Whats your opinion on spearing?

[andy j]

What is your opinion on spearing, I don't have a problem with spearing pike, it does bug me that people spear big pike. I think it is a waste of a great gamefish. Big pike a top of the line preditors and keep lakes in check. They keep lake from getting to overpopulated with small fish. If someone could come up with a spear/release system that would be great but I can't see that happening. It takes to long to replace a big pike, and unfortunately these fish in a lot of out waters are reducing. To many lakes with small pike and not a lot of guys I know like to spear pike less then 21 inches. What do you all think? AJ

[IcePro]

Are you ready to rumble!!!!

The #1 post for over a week is "What do you look for in a spear and decoys?"

I am going to stay silent and watch the responses on this one.

[PikeTipper]

I love it!!! Spearing to me is like getting to deer hunt all winter long, it just feels like you are sitting on stand. I do choose to let the big ones swim by though and stick a couple of smaller ones if I get the chance.

Some of these lakes that are choked full of "hammerhandles" should play host to the 1st ICE series spearing event to try and control the population.

[Uncle Bill]

No good.

[Surface Tension]

There is a release system for spearing pike. Its the decision to let it swim away untouched.

With that said, whats the difference between a guy that decides to harvest a pike by spear or by hook?

[andy j]

PikeTipper, Nice post! Well said and thats a good idea.

Surface Tension,

I have no problem with a guy harvesting pike by hook or spear, I just don't see that need for a guy to harvest pike by hook or spear anything over 30". AJ

[mudman]

Just like bowhunting to me but reversed.

I will pass on smaller bucks to let them grow, but pass on larger pike to let them grow. BUT if a monster buck (trophy) comes by he gonna get it! same with a trophy pike 40"+ STOP let me stop you before you ask, with the water how can you tell that its 40"? right? well to answer this question. I don't know if it is exactly 40" but I am positive it's not going to be 39" ask any musky fisherman, you can guess with in 2" 95% of the time.

Just like bowhunting if I want to take something home, it will be a doe or once in a while a spike. In spearing I will take the slimmers and once in a while 25-30" pike. Like a lot of people have said, I like to take the snakes because there are WAY TO MANY of them in the lake I spear. on a good day in the summer you can catch 25-40 no problem.

Checks and balances folks! <JUST MY THOUGHT NOT SAYING ANYONE IS RIGHT OR WRONG>.

[stmichael]

I do not have a problem with ANYONE taking a fish of any size, as long as it is within regulations. It is fine to have a personal opinion, but, some people seem to be trying to push their views onto everone else. I would not go for a 30+ inch Pike, that does not mean I am going to think less of someone who does.

[andy j]

Stmichael,

I think a lot of our regulations are pretty old school. Would you agree with a individual keeping six 18"+ female largemouth bass on a stringer early in the season, because I have seen this and I could not believe my eyes. There are still anglers out there that don't understand or don't care about fish populations, keeping the balance, and unfortunatly in some cases the regulations don't pertect against cases like this.

[riverrat56]

I dont have a problem with spearing i wouldnt mind trying it out myself one time. I have talked to alot of spearfishermen and almost all of them spear pike under 24 inches to take home, they are out there to watch the fish and to observe the natural state of a lake, it isnt all about the taking of a pike. also to touch on another point from a previous post i also dont care if people keep fish to eat as long as it is legal and if you are so worried about someone keeping spawning fish maybe you can talk to them about it nicely and try to teach them the importance of CPR. And yes i do think that our regulations could be re-vamped bass season should still open when it does but should be catch and release any fish under say 20 inches for 2 weeks. just an example there could be many other changes made to. Just my opinion dont mean to offend anyone.

RR56

[Mike89]

I'm going to jump on this too, spearing has to be right up there with the best stalk. I also feel I have one of the best catch and release rates too. In other words I can sit and watch fish swim by for hours and not throw the spear. When I do it's a smaller ones, 2 1/2 to 4 pounds. I do have one larger 16 pound I speared that is on the wall. Line anglers mount theirs too. Now go to tip ups, where is the catch and release there? It seems to me when any of us are using tip ups the fish swallow the bait more often than not. Minnesota is the only state where notherns only can be speared, I think. I can go to South Dakota and legally spear any game fish. There are other states where you can do this too. I'm not advocating spearing any thing else here in Minnesota, I just supporting a sport that really takes a bad rap. Maybe those that have not tried it could join us for a day, you might enjoy it also!! When I cut my hole in the ice it's like watching a big screen TV, only better!!! Sorry about the soap box, Mike.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

Need to put my 2 cents...

First of all, Thank you for asking for our opinion.

Second, Make sure you follow your heart and not ours.

I have wanted to return to spearing for years. With 4 kids and a job that requires 60-65 hours per week in the winter...it has not happened.

This year...sold the big house to a friend on Mille Lacs and got a smaller more portable darkhouse.

Note my username...yes I am a member of Muskie Inc...not to popular with some of the sportsman who spear.

I am proud to do both, angle and spear.

Love to spear. Love to hear you guys talk about it. Love to hear a 15 year old kid with a passion for the outdoors.

'Nuf Said

[mtreno]

i have never gone spear fishing but cant wait to try it for the first time this winter. thats one of this weekends projects is to convert one of the old ice shacks into a dark house. i just cant wait to see some action. just like others said about being in the deer stand. i am sure i will have many days where nothing was taken/speared/shot but had plenty of action

[IcePro]

I have never speared but I can truly appreciate the comments on the catch and release aspect of the sport. Just because you see a fish does not mean that you have to spear it.

Many of us ice fisherman cannot wait for the first flag to go up on our tip-ups. Does that guarantee that that fish can be released alive and healthy? We all have caught Northerns that have swallowed the hook or have been hooked in the gills. Can you guarantee their release to live another day? Spearing allows you to selective harvest or just admire the possible catch.

After reading the posts from the avid spear fisherman, it gives me the desire to sit over a spear hole and just watch as the awesome fish swims under my feet. I would love to see a 40 plus inch Northern swim through.

[Elusive Wally]

Just wondering, of those who are against spearing, have any of you tried it? As previous posts have stated it is like a window into another world, and the rush of just seeing a 40+" swim through the hole. WOW. I would recommend to all, pro or con, to sit in a darkhouse for a few hours before you pass judgement on the rest of us...just a thought

[LittleRanger]

I have never speared. BUT something so controversal has to be a blast. I went prarie dog hunting once, the tree huggers hate it and protest it. We killed hundreds of them fur balls. It was some of the best hunting time I have ever had. If its legal, its not worth getting to worked up about, the hype will only promote the other sides cause.

[1DIRTBALL]

One of the most fun times I have had ice fishing was when I partnered with a friend of mine owning a fish house. He wanted to spear and I don't happen to believe in it. However, to each his own. I would never try to force my own beliefs on another person. We compromised by putting a spearing hole on one end and angling holes on the other end. One day of angling in the spearing hole made me understand why people who spear are so fascinated with spearing. Watching those big gators come tearing in and smashing a bait was fascinating. There were a lot of small perch in the lake we happened to have the fish house on.(Big Eagle Lake)You could always tell when a northern was around. All those little perch would suddenly scatter and disappear. Fascinating! There was always something interesting to watch. No wonder it is sometimes refered to as Norwegian TV!

[ozzy]

Hey Mike you should used your latest picture for your avatar.

Let me know when you get out spearing, I will stop up and fish for the day.

See Ya

Scott

[stmichael]

I would not like to see it, I love Bass fishing. On the other hand the regulations are in place for people to take their harvest ( aren't they?) take Mille Lacs lake for example, they have slot limits in place to protect the walleye. There are also many other lakes that are protected by slot limits. IMO the dnr has a good idea about the fish population in many area lakes. If they do not see a problem with it, neither do I. I would not be keeping a mounter, no matter what the species of fish. Like I said before, it does not matter what other anglers do, they pay for the right do as they wish, as long as it is within the law.

I think that we may just have to agree to disagree.

Are they trying to change the laws yet????? When, and if they do, I will follow them as well. keep an open mind, not everybodys life situation is the same as yours.

Mike

[John19]

I think you guys have said it all. I haven't speared in quite awhile, but for those who haven't, you've got to try it. The rush you get when that fish swims by the hole is unlike no other. Just reading these posts brings back such incredible memories of sitting in the house as a kid and simply "watching". Also this is the ultimate in selective harvest. How many other situations are there were you have comple control over taking or releasing fish. The only problem would be if you choose to take a fish, and you lose or don't totally hit the fish.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I like spearing, I happen to think it's just plain stinkin cool. I spend more time on the ice fishing out of the shanty, but I spear a few times a year. Let me re-phrase...I go out trying to spear, not necessarily spearing one. I've got plenty of 4-5 pounders in my life. And, I know some people out there will not like this, but if a absolute huge pike came by I'd spear him. Just one for the wall, but I'd take him. I've passed on some, but they wern't big enough for the wall.

My $.02

[Northlander]

1dirtball you may want to check the Regs book in your area. I believe angling and spearing out of the same house is a no no. At least in MN. and Wi.

[Bushwacker]

Northlander is right on. You can angle out of a spear hole, but there can be no spearing equipment in possession. If you are doing them both at the same time it is illegal. We have fished for muskies out of a spear house and it was awesome. Having a 40"+ muskie slowly slide through your hole to hit a jig is one of the greatest experiences that I have ever had.

[RussDaBuss]

Been reading this post and those like this for a few years now. I like that it has not gotten out of hand. Not sure if some people out there think that everyone that spears sees huge northerns all the time or even some of the time. Just because you can "see" them does not mean you WILL see them. For the most part, you have about a 10' viewing area down there. That is not much. I have only seen one big northern (around 17lbs) since I started spearing (7yrs ago) and did not spear it, he did not give me the chance.. I have seen plenty of medium fish (6-10lbs). I pass on these. I personally like the 3-5lbs. Some days I do not see a darn thing (maybe a largemouth or walleye which are great to see) other days are good and I see 5-10 fish, does not happen too often .. I certainly do not spear everything I see. As most have posted, I just love to get out. I even used to cut a hole and look down and not spear but just watch and had a 2 tip-ups set up around the house. I do it for the enjoyment of WATCHING!! I just want people in question to know that just because people are spearing and looking down does not mean they will constantly be seeing fish and huge ones at that. It does not go that way. At least for me .. Good luck to all whether you angle or spear..

[Dan Thiem]

Russ-

Or anybody that spears. I have never gone spearing and would love to try it. So if anyone wants to take a greenhorn out some time that would be great.E-mail me DT at vikingolds dot com. Thanks in advance!