I have to agree i think a lot of it lies with the opinion of the law officer. I fished a lot at bonneville this year and we talked to the state cop up there and he said that if the rod was handed of early enough he wouldnt write a ticket but if it was handed off right at the end of the fight to avoid that person having to tag that fish and quit fishing then he would. I dont have a problem with guides handing rods off, the clients are there to catch fish. Some are there to learn but most just want to fight fish. I have handed off a lot this spring and see no problem with it. Anyone who catches a lot of fish isnt going to take a handed off rod anyway. It will only be the inexperienced and young. Just my.02