Making Structure?

[AaronM]

Is it legal to make your own underwater structure for fish attractants? For instance, if I wanted to put a few wheelbarrows of rock next to my dock, would I need a permit for that? Or since its close to shore and will be out of the way for all marine motorists would it be OK? Thanks much for any replies. Happy Fishing!

[guideman]

Best thing to do, is contact your local DNR office and ask them.

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[wall eyell be]

In Minnesota, you would need a permit for that . . . and you may not be granted one. I see your profile says Warroad, so I assume your talking about a Minnesota lake. If not, check with the state's DNR as each state has differing regs on this sort of thing.

W E B

[Phred52]

Yea, and after you're through with the DNR rule and regs, You might wanna check into the rules and regs of your specific county. Sometimes, they're more strict than the DNR's.(as in my case).And all I wanna do is clear out more than 15'wide of my 400' of shoreline!

[dfv87]

you really want to make sure you check with the DNR, but if you can I am sure it can only help your fishing. A couple of years ago I was ice fishing in my portable and snagged my jig 3X and lost 2 nice jigs in 22 ft of water. The 3rd time I broght up a a 12" branch from an old X-mas tree. I moved about 3 feet and fished there and caught lots of crappies and a couple of walleyes. GPS that spot and continue to do well there every year. The lake is OK for fishing so to do well there is saying something.

It is like not being able to use lights at night to attract bugs/fish. That works too! I have trolled in front docks where the boat house light was on brightly shining on the lake and the walleyes were there! When the light went out, so did the walleyes.

Now I am not saying using the lights on purpose is OK. But if someone has lights on already for bonfires, parties etc. it is something I watch for at night, because it does work. IMO.

But MN is strict on these laws so check and follow them.

[Dano2]

To the best of my knowledge, augering a hole half way down And putting a lite in the hole is illegal

[LocalGuide]

Wow, I didnt know that.

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And keep those hooks sharp!

[sandman469ss]

I've heard of the light in the auger hole thing, and don't really get it. If you clear the snow off the top of the ice, the light is transmitted through the ice anyway, so why risk getting caught with it in a hole. The water clarity is going to dictate how far down the light is transmitted, not the position on the ice.
I would agree that sometimes it works, but I would say just as often it doesn't. Especially for crappie, who spook easily anyway.

So could you take a spotlight, put a treble hook an it, and call it a lighted lure?

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Takin it easy! & if it’s easy, I’ll take it twice!

[huskiesplayer15]

I have to ask a question then, when you fish in a trap or in any flip down house, I just flip my lantern right on the ice, so does that attract fish? What would happen if i were to chop down a through the ice but not go through and put the lantern in the hole, would that be illegal? Just wondering, on rush lake, i think lights do help the fishing, but on red i think it makes it worse, when I have done launch trips on mille lacs, with lights on , you could see tullibees, shiners, perch and even some walleyes just under the surface or breaking the surface eating all the bugs, baitish. Maybe it is in everyone's opinion.
Best Fishes
Chris

[simcox282]

The old trick is in the winter drop down a couple of cinder bricks attached to a cristmas tree--works great.

[Guest]

Sim,
That is also illeagl in MN

[AaronM]

I just contacted the DNR, and it will be $75 for a permit. I think I'm going to do that, so does anyone have any tips? Should I make rock humps? or just lay them out on the bottom? Also why would it be illigal to put in x-mas trees? I have no intention of doing it, but I'm curious to know why the law was made. Thanks!

[TRZ]

it is only illegal if you get caught! on some bodies of water that has little or no real structure a X-mas tree can be dynamite.

[folke2000]

TRZ - Illegal is always illegal wether cought or not.

[TRZ]

is that right?

[hanson]

huskie,
The lantern in a partially augered hole was discussed at length on the Red Lake forum last winter I think. I believe the discussion boiled down to INTENT. Setting a lantern on the ice to light your fishing area, house, etc. shows just that, you're lighting your house up. Augering a hole into the ice to put your lantern in shows intent to use the light as an attractor. Guess some people fishing Red were looking for any means possible to improve their odds.

[Borch]

A couple of reason why it's illegal according to COs I've talked to are. One is it artificially concentrates fish in a particular area giving you a fisherman and unfair advantage. The other reason I've been told is that if anyone could put down what ever they wanted our lakes would become a dumping ground for those who want to get rid of junk(abandoned vehicles, furnature, etc). This would cause hazards for navagation as well as potention polution/water quality issues.

Not that I totally agree but I can at least see the point now.

[psegriz]

The lantern on the ice seems to work some times and not other. But seems when the ice thickens it doesn't work anymore. Least not for me.

Does a guy still need a permit to do that on a lake with no public access. Own land on a sixty two acre lake and only two other propery owners. Only one fishes other than me, but we asked the third guy and he said he didn't mind. What we had in mind was to take a whole oaktree and sink it. There was an old cottonwood in it but now has deteriorated, would be nice if we could replace it.

GRIZ

[psegriz]

Forgot to mention that ain't that the reason they put the boxes in URL is to atrract fish. Granted that is a real big lake, but the lake I'm refering to has only three people who fish it.

GRIZ