Fishing while spearing

[Redlantern]

Is it legal to have a tip up in use outside of a darkhouse while spearing? Reading the regs makes me think it's not. Seems I can have a line in the water in the darkhouse while spearing, though.

[shortfatguy]

Pretty sure you can have any other legal line. The spear basically counts as 1 line.

[MJ1657]

Pretty sure you can have any other legal line. The spear basically counts as 1 line.

You got it right.

Perfectly legal to have a tip up out.

[motownmasher]

you can have one tip up out?? i always thought you could have one in the house jiggn for panfish, and one outside the house.

[MJ1657]

Spear is a line and tip up is a line. As long as you do not exceed 2 you're good to go.

Its a fairly new law for spearing.

I'm going to get one of them Strike Sensors to use on a tip up while I'm spearing. I don't want to have to open the door constantly to check them.

[terrible_fisherman]

It is not legal if you cannot check on the tip up so you need to have a sensor or a way to visually see the tip up. As mentioned, tip up counts as a line but if you cannot see it or cannot tell if it gets hit you can get dinged for having a set line.

[Wanderer]

Weird. I actually woke up this morning thinking about this topic.

Can you get dinged if your tip up is close enough to hear it trip with jingle bells on it?

[MJ1657]

Weird. I actually woke up this morning thinking about this topic.

Can you get dinged if your tip up is close enough to hear it trip with jingle bells on it?

I would think that would be ok but I'm not sure. I've never actually had a tip up out because I don't want to gut hook fish. Drives me nuts when I see someone's flag up for several minutes before they get to it.

[terrible_fisherman]

I agree with MJ. I rarely use tip ups when spearing. If I am spearing I want to spear one and not hook it on a tip up and potentially deal with a mortally hooked fish. I spear with a lot of guys that use tip ups when spearing and they see a lot fewer fish in their spear hole due to constantly checking tip up or getting fish on it. It is legal to do both but I would use one with a sensor if you do it and plan to see less fish in the hole while you are out pulling them up through the ice on your line.

I do like jigging for panfish through the spear hole though and sight fishing while waiting for a pike to spear. I think that was the intent when the law was changed. To allow for a line and a spear in the house. It is a fun way to fish if you have not tried it.

[WalleyeSlayer21]

spearing and fishing are 2 differnt things,,,

[MJ1657]

spearing and fishing are 2 differnt things,,,

Yes but your spear counts as a line. You can have a spear and one other line.

[Neighbor_guy]

I have jingle bells on my tip ups. And do use them whike spearing. Not all the time, but if I'm using the portable or if goose is along, a dead Cisco on the bottom and a quick strike will be close by.

[jasonmichalski]

That sucks in Michigan we can run three lines and your spear doesn't count as a line because it has no hooks in the water, lol!!

[Jdawg sk1]

In montana it's 6 lines the spear does count And you can Leave your tip-ups out overnight as long. As you put your name on them.

[Redlantern]

I spoke to the CO from my area today on the telephone. He said that the spear counts as one line and you may use another line, either in the house or outside. You must be within 200 feet and be able to see it. He said having a window in my house that allows me to see the tip up is ok. Glad I called him, most of the advice here seemed sound but ultimately it's up to me to understand the rules. I'd encourage anyone with fish or game questions to ask a CO. Here is a link I found on page 84 of the 2014 fishing regulations. www.mndnr.gov/officerpatrolareas.