Portable fish house legality

[rpaulson7]

I was just perusing the DNR fishing regulations, and noticed something interesting.

It states in the ice fishing section:

"No person may erect a dark house, fish house, or shelter within 10 feet of an existing dark house, fish house, or shelter."

So, does that mean you can't use the new Clams that came out last year where you zipper the tube between two portables? They have to be closer than 10 feet to use that.

[Tim L]

What it means is that you can't go set up your house next to some persons you don't know how would you like to come out and there's a house butted up to your house. some people do it. if you and a buddy wanna joint your house's together that's fine.

[hanson]

That line is in the regs to keep other fisherman from fishing too close to you.

So I think you are OK to zip 2 of the new Fish Traps together. Unless you are zipping yours up with a stranger out on the ice.

[Nutty Fisherman]

When you zip them together it is classed as one fish house

[Green&Gold]

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When you zip them together it is classed as one fish house

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So according to this reasoning, then does only one house need to be licensed. My buddies and I have often wondered about this as we have at times crudely connected a Clam 6800 with an Insta-Tent (sp?) using big gator clips. I only license the Clam in the winter, but end up buying a second license for the Insta-tent just in case (better safe than sorry).

[hanson]

I think you would be walking a fine line that is up to the descretion of a CO. Better safe than sorry I say.

[riverrat56]

I do believe they are classified as one house, but how many times will you have 2 houses that will only be used when conneted? Therefor both will need a license. Also, as soon as you put them up, they need to be licensed, and one wouldn't be till they are connected.

[Phred52]

AAH yes riverrat56, Granted, they are not connected at the point of setup. BUT, They would be connected prior to being used as a Fishing SHELTER. If you set a house on the ice to use as a warming house, say, for iceskating or cooking, You don't need a "fishhouse" licence. It's not a "Fishing Shelter" at that point. AS SOON as you drill holes and drop a line, It's a fishing shelter. Darn hard to drop a bait without a hole and ANY judge would agree. Sure would give a CO a run for his money in court though!!! Personally, I believe, They should forget about licensing portables in MN and focus their efforts on the litterers. "There's big money in dat TRASH!!"

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

So why not buy your regular shelter tag,and purchase duplicates for $3.50ea.I have 2 YUKONS & 3 SCOUTS.Every single one has it's own tag,less than $30.00 bucks.Completely legal.

[Green&Gold]

If that's legit, its a brilliant idea. I never thought of that! So say I own two portables. I license one and put a duplicate tag on the second. Then I go fishing with a group of guys, several of which do not have their own house. So I borrow my second house (with the duplicate tag) to them. Then they fish on the same outing at the same time in our group. So there are two portables essentially with the same license on the ice at the same time. This scenario couldn't possibly be legal could it?

[hanson]

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This scenario couldn't possibly be legal could it?

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I don't believe it is.

If you have 2 houses being fished in at the same time, they need separate licenses.

The duplicate license is a great idea so you always have a license on your house if you have multiple houses, BUT you can only fish one of the houses at a time with that license. Once you start fishing out of 2 simultaneously, you'll need 2 licenses.

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

100% legal,a buddie of mine is the one who told me.He has 2 perm. houses up on the pond.So,my next outting when I got the visit from the local CO,the first thing I asked him was this very question.QUOTE:"As long as your shelter has a valid shelter tag,it is legal".Then he made a good point about how guides would have to spend half a years wages to get out on the ice and make a living.So,I asked what the max qty is on 1 tag for duplicates... NO LIMIT(that he knew of).I have done this now for around 6 years and have never had any trouble.

[Green&Gold]

I don't know, sounds like some differing opinions on this one. Not that I don't want to take anyone's word for it, but I will probably run it by our friendly conservation officer up here in Duluth, who I happen to know personally. At any rate, thanks for the idea Crappiebait, you may have saved me a few bucks this winter especially since I have to buy a non-resident license!

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

I understand,when in dout always call a CO before you listen to anyones advice with legal issues.Never hesitate to call them,everyone of them I have ever spoke with are great people and always return my messages.They even seem kind of happy when you call them.Besides,it's cheaper to call them and find out rather than pay a fine,possible sentence only to find out the hard way.

[Gus]

I had it explained to me exactly how hanson stated it last winter. I ordered my shelter tag online and they accidentally sent me two copies of it. I called them to make sure I wasn't charged for two and they told me that I was not and that the other one was a duplicate. I then asked them the legality of using it on the ice. I was told that I could stick it on each one of my houses but I could only use one shack at a time. So I stuck one on my perm and one on my portable and I can't be in two places at one time so according to what I was told I was perfectly legal.

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

HHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Gonna have to check this out.I guess I have never had all the houses on the ice at once.I could see that being the case.

[riverrat56]

Just emailed the DNR about it, hope to get an answer by monday or tuesday, it would be a great deal if you could buy duplicates.....

[PierBridge]

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I had it explained to me exactly how hanson stated it last winter. I was told that I could stick it on each one of my houses but I could only use one shack at a time. I was told I was perfectly legal.

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100 percent correct....only one shack at a time for the License holder........

Now how about this hypothetical my buddies and I are fishing in my Standard 10 x 20 on Mille Lacs with my shelter tag and I then go out to the flats with my portable and my duplicate license is everybody legal.....probably safe but legal I don't know.

[BIG DS]

Just a note on this thread, a duplicate license voids the original. If you find the original after buying the duplicate, the original needs to be destroyed. If you chose to have more than one shelter you need to by a resident darkhouse shelter tag for each.

[Animal]

I don't thnk the duplicate license theroy holds much water. The purpose of the duplicate is to provide a replacement for a lost or destroyed license. I think the judge would look out the corner of his eye and then with a grin on face let you know what your fine is.

[RoadRunner]

I don't understand the complaining about the cost of licensing a fish house. If you can afford 2, 3, or up to 5 houses, you certainly can afford the 15-20 bucks per house to license them properly. Besides, the amount of money it takes to license a fish house for the year is PEANUTS compared to the money most people spend on beer and bait over the same time period (and I don't hear too many people complaining about beer or minnow prices). Buck up and do your share.

[PierBridge]

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Just a note on this thread, a duplicate license voids the original. If you find the original after buying the duplicate, the original needs to be destroyed. If you chose to have more than one shelter you need to by a resident darkhouse shelter tag for each.

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100 percent Incorrect.

No you do not have to buy a shelter license for each shelter you own, you may buy 1 shelter license and a duplicate and use both license's one on each house and you are 100 percent legal as long as you are not using both houses at the same time.

Hope this clears things up for you guys.

[Green&Gold]

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I don't understand the complaining about the cost of licensing a fish house...Buck up and do your share.

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I'm not about complaining, if it is the law for me to pay for 2, 3, etc. licenses, then I will do it. You are right, I spend a lot more throughout the year on the other "amenities." Nevertheless, if it is completely legal to accomplish the same task with duplicates, you better believe that I'm going to save the money. Why would I "buck it up" and shell out more money if the law doesn't mandate it. $15 is $15 and I'm not going to throw it away if I don't have to.

Oh, and by the way, I know its my choice, but I live in WI, and therefore have to pay over $40 to license my house. So we are talking almost $100 if I want to license a second house. Once again, I'll be the first in line to pay it if that's what our/your lawmakers ask. But I'm certainly not going to volunteer it if I can circumvent it legally. JH

[BIG DS]

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100 percent Incorrect.

No you do not have to buy a shelter license for each shelter you own, you may buy 1 shelter license and a duplicate and use both license's one on each house and you are 100 percent legal as long as you are not using both houses at the same time.

Hope this clears things up for you guys.

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WHAT YOU JUST POSTED IS INCORRECT. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CALL THE DNR AT 1-877-348-0498. YOU NEED TO BUY A SEPERATE TAG FOR EACH SHELTER USED!! I AM A DNR LICENSE AGENT. BUY THE TAGS, THEY ARE CHEAPER THAN THE FINES.

[PierBridge]

Once again, I'll be the first in line to pay it if that's what our/your lawmakers ask. But I'm certainly not going to volunteer it if I can circumvent it legally. JH

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Of course your not going to waste your money when you don't have to.

Just so your not using more then 1 of your shelters at the same time your good to go.

So under some peoples illusions I would have to buy 6 shelters license's in each state Mn and Wisc to the tune of $300.