Fishing for bass and releasing before season opener

[masoct3]

So, I was wondering if I can use poppers, props, worms to catch fish "now" and release them immediately?

I guess this might apply to more species like walleye and pike. Can I fish for them and release and not keep a single one? Why or why not?

Thanks.

[polarsusd81]

No, because it is illegal. The regulations are very clear on this, shouldn't even be a question. I don't care what you tell the CO, if you are throwing baits intentionally trying to target fish out of season you will get a ticket, and likely have your license pulled for a year. But then again if you are willing to take that chance, who's to say that not having a license would stop you.

Plain and simple - don't do it.

[PerchJerker]

No, because it is illegal. The regulations are very clear on this, shouldn't even be a question. I don't care what you tell the CO, if you are throwing baits intentionally trying to target fish out of season you will get a ticket, and likely have your license pulled for a year. But then again if you are willing to take that chance, who's to say that not having a license would stop you.

Plain and simple - don't do it.

I agree 100%. Regulations clearly say that you can't fish for species during the closed season. I do a ton of panfish fishing on Tonka in the spring and almost every day I run into guys that are out there throwing bass baits --- especially the 2 weeks after the pike / walleye season opens. I hope every one of them gets caught and ticketed.

[jeffreyd]

"Fishing for bass and releasing before season opener"? I think your very first question should have answered your own question. Now all it does it opens you up to further questioning. I think you need to get a copy of the regs and read them.

[derek5]

I agree, just wait for the openor like the rest of us. Although I see it being a challenge for the dnr to issue tickets, after the northren and walleye openor. Just because I and other people target northrens with baits that will catch bass, etc. spinnerbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits. I'm sure there are plenty of other lures out there.

[mainbutter]

almost every day I run into guys that are out there throwing bass baits --- especially the 2 weeks after the pike / walleye season opens.

The problem here is that my favorite pike lures are often known as "bass" or "musky" lures.

Tie on a bulldawg or glide bait, you're musky fishing.

Tie on a grub or worm, you're bass fishing. (caught more pike AND muskies on senkos than any other lure last year)

Tie on an inline spinner, you could be accused of either depending on the size.

You just can't win.

[riverrat63]

you could just go one the river and fish for bass and get your kicks out there on till your season opens,as for the rules its whatever the dnr says,and polarsusd81 all it was, was a question there is no such thing as a dummb question its just the way you ask it, im sure he understands the rules

[WyoChris]

Ethically, you're wrong. You should wait until the bass opener to target bass.

However, to answer your question, bass fishing and northern fishing in the spring is so similiar that there is no way a CO could prove that you are fishing illegally. In fact, you could be throwing cowgirls and other muskie lures on May 15th, proclaim that you are walleye/northern fishing, and be breaking no laws. That is just the way the law works....

Have I ever accidentially caught a bass out of season? yes. Have I ever caught a muskie, out of season, while fishing for northerns? yes. Have I ever caught a smallmouth out of season while jigging for walleyes? yes.

In regards to your original question - Yes, you can use whatever bait you want and catch whatever u want as long as u don't put it in ur livewell. But realize why these regs are put in place.... they are to protect the fishery and preserve the fisheries of MN. The waters of MN are becoming more pressured and if the regs are not abided by there will be no more fish (except for carp, catfish, and drum)) to catch. Please abide by the laws. Whether it be crappies, bluegills, eyes, nothern, etc - there are always fish to catch in MN and keep you occupied and satisfied.

[PerchJerker]

Originally Posted By: PerchJerker

almost every day I run into guys that are out there throwing bass baits --- especially the 2 weeks after the pike / walleye season opens.

The problem here is that my favorite pike lures are often known as "bass" or "musky" lures.

Tie on a bulldawg or glide bait, you're musky fishing.

Tie on a grub or worm, you're bass fishing. (caught more pike AND muskies on senkos than any other lure last year)

Tie on an inline spinner, you could be accused of either depending on the size.

You just can't win.

I'm talking about guys pitching and flipping bass jigs and plastic worms under docks and in shallow bays loaded with bass. It's obvious they're after bass, not pike or walleye or muskie (which are in a closed season until after the bass opener). You combine the location and the presentation and it's clear what they're doing ---- which is breaking the law.

[masoct3]

Thank you, I was looking for a simple answer. " to support fisheries". Again, I would not keep any fish out of season, but do not understand why you can't catch them AND release them. But I guess I have something to learn.

Ethically, you're wrong. You should wait until the bass opener to target bass.

However, to answer your question, bass fishing and northern fishing in the spring is so similiar that there is no way a CO could prove that you are fishing illegally. In fact, you could be throwing cowgirls and other muskie lures on May 15th, proclaim that you are walleye/northern fishing, and be breaking no laws. That is just the way the law works....

Have I ever accidentially caught a bass out of season? yes. Have I ever caught a muskie, out of season, while fishing for northerns? yes. Have I ever caught a smallmouth out of season while jigging for walleyes? yes.

In regards to your original question - Yes, you can use whatever bait you want and catch whatever u want as long as u don't put it in ur livewell. But realize why these regs are put in place.... they are to protect the fishery and preserve the fisheries of MN. The waters of MN are becoming more pressured and if the regs are not abided by there will be no more fish (except for carp, catfish, and drum)) to catch. Please abide by the laws. Whether it be crappies, bluegills, eyes, nothern, etc - there are always fish to catch in MN and keep you occupied and satisfied.

[polarsusd81]

If you just moved here from a state that has no closed season it is somewhat hard to understand why you can't catch and release them when they are protected. But if you just moved here from out of state and want to go fishing, the very first thing you should do is pick up a regulation booklet and read it front to back, and then read it again.

And RR63, I know full well about fishing pool 2 on the Sippi and fishing border waters, but this seemed like more of a general question. Of course there are special instances where one can fish for certain species when they are closed everywhere else, but if you go to Lake X in the metro and you are throwing spinner baits, rapalas, 5"+ plastic worms, 1/8 oz jigs with 4" grubs, you are begging to get a ticket or worse. I have seen it way too many times on the water, people breaking all kinds of laws. I think it gives the honest sportsmen bad names. I have been out in the boat 4 times already in the last week and a half and catching panfish works just fine for me right now. When walleye opens, I will chase them for two weeks and then switch to bass, then muskies. It all gets mixed up and I chase what I feel like on a particular day later in the season, but only when it is legal.

[FrankTXbassman]

Just my thoughts is if you are fishing now for pan fish, which is legal now i think and are throwing crappie jigs,spinners,minnows,earth worms, you can't help what jumps on your hook. I have had many species of fish jump on the hook even tho i am not fishing for them.so how can the game warden say you are targeting a certain specie of fish?

[Superduty]

If you continue to catch fish that are out of season regardless of what baits you are throwing, you can be given a ticket. If bass won't leave your crappie jig or pike spinner alone, you are required to move to another location by law. As with most game/fish laws it is up to the individual conservation officers discretion.

[CAMAN]

Just my thoughts is if you are fishing now for pan fish, which is legal now i think and are throwing crappie jigs,spinners,minnows,earth worms, you can't help what jumps on your hook. I have had many species of fish jump on the hook even tho i am not fishing for them.so how can the game warden say you are targeting a certain specie of fish?

Yes I have had odd fish bite my lures also, such as a 9" bluegill on a large deep diving bluegill pattern crankbait, caught in the mouth even.

But if your chunkin' a 3/8oz spinnerbait, a large crankbait or a bulldog there is absolutly NO WAY a CO will believe you are targeting panfish when the bass, pike and musky season is clearly closed.

[TonkaBass]

I still dont agree with a season for bass. They should be catch and release year round... It wouldn't have any impact on the population anyways...

[FrankTXbassman]

there is not any reg. that says you have to move from any location just because you catch a out of season fish.there is not any regulations in the 2002-2010 books that say you most move.if there please send me the link and the state regulations of Minnesota that states that.

[marineman]

I agree with TonkaBass for the year round catch & release. I would also like to see the bass tournaments go to a catch, measure, photo and release. As far as catching fish out of season, you should know what you can legally catch before you launch your boat. We are accountable for our actions and just because you didn't read the DNR regulations should not exempt you from any tickets that you may receive.

[Superduty]

Frank, If you are repeatedly catching an out of season fish on panfish gear you can be given a ticket. It has something to do with harassing a protected species. It is up to the discretion of the CO at the time of the incident. His job is to protect a species if the season is closed.

I agree with Tonka, a catch and release season would be great because in the vast majority of cases, it does not affect the population.

[WyoChris]

Has anyone ever known of an incident where someone got a ticket for fishing for bass when only northern pike/walleye season was open... with nothing in their livewell?

Throwing cowgirls in March, when only panfish season is open, is pretty obvious that you are fishing out of season. But I don't see how a CO could make a legit legal decision on whether someone is fishing for bass or northerns? It may be somewhat obvious, but you couldn't prove it in regards to the law.

I'm a big proponent of abiding by the seasons..... but this topic comes up every spring and was just curious if anyone actually knows someone who got a ticket for this.....

[FrankTXbassman]

I agree but that was not the question. its was said that if you catch a out of season specie you most move from the area. there is not any regulation stating this . thats all i was saying. i also said that if you are useing crappie lures or live bait and a out of season specie jumps on your hook you have no control over it. you are not targeting any species except pan fish that is not illegal.

[Z-520]

What about dog fish? Last time I checked there isn't a season that closes on rough fish so you should be able to throw anything and everything. Is it wrong to go perch fishing right now because there is a possiblility that you might catch a walleye? If you say yes than you shouldn't be panfishing because there is also a possibility that you could catch one also.

[PerchJerker]

its was said that if you catch a out of season specie you most move from the area.

[CRBass]

I haven't been ticketed, but I've been warned.

Was throwing spinnerbaits for northerns.

CO said shouldn't be using those. Also shouldn't be casting towards shore.

In some ways, I was glad they were doing their job, but spinnerbaits are

my primary northern lure and we really were targeting northerns and weren't catching any bass.

[JBMasterAngler]

Spinnerbaits are my go to lures for pike...and pike is what I exclusively fish for in that 2 week span inbetween opener and bass season. Basically I'll still use spinnerbaits, spinners, cranks, spoons. Pretty much the only thing I won't use is any plastics.

Hypothetical situation...what if your shorefishing on a pier, and that's the only public access to the lake. Your using plain hooks with small crappie minnows under a bobber, obviously targeting panfish, but your also catching alot of small bass. Because that's the only spot to fish, the DNR has the right to tell you to pack up and leave? I find that hard to believe. I've heard they might tell you to use a different lure or bait, but if your on public property and not intentionally targeting an out of season fish they can't tell you where you can and can't fish.

[ikeslayer]

This comes up every year - and yes the DNR have shot themselves in the foot. However, you and those out there know their intent. Do whats right not what you can get away with.