Using balloons while crappie fishing...

In order to tag or mark a fish legally, the person would have to be issued a permit from the Department of Natural Resources as outlined in the Indiana Aministrative Code below.

312 IAC 9-10-19 Fish tagging or marking permit
Authority: IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22-27
Sec. 19. (a) A person must not place a mark or tag on a fish and release it into public waters without a permit issued by the
department under this section.
(b) A person shall apply for a fish tagging and marking permit on a departmental form.
(c) A person shall submit the application to the department at least twenty-one (21) days before the proposed date of tagging
or marking and must include the following information:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the person applying for the permit.
(2) The name of the waterway and county where tagging or marking will occur.
(3) The species, size, and number of fish to be tagged or marked.
(4) The tagging or marking dates.
(5) The reason for tagging or marking fish.
(d) A person issued a permit under this section must carry the permit while tagging or marking fish and present it to a
department representative upon request.
(e) An application for a fish tagging or marking permit is subject to specifications set forth in the application and to terms and conditions set by the department.
(f) A permit issued under this section expires no later than December 31 of the year issued.
(g) The permit issued under this section cannot be transferred or sold for use by another person.
(h) The department may withdraw use of the permit for resource protection or management purposes.
(i) A person issued a permit under this section shall submit a report of marking and tagging by species, number, size of fish,
and location to the department within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the permit.
(j) Exempted from this section is an individual who marks or tags a fish under a scientific purposes license under section 6 of this rule.