"Automatic Fisherman"

[Ron Vroom]

A word of caution. When I saw the "Automatic Fisherman" displayed in the tip up section at a local store, it seemed that I had read somewhere that this type of device was not legal in Minnesota, so I contacted MN DNR, and received the following reply. I thought I would pass this along to my fellow ice fishermen to save you the price of these things (about $40) as well as whatever the fine might be if you are caught in Minnesota using one.

From: Pop Mail Server [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 7:14 PM

To: *Info (DNR)

Subject: "Automatic Fisherman"

A device with the above title is being sold in a local store in the tip up section, which holds an ice rod in a flexed position attached to a trigger in a manner that will automatically set the hook when a fish takes the bait on the rod's line.

In view of the following statute, is this a legal device for use in Minnesota, and or has the Commisioner made a rule approving this device?

97C.325 RESTRICTIONS ON TAKING FISH.

(a) Except as specifically authorized, a person may not take fish with:

(1) explosives, chemicals, drugs, poisons, lime, medicated bait, fish berries, or other similar substances;

(2) substances or devices that kill, stun, or affect the nervous system of fish;

(3) nets, traps, trot lines, or snares; or

(4) spring devices that impale, hook, or capture fish

( If a person possesses a substance or device listed in paragraph (a) on waters, shores, or islands, it is presumptive evidence that the person is in violation of this section.

© The commissioner may, by rule, allow the use of a nonmotorized device with a recoil mechanism to take fish through the ice.

(d) To protect water quality or improve habitat for fish or wildlife, the commissioner may prescribe restrictions on fishing seasons, limits, or methods on specific bodies of water.

History:

1986 c 386 art 3 s 27; 1994 c 623 art 1 s 39; 2007 c 131 art 1 s 47

THIS IS THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM DNR

"No it is not a legal device to use in MN. No special ruling has been approved for this type of device."

[leech~~]

I had seen one on a video the other day that had a flag which triggered when the fish took the bait and to set the hook they just had the bale closed so when the fish bent the rod down to the end of the line it more or less hooked it. So, would that be legal since it did not automatically trigger the devise? The fish more or less hooked it's self.

[brian6715]

I don't know why anyone would want to use one of these. When you are running tip-ups (or any kind of fishing equipment) you don't want the fish hooked up without you on the other end. I had way better luck this last winter letting my fish run a long time with the bait before setting the hook, I know I wouldn't have caught near as many fish if I set the hook right away. This is a tool for a noob

[leech~~]

I think they were using them for Trout on the video which bite fast and quick?

[nolte]

I don't know why anyone would want to use one of these. When you are running tip-ups (or any kind of fishing equipment) you don't want the fish hooked up without you on the other end. I had way better luck this last winter letting my fish run a long time with the bait before setting the hook, I know I wouldn't have caught near as many fish if I set the hook right away. This is a tool for a noob

I'm guessing you haven't fished many trout species. They are the way to go for brownies, steelies and coho on the great lakes.

[Ron Vroom]

What you have described sounds like the typical legal tip up except for the reel with a bail, the flag gets tripped when the fish takes the line, but the flag is not connected to the line. The fisherman trips the bail on the reel you saw in the video to stop the line, and the fisherman sets the hook. With the typical tip up, since there is no bail, the fisherman grabs the line to set the hook. Both These methods are perfectly legal tip ups because there is no spring or mechanism to automatically set the hook, the fisherman sets the hook. If you look at how the "Automatic Fisherman" works, a fishing rod is flexed to create a spring effect which sets the hook when the fish grabs the bait. There are numerous tip up devices which incorporate a fishing rod that activates a flag to signal a fish bite, and these are legal as long as there is no spring action involved to set the hook.

[Naturboy]

Is it better to have maybe a fish swallow or gut hooked on a tip-up only to find its a fish in a protected slot? I don't see anything wrong with them especially with all the slots on lakes. The videos I watched of these things never had a gut hooked fish.

How ever they are illegal to use in Mn.

[Ron Vroom]

The purpose of my post was to alert Minnesota ice fisherman that the "Automatic Fisherman" they may see in stores can't legally be used in Minnesota, and hopefully save them from getting a ticket. I am not arguing the merits of the device or the reasonability of the Minnesota law. A person may very well want to buy one to use in Canada or another state where they may be legally used. In fact I may buy one to use in Canada for lake trout if I can determine they are legal there.