Using 2 rods

[Lip RIPPER!]

This has probably been beaten to death but what is everyone's opinion on anglers using 2 rods during the open water season?

[Northlander]

WE use 3 all the time in Wi. We use 2 on the St.Louis river where I mostly fish and I dont think it has increased my catching % all that much. Now 3 on the ice helps a bit to narrow down where the fish are. 2 tip ups out around ya and jig in the house with 1. More and more often I find myself just using 1 rod to jig and 1 to deadstick or bobber with in the winter. Especially if its cold or windy. The icehouse is always warm.

[Umma Gumma]

I'd like to see two on at least some stretches of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. I don't think that such a provision would affect harvest percentages all that much, since most probably don't keep a whole lot of fish from some of those stretches anyway.

[Mr Special]

I vote for two. It would sure be nice have a rod out for cats and casting to kill some time.

[hcrider]

Didn't someone have a post on here a while back about this same topic, they had an online petition started too.

[DTro]

So far I've got a whoppin 30 sigs, but ya gotta start somewhere right?

Click me to sign petition

[Cooter]

I think one rod such as in Canada is rediculous while 3 here in WI may be excessive, 2 seems about right. Only a few situations where 3 rods/lines is beneficial.

[Animal]

Trolling the bottom for walleyes with two rods doesn't work for me. I would like to use two rods slip bobber fishing or trolling with cranks. I am happy with the MN regulation of one man one rod.

[eddy]

I"m all for 2 rods, the replie above answered my question if you could use 2 trolling, can you have multiple hook setups for like crappie fishing? every place ive fished usually had a 2 pole limit but i guess when you have that many fish up there, you will still catch a fair amount of fish, at the same point watching one bobber might put me to sleep, having to go back and forth to 2 different boobers might keep me from getting hypnotized, especially at night when your watching them, sometimes you think that the bobber moved and your partner says no your just seeing things lol, what a blast

[Captain B.R.K]

Having two rods at one time for me would make my arms and hands sore from reel em' in all the time

Seriously though I think 1 rod per angler is just fine for fishing. With the area of water one can carry as well as the technology that we have on open water......2 rods,3 rods and whole fist full of rods at that would make us pretty deadly.

I'm thinking the whole resources came into play when the law was set in motion.

[sightfisher]

I grew up using 2 or 3 rods at a time; 2 in Pennsylvania, and 3 while living in Maryland. There is definitly a place for only one, but sometimes.... Three I admit can be more of a nuisance than it is worth, but two can be ideal. I agree that an extra rod does not necessarily mean more harvest; absolutely though it can be more fun, especially for kids and beginners.

[hcrider]

Just about every other state around Minnesota allows more than one line per angler. I don't think it should matter if you use 1 line or 20 lines. But honestly, I think 2 or 3 lines per angler is completely legitimate. Especially for trolling for lakers, etc.

I'd like to see more people sign that petition.

HCRider

[Tyler Holm]

Legal limits should be such that no matter how many rods you are using, you can only harvest a certain number of fish. I'd rather see the GFP allow an angler the opportunity to catch more fish and if its hurting fish populations, reduce the daily bag limit.

I'm from South Dakota where a 2 line limit in open water is legal and 4 rods on ice. It sure is nice to be able to use a 2nd rod in open water.

I signed the petition above.

[Dave B]

Sure, limits are limits, but more fish will be harvested if you allow more than one rod. I dont think that most of our fisheries would do well w/ additional harvest, even if it is only 10-20%.

What I wouldnt mind (if I can be selfish) is 2 rods on catch and release waters. Or, on water where there is very tight restrictions or slots. The problem here is that if you allow 2 rods for eyes on water (like the St Louis River) where you can only keep 2, that would also allow 2 rods for all fish.

I fish Pool 2 and have never kept a fish from there. I would love to be able to use 2 rods to dial in a pattern faster.

[FOOT]

Umma Gumma, it has been legal to use 2 rods for a long time on portions of the Miss. such as Lake Pepin.

To those of you who think it's difficult or a person is going to take too many fish or catch them too fast, I say nope probably won't happen. Bobber fishing or letting one lay on the bottom while slow reeling one across the bottom certainly helps. Pullin cranks it would be nice as well.

I still see the vast majority of people who fish the Miss. stick to one rod no matter what/how they are fishing.

I guess I'd be on the side of allowing 2 rods state wide. I don't think it makes that much difference.

There have been times when its been adventagious to use 2 rods and other times that it hasn't. I find trying to run 2 rods while rigging, especially with another person in the boat, is pretty tough. Vertical jigging with 2 rods can be done with a little practice.

[Aquaman01]

I'm in the 2 rod camp, myself. If the limit laws, slot laws and seasons are enforced, two lines are not a harvest advantage, but a strategic advantage.

[Nova]

Pulling deep cranks on Mille with one guy can be awful tough with the one rod rule. I would love to be able to use 2 rods, but I would have trouble trying to rig with 2. Bobber fishing would be ok sometimes, but if you can keep up with 2 rods you should probably move to a better spot. The only time i would take advantage of this is when I am pulling boards on Mille Lacs. I would be all for this 2 rosd rule.

[Willy]

I'm all for 2 rods. The limits are set for a reason.

I signed the petition too.

[Lip RIPPER!]

DTRO, what kind of numbers do you have on your petition?

[DTro]

Well it jumped up quick with that last bump, just under 50 now