Treble Hooks as Lures

[blackdog1101]

Can you guys help me out with what the law requires in terms of "dressing up" a treble hook so that it is considered a lure? Beads or spinners within "X" inches, addition of feathers, etc.? Thanks

[Deitz Dittrich]

should all be in the big fishing pamphlet from the DNR. But I think if you are going to use a treble, I think there has to be a spinner attached to make it legal. I dont think a bead will do it.. not sure on the feathers...

[bloc004]

I am not familiar with the regs, but am curious, would the small red or yellow blade that comes with swedish pimples work as a spinner?

[pulleye16]

Here's an email I asked the DNR about Quick strikes which could help answer your treble hook question...

Email:

I have a question that I keep get mix answers about if it's legal or not. Can we use "quick-strike" rigs in MN? If you're not familiar with this set-up, it consists usually of a wire leader, spinner blade and bead, and a treble hook. Some say you can't use a treble hook with live bait while others state its considered a "lure" and you can use it with live bait if you have a bead a spinner blade attatched. Then some say the spinner blade must be afixed within 3 inched of the hook to be legal. Any help on this issue would be great before I go out ice fishing next weekend.

Response:

You can use the treble hook if it has a spinner and bead, three inches from the spinner. Jim Hage (DNR)

[bikeoutback]

From the book:

Anglers may use only one hook. An artificial lure is considered one hook.

A treble hook, when not part of an artificial lure, is considered three hooks

and is not legal. The exception is that three artificial flies may be used

when angling for trout, crappie, sunfish, and rock bass.

Doesn't give any information on what constitutes an artificial lure at all. I know on mine I use steel leaders with the wire clasp that you can take the clasp off the leader with a pliers. Then I added a tiny silver spoon to the leader, put the clasp back on and use a treble hook. Basically homemade cheaper way to make what I was seeing sold in the stores. I hadn't read the regs though only heard it word of mouth from other fisherman that adding that spoon made them legal. Unfortunatly the book just isn't clear at least not to me.

[blackdog1101]

Unfortunatly the book just isn't clear at least not to me.

That's what I found too. There's no definition of "lure."

Thanks Pulleye, that's perfect.

[Brad B]

I have looked at the actual statues and no where in the statues is there a definition of a lure or artifical bait. the statues I looked at are 97C.315(angling with hook and line) and 97A.015(definitions). If you read 97C.315 subd 2 (2) it states a artifical bait can have more then 1 hook and then you look at 97A.015 and look up artifical bait it directs you back to 97C.315. so I would think that the state then would need to define what a artifical bait or lure is. If someone know of the actual statue that defines what a lure or artifical bait is please let me know. in regards to using treble hooks on tip ups I have reason to believe that if you were ticketed for it you could probably win your court case on the grounds that the state does not define what a artifical bait or lure is. by the way I am in no way a lawyer this is just my personal opinion on this issue. I don't want to be the test case for this issue. add the spinner blade and you would be safe as long as it is with in 3" of the hook.

[DTro]

Another example of a MN law that nobody has a straight answer to and seems to be enforced differently by CO's.

I really wish we had a DNR liaison here who could give us the facts.

Having said that, here is a good read:

From: Pat Watts <>

To: merkman <>

Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 9:44:38 AM

Subject: Re: Legal or illegal?

You are correct that the current statute language would not allow either rig to be used. However, these are fairly common configurations used for angling that are generally not causing problems.

With that in mind, DNR started a permanent rule package in process in about 2006 that would clearly allow up to three single or multiple hooks that are either inserted into live bait or within three inches of the live bait. Only one live bait could be used on a line. Live bait would include bait that is alive, dead, or preserved. That rule package would also allow one additional single or multiple hook when the additional hook is within three inches of an artificial bait. Artificial bait would include jigs, artificial flies, and flashing spoons. Quick strike rigs and stinger hook arrangements meeting these requirements could be used.

Originally, we thought that rule change would be completed in 2007, but some of the changes in the rule package have been more controversial than originally anticipated, and is taking more time to get through all the legal processes.

While this 3-inch rule language has not yet been adopted, it is a standard that our officers have been working with in the interim, and is acceptable for anglers to use.

One other comment - I cannot tell for sure how large the bullhead is in the photo that was attached to your email, but bullheads that are used for bait cannot be over seven inches long (legal definition of a minnow). The hitch comes in when transporting live bullheads that are over seven inches. There will likely be some changes that allow some limited transportation of the larger bullheads for use as bait in the rule package I mentioned above, but I am not certain of the details at this point in time. If you catch bullheads in the same body of water you are fishing and do not remove them from the water body, that should be okay.

Pat Watts, DNR Enforcement Division, St Paul MN