too long die and spoil. Non-target species, including protected ones, need to be released promptly to survive. Conservation officers can estimate how long a fish has been on a hook from its condition, and a written log of your check times is the simplest way to show compliance if you’re stopped.
Failing to attend gear is one of the most commonly cited setline violations. Penalties vary, but repeat offenses or violations involving dead protected species can escalate to misdemeanor charges and license revocation.
If You Hook a Protected Species
Setlines catch whatever takes the bait. If that includes a species listed under the Endangered Species Act, you’re in federal territory regardless of your state. Even an unintentional catch of a single listed species is a violation of federal law. Civil fines reach up to $25,000 per knowing violation, and criminal penalties can include fines up to $50,000 and a year in prison.1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Section 11 – Penalties and Enforcement A good-faith defense is available if you genuinely didn’t know, but leaving unattended gear in waters inhabited by listed species weakens that argument.
Report any protected species you hook. For sea turtles, call NOAA at (866) 755-6622 or hail the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16. Sturgeon captures should be reported through a vessel trip report or directly to NOAA Fisheries.2NOAA Fisheries. Commercial Fishing Reporting of Protected Species Bycatch State-listed species such as paddlefish or certain mussels have their own reporting routes through the state wildlife agency. If something on your line looks unusual, release it carefully and make the call.
Abandoned Gear and Federal Exposure
Gear that breaks loose or gets left behind keeps catching things. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can seize illegal or abandoned fishing gear under 50 CFR Part 12, with written notice to any identifiable owner and a window to petition for its return.3eCFR. 50 CFR Part 12 – Seizure and Forfeiture Procedures
The federal Lacey Act applies when illegally caught fish enter commerce or cross state lines. Knowing violations involving commercial sales above $350 in value are felonies carrying up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Negligent violations, where you should have known the catch was illegal, are misdemeanors with penalties up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines.4Congress.gov. Criminal Lacey Act Offenses – An Overview of Selected Issues
Reporting and Transporting Your Catch
Some states require setline and trotline anglers to file harvest reports listing species, quantities, dates, and the water fished. These reports usually go through the state agency’s online portal or a mailed paper form. Missing a required report can bring fines and may affect future permit applications.
Transporting fish has its own rules. Most states require fish subject to a size limit to stay whole or at least keep the head and tail attached in transit so officers can identify the species and measure the fish. Some states allow filleting at the water but require skin and scales to remain on each fillet. If you’re moving fish across state lines, both states’ rules apply, and the Lacey Act makes transporting fish taken in violation of any state law a federal offense.
Selling the Catch: Commercial License and Taxes
Selling any part of your catch makes you a commercial operation in the eyes of your state and the IRS. Commercial fishing licenses cost significantly more than recreational permits and carry additional requirements such as catch logs, dealer reporting, and sometimes vessel registration.
Commercial fishing income is reported on Schedule C (Form 1040), the same form a sole proprietor uses. Net earnings from fishing of $400 or more also trigger self-employment tax on Schedule SE. The IRS gives commercial fishers a scheduling option: if fishing income made up at least two-thirds of your total gross income in either the current or prior tax year, you can skip quarterly estimated tax payments by filing your return and paying all tax owed by March 1. If you miss that date, you can still avoid the estimated tax penalty by making a single estimated payment by January 15.5Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 416, Farming and Fishing Income
What a Violation Costs Beyond the Fine
A setline violation in one state can cost you fishing privileges in most of the country. The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is a cooperative agreement among 47 member states that shares violation data and honors license suspensions across state lines.6The Council of State Governments. Wildlife Violator Compact If one member state revokes your license over a setline offense, the other members will suspend your privileges too, whether or not their own law contains the same rule.
The compact also lets a non-resident accept a citation and be released without posting bond. Ignoring the citation and failing to appear, though, triggers a suspension in your home state until you resolve it. With nearly every state participating, an untagged trotline fine can grow into a nationwide loss of fishing privileges if you let it sit.