Officers Ponder Pattern Of Ice Fishing Violations

[BUSHWAC]

We were just talking about this past weekend as Duffman and I were pulling Rainbow Trout through the ice. I would be more than willing to pay for an extra line. I talked about the fact that I enjoy messing with multiple rigs more than stock piling fish. If I could fish multiple lines I would be open to a lower or even no fish in possession. When you go to Ontario they offer you a conservation license with a reduced limit. I see this as a chance for the state to make more money; it seems at times that’s what they are more concerned with. I was wishing I could have at least fished two lines trout fishing this past weekend. As noted in Duffmans post on the photo forum, we let every Rainbow go.

[Gus]

Conservation license! I forgot about that! I thought that was the greatest idea when I was on the Canadian LOW a few years ago. MN should seriously think about that.

[Bobby Bass]

Why are you considering adding two more lines because there are people out there breaking the law. If the law was 4 lines I would be willing to wager that those same anglers would have 6 lines out. Fishing rules and regulations do more then control the number of fish taken but also they control the scope and manner fish are taken. The end result of a fishing trip is not always the number of fish taken but the experience of the fishing event itself. Because some are breaking the law we need to change the law to make it legal for what they are breaking? I have been saying it for years, we don't need new laws we need to enforce the laws we have. The CO's are doing their jobs as best as they can. The comment about an angler receive a cell phone call warning them about the CO on the ice just goes to show the attitude of those anglers and the disregard for the law. that's my two cents.

[FISHER ED]

I've said it once and I'll keep saying it. The fines we currently have for hunting and fishing violations are TOO little. This is just a generalization but what is a $100 to a person fishing in a brand new Ranger being pulled by a new SUV? Probably chump change. Maybe even $1000 isn't much to this person but it would allow the courts and the DNR to make better examples out of these people than just slapping them on the wrist and then letting them go to do it all over again.

These people getting caught are all adults. They know exactly what they are doing and are making a conscious effort to break the laws. I like the idea of a stiff fine and a forfeit of your property used in breaking the law. Can you imagine the heat some guy would get if he had to call his wife and ask her to pick him up at the lake because the CO just seized his truck? Now that would be a lesson.

[Random guy]

Two and two/summer and winter. Simple and it just makes sense. Many times we would only use one in the summer but when trolling, catfishing, or some other form of stationary fishing when it is easy to handle two lines why not?

[oil painter]

I agree two lines summer or winter, there are times when two is too many but then slip bobin at nite? who cares what about surrounding states?on big stone use 2 on wisc. ice use 3 make sense? It appears the logic is u will catch more with more lines but if the fish aint bitin 10 lines wont do you any good either!! and if they are bitin you will be done quicker so who cares? 2 lines ice or summer my 2cents

[CrappieJohn]

Here in the SE corner of the state we can fish the two lines in the Mississippi River and associated backwaters. The two rods are managable until the fish get on a tear. Then you can only fish one. I really can't see where the use of two lines would harm the fishery in any way and would support a year-round two rod law. Having fished with as many as six lines (three people) on the river while trolling I can say with honesty that it is a handful and not one I deal with well.

[DTro]

well since it's been brought up again.........I have this little petition started :

Two Line Petition

50 sigs so far

[Walleye Guy]

I have a cabin in Wisconsin and one of my most successful tactics is to anchor on a piece of structure and work it with a slip bobber while casting a crank bait. I would like to have this option in MN.

I don't think paying for an extra line is the way to go. Too hard to enforce. Everyone should have the same priviledges on their basic license in my opinion. Two lines year round is reasonable.

I would also like to see the fines increased for extra lines and poaching.

I would also like to see the fishing license cost raised for everyone and use the money to increase fish stocking and eliminate the need for a fish house license on portable fish houses. I think an all in licnese with a higher cost is better than the nickel-dime approach the state currently uses. I would have no issue with an individual license that costs $50. Maybe a cheaper license for the 16-20 years olds and senior citizens.

just my opinion...great topic...

WG

[Guest]

I would have a problem with paying $50 for a fishing license. That is not reasonable. I already pay more than that for the license, trout stamp, shelter tags, boat, ATV and snowmobile registration, parking permits(city, state, and county parks).. etc. These are all expenses already paid due to fishing. An extra line should not just be an option to those who want to pay more for a license.. it should be an option to everyone who buys a license.

I have been around the country fishing and cant think of anywhere else only one line is allowed.. and there are way fewer bodies of water in the state (limited lakes to fish) and an excessive number of people who fish the lakes. There are more liberal limits on what can be harvested to those who wish to keep fish... and the quality of the fisheries is good.

An extra line is not going to increase our catch much, but it sure would increase our chances on catching something when the fishing is tough.. or it would allow us to make the most of the time we do get on the water.

[castmaster]

i completely disagree with the idea that one should be able to "buy" the ability to use extra lines. hunting and fishing in this country are already on their way to be a sport of "kings". its getting tougher and tougher for guys and gals of modest means to participate, the last thing we need is to let those with more money "buy" extra priviledges. whats next? the oppurtunity to "buy" higher posession limits? "buy" the right to fish during closed seasons? the list could go on and on.

i am certainly not opposed to being able to use 2 lines in the summer and 3 in the winter, any more than that leads to problems, in my opinion. i am opposed to allowing anyone to "buy" extra priviledges!

[AQUAJOE]

I think the amount of lines are fine the way ther are.

I also agree with castmaster that the ability to buy extra is a bad idea and I would be apposed to that as well.

As for the limits I think the way they are now is fine.

I would suggest raising the License fee to help pay for more enforcement of the current laws.

I would also like to see the fines and penalties go up for breaking the laws also public service work with DNR to help CO's. Even go as far as go back to the way it used to be take the gear the boat trailer and vehicle for major offenses.

I fish alot and many different lakes and it has been 7 years since I have even had a CO stop buy to see what was up. Now I am not comlaining but you would think that if you fish alot you might see one more often.

Just my .02 cents.

[metrojoe]

Exellent points castmaster. I've fished the Mississippi where two lines are legal and that can be a fiasco. When the fish are biting it's exhausting trying to keep 2 lines going. I ended up fishing with one and I believe I did just as well if not better than the guys I was with.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Two lines summer and winter.

[Dave]

I'm not really for or against more lines during summer but, some points were brought up. I don't care if the guy next to me pays whatever to use 10 lines (it's his money) he can only keep as much as I can. I do agree to keep the license price down though, to help everyone to be able to participate.

[LMITOUT]

Put me down for 2 Summer/2 Winter with no extra fees. One line in the summer while trolling cranks (which is my favorite thing to do) drives me bonkers. I love getting back to ND with four lines and planers with a buddy. That's fun! There is a possession limit already.....why not allow 2 lines? We are fined enough for everything else we do, no need for a "user fee" on an extra line.....I've already bought a MN resident license which allows me a limit of fish per day.

Whether I get them fast or slow it's still a limit for the day............

[jigginjim]

Tht guy, I totally disagree with you on the fishing in other states. Yes they can use more lines but that just leads to poorer fishing. I had a gentleman here from georgia on a guide trip. He was amazed as to how fast even the little fish would bit. He state "back home you could for 10-15 minutes between bites when fishing sunfish." I have fished Alabama, there you can use up to 6 lines per person. The fishing was not all that great 5-10 minutes between bites. I was fishing crappies on a military base where only military people could fish and they claimed that was great for them. The fishing in other states not what we have here in minnesota. Sure all the staes that surround us allow more lines. But some I wonder at what cost? Maybe no closed seasons fish year round for pike and walleyes.

I do believe in high costs for those that take over the limit. And judges should not give in to "I was fishing for trophy crappies" in april when a was casting a 3/8 spinner bait. Come on what moron would even think a crappie fishing with a 3/8oz spinner bait. A 1/8 maybe on upper red but that even seems to big. We do need to crack the whip on those guys who bragg about all the fish they kept. 5 years without hunting and fishing combine to two. If your tagged for 1 you lose all rights to fish or hunt. And make it hurt big time 2% of your annual income. Major ouch.

And keep all money the in the DNR fund. No money gets to the general fund like it does how. If the dnr can't do a project and have money left over. It gets shifted over to the general fund now. My fishing money for some on state aid rael nice when I would like that money to hire more CO's keep the poarch at bay.

[Ice9]

The whole DNR mission is a tough one for enforcement. I think that any changes should be made with the aim of simplifying the enforcement process and raising the profile of the agency.

They have to split hairs all the time. What are you fishing for--whether that big spinnerbait is a crappie presentation or something else. Why can't we fish differently if we have the same bag limit? slots, culls, knock, no-knock, all of that. It's tough enough. A lot of the regulations don't make obvious sense. The Minnesota reg book is the thickest one I ever saw. I think that a lot of the violation comes from the perception of the difficulty of enforcement, and the thinness of that enforcement. You know the old saying, there's never a cop around when you need one? That goes double for a CO. Makes it frustrating to follow the rules when you're surrounded by people who are doing what they want and rarely getting checked. Also makes you careless, and I've often found myself in violation unintentionally for details--forgot to hang the tag on the shelter. Left my wallet in the cabin. When the CO finally does walk up on me one day, I won't be surprised if I take home a ticket even though I observe the fundamentals of the law very scrupulously.

So I say simplify the rules, enforce them thoroughly, give the cops lots of authority to make judgement calls, hire lots of cops, focus on violations that damage the quality of the experience for the law-abiding, don't go overboard on enforcement and fine because deterrence doesn't work well. Fine the same, maybe less, but suspend privileges more.

two lines summer and winter would seem to make sense.

ice

[Wade Joseph]

I agree with all you said Ice9 with one exception...CO's should not get to make judgement calls. The only one they have a right to is wether or not to give you a warning or a ticket. the rest is NOT up to their "interpretation".

I do not relish going to court to fight soemthing I am not guilty of becasue the CO interprets tha law differently.

[Raj22]

Well I got my first ticket of my life, 36 years, yesterday, unattended line. Let me know if I should fight it or pay it. My buddy and I were on Red catching nothing. I go outside drill hole about 75 feet from house and fish it with my jigging stick. My dead stick is still in the portable with the bail open and my buddy. 15 minutes later, officer pulls up and gives me a ticket for an unattended line. Whats the difference between this and using a tip up, or bringing 3 kids and fishing 8 lines or sleeping in a house with lines down?

I have one more argument. When he pulled up on the sled, he identified himself and asked for licenses. My buddy comes out of the house and goes to the pickup to get his license. While he is in the pickup and I am walking over the officer enters the fishhouse without permission and sees my deadstick. If he would have asked we certainly would have given it to him because I thought were legal. If he wants to split hairs so can I.

Then he goes on to say that he is doing us favor by not taking all our gear. Now I have always thought that these guys have a tough job and admired them for it, but come on, theres got to be bigger fish to fry.

Now I have a $120 ticket and will have to take a 1/2 day off work to drive to Bemidji if I want to fight it. Do you guys think its worth it or am I totally in the wrong?

I would like to add that we all were very nice and polite.

[Raj22]

anyone???

[BendnSend]

Ok fella's I have read what everyone on this topic has had to say. This is my perspective. Ok so for what reason are we limited to how many lines we want to fish with? I mean what does it matter? We are still only allowed X amount of fish per day, the way I see it is aslong as the fish is taken my hook and line, why does it matter how many options you allow yourself! And to bring up the argument that when the fish are biting so hot that you cant handle more than one, well then boys you need to be doing something different! Why is it so hard to set the line down and at the same time pick up the other and set the hook. Now repeat the process all over again. I mean how many times "on average" have you been out when that happens? Cuz I tell you what reading all the other posts from fishing reports around the state, nobody and I repeat nobody is doing that in this state! Sure there is times when you cant keep the crappies off the hook, but shoot if the fishing is that darn good, then you should only be on the lake for 5 maybe 10 minutes cuz we cant take anymore than 10! I dont remember ever hearing of any fishing trips that go like this, "Man the fish didnt bite worth a sh_t but I had fun!" No it usually is the amount of fish that determines the fun you tell everyone about. So I say fish em if you got em. Are we limited to 1 bullet when we go deer hunting, NO so why should we be limited to a X amount of chances to bag our fish?

[ryank]

I think that CO's need to focus on the major violators.

[Munk]

I think the CO's need to focus on ANY and All violators as they have been. It prevents a lot of major violations from happening.

[bigbucks]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your post, but your bullet analogy doesn't really hold up. Sure we take more than one bullet, but we only take one gun, or at least can only use one at a time. You take a whole box full of lures & can change as much as you like, but you still only use one at a time.