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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Party Fishing Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

The State Senate wants to revise the current law on party fishing in South Dakota. House Bill 1076 passed the Senate on Wednesday. Republican State Senator Tim Begalka says the bill is friendly to all fishermen in the state.

"Last year we passed a bill that said when two or more people are fishing together you can call it party fishing. And if a game warden comes and checks how many fish you have, he can count the total and divide it amongst the three of you without trying to distinguish (which) one of you is over and the other two are under," Begalka says.

Senator Begalka says House Bill 1076 defines party fishing as a group of fisherman that do not need to be on a boat. He says party fishing can take place on the shore or even on a frozen lake while ice fishing. This bill passed the State Senate unanimously and it goes next to Governor Daugaard’s desk to be signed.

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and two kids Braxan and Jordy, live in Canton, SD.