Fishing with 2 lines in MN?

[sami0115]

i would be for 2 lines (even though i would never used them) but i think that since it would be i privlege you should have to pay extra for it..

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YIPPPPEEEEEEEE

[Guest]

This topic has been beat to death in these forums in the past.

I for one would love to run 2 lines, especially for trolling, but like someone else said, this is Minnesota.

Rep Juhnke from Willmar authored a bill in the MN house a few years ago that never got out of committee. The MNDNR was very much against the proposal because they feared an overharvest issue. My thoughts were, so what? A limit is a limit no matter how you get it, one line or two!!

But oh well....

Maybe another legislator will bring this up again in the future. Hopefully.

[fivebucks]

I am against 2 lines. Although I would love to use 2 lines when bobber fishing or downrigging etc. I would have to go against the grain on this one. I think it would increase the overall harvest by up to 25%. Yes we still have the limits but in reality most people rarely take a limit. I think 2 lines would increase the times a person does take a limit. In this equation you have to throw out alot of people on this site because most of us are good fisherpersons and practice C & R or keep what is needed for a meal. It's the people that have the menality of keeping every fish they catch that would increase the total harvest. If you're talking walleyes say the extra line enables people to catch and keep 4 fish instead of 3 fish, 25% increase in harvest. If the fish are snapping good it isn't a problem to catch a limit with one line so I say the arguement that they can only take 1 limit is not valid here. I am sure it the DNR set the limits based on a person keeping a limit every time out fishing, we would be able to keep maybe 2 walleyes. They are counting on people not catching their limit. This allows them to keep a higher limit when the fishings good for them if they chose. That's my 23c on the matter.

[JP Z]

I Wouldn't mind it. But YES, it should require an extra fee. I would probably pay that fee generally just because when shorefishing it is rather boring staring at my chunk of Balsa waiting for it to sink. But having it just as a standard for everyone? I don't think that's a good idea, because then it would lead to overharvest. Making people pay extra for it would probably detour many of the "keep'm all folks" and therefore only certain people would be paying that extra.

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Tight Lines,
JP Z

[BradB]

Fivebucks,

If what you say is true, then they should lower the limit by ~25%. I'd be in support of that. Then let us use two lines both in summer and winter.

[FishTracker]

I would like to see 2 lines allowed with NO extra charge. Regarding overfishing, when a person is one fish short of getting his/her limit, the regs could state that the person only then fish with one line till he gets his limit. If a person is caught with an extra line in and only has one fish to catch, then that person should get a ticket or fine.

[89Bronco]

Yes vote for 2!

Two lines for winter, but only one for summer? Does that make sense?...No, but nothing makes sense when politics are involved. Just like the previous posts...This IS Minnesota!

[Duffman]

Why do people want to fish with two lines? The simple answer is that it increases your odds of catching fish. Mr. Common sense says that will also increase the pressure on the resource. I'm all for using two lines, but those who say it will not lead to increased harvest, well, I just don't get that logic.

[Guest]

Why I said no?
I guess I would be for it, except for the times like when fishing the public docks on the river, where if everyone has 2 lines it kinda takes up all the space. If out in a boat it may be different but shore fishing gets crowded enough at times without doubling the amount of poles.
Can you imagine trying to get through walleye alley on the opener and everyone using 2 poles? Someone is gonna go home missing an ear..lol
I say lets keep the sport as challenging as possible,with all of the technology, equipment and technique we have today 1 pole should keep you busy enough.
If it ever does pass I am sure it won't have any major impact on the fish but some of your favorite spots may be harder to fish due to overcrowding.

[who are those guy]

There I am sitting alone on a little crappie hole & then two boats roar up & toss out about 14 bobbers. Then I thought to myself how nice it was when only one line was legal.

[Ole1855]

Duffman,

There's a chance that people may catch more fish, but the limits are still in place. I understand that people that don't catch enough fish in an outing to even make a limit may now have more of an opportunity, but they still can't legally exceed the limit.

I'm for it.

Are there any stats that say people harvest more fish in the winter when you can use two lines?

Ole

[jegerjack]

I have to agree with 5Bucks. I think the whole limit issue is that it enables a person, who is able to catch there limit, to do so, knowing that the average fisherman will not be able to do so. You could call it a calculated risk by the DNR. I have to believe that if everyone one started to catch and keep there limit it would not take the DNR long to try to decrease the limit. I am also a pretty big believer in the actual sport of fishing. I am not out there, along with most of the fisherman, trying to catch food for my family. I am out there competing with the fish. At lest this is my thought...Goodluck on the opener eveyone....

JegerJack

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"What did the old man trade for these guys, a used puck bag?"

[Finlander]

Just bring your tip-ups and jiggle sticks with you the next time your out fishing and also bring a tall glass full of ice with a little windsor/coke and tell the CO your ice fishing!

[Moose-Hunter]

As Tom Herman said.... This issue HAS been beaten to death here on the forum. Every year it comes up. Oh well, here's my two cents....

Sure, there are limits in place to regulate the fishery... But how are these limits established? If the limits are set assuming every angler gets a limit on every trip, than sure why not allow two lines... The maximum harvest is taken into consideration and we're basically good to go.

BUT, if those limits are calculated assuming only a certain percentage of anglers limit out, then there may be a problem with over harvest with limits at current levels. The extra line would raise the "limit out" angler percentage and in turn, increase harvest. For that reason alone I say NO to two lines....

Personally, I'd love to be able to still fish or troll two lines. Not for the additional harvest but for the additional action.

But that opens the the "hooking mortality" can of worms and how that relates to harvest..... What a tangled web....

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M-H (aka: Dan)

[Northlander]

Frozen everyone on the river is using 2 lines. 1 or 2 lines it doesnt matter. Those who usually dont get a limit wont all of a sudden get limits because they use 2 lines! I live in Wi. and I dont catch more fish here than I do in Mn. because I can use 2 lines.
Those who already get limits? Well that speaks for its self.

[walleyewacker]

2 lines would be a godsend for trolling...and if your worried about pressure on resource then maybe drop the limit, ad a slot, or maybe suck it up and throw a few back.

[Duffman]

Ole...
I'll be using two lines on the MN opener, it's legal where I'll be fishing, but there is also only a 2 fish limit at that location. I will have no problem getting that limit with only one line, so why use two? Cause it will increase my odds of catching fish. Same reason why I use two lines in the winter.

Think of it in this funky way;
100,000 anglers are out on opener.
With one line- 5% Catch 6
10% Catch 5
15% Catch 4
20% Catch 3
20% Catch 2
15% Catch 1
15% Skunked
250,000 Walleyes Harvested

With two lines- 8% Catch 6
12% Catch 5
17% Catch 4
22% Catch 3
22% Catch 2
17% Catch 1
2% Skunked
303,000 Walleyes Harvested

I just increased every groups odds just a tad in the percentages and there is 53,000 more walleyes harvested. I whipped them percentages out of my arse, so take that for what it is. But I think you get the point I was trying to make.

[jegerjack]

Moose-Hunter made a good point. Does anyone know hoe the DNR exactly comes up with the limit? Then agin maybe this is for another time or thread....

JegerJack

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"What did the old man trade for these guys, a used puck bag?"

[Harmonica Bear]

2 lines... absolutely.

Darn near very other state allows two, and Minnesota does as well in the winter, which I beleive is when more fish are harvetsed.

2 lines in winter and one in the summer is one of the dumbest regulations, period. It ranks right up there with not being able to buy beer on Sunday....

Good luck on opener, guys.

HB

[joneshat11]

With the way I catch walleyes I only have time reeling them in with one! HE HE! Two lines is my vote!

[sunnyj]

I'm for only one line. If your good enough to fish open water with two lines you are good enough to get your limit with one.

[big drift]

I go for two it would be real nice for if your out with a slip bobber and jigging. Also it would be useful in narrowing the strike zone, correct bait, color, etc. Best of all then I can irritate my other half by buying new gear.
big drift

[FOOT]

I've fished for over 40 years on the Mississippi with 2 lines and with 1 (yes its legal to fish 2 lines).
What I've found is:
Very seldom do you have 2 fish on at the same time.
It does give you more opportunity and action, thereby increasing the experience.
It does NOT significantly increase the ability to "limit out".
Most of the times I use 2 lines is when I'm anchored, trolling or vertical jigging. Live bait slip sinker fishing is tougher but can be done.
It does give the opportunity to the fisherman to try different baits, new ideas and ways (bobber & casting) of fishing.
My vote is YES and there should be NO added cost.

[BUSHWAC]

Duffman, I like working those two lines. Let's say we slash the state wide limit for Walleyes to 2 fish everywhere!

Sunnyj, I don't give a rats A$$ about a limit anyway. limits are for people who need to brag because they are lacking in other departments!!

[Crawlerman]

I can see the paying additional for it. i think $25 is a little steep.

Arizona is like that (though the rest of their regs are seriously wacked up..) I think it's 5 or $10 for an extra line. It'd be like a trout stamp. And yes, it would be nice to have 2 rods bank fishing for catfish and carp, and while trolling. Only having one limits you to what you can try in those situations as they require a lot of wait time and changing baits without being sure on one line may make your results worse.