Two line / Four line rule...

[njsimonson]

As a North Dakotan, I enjoy fishing four lines. Usually two in the house and two tip ups set for pike or whatever. As we have a good number of lakes with pike in them, this helps up the catch rate, and is a lot of fun when we have multiple anglers in the group.

What is the Minnesota view on Tip-Ups? Are they too effective, too troublesome to monitor for DNR, or what? Has anyone considered lobbying for more lines than just the two that are allotted? Just wondering what everyone's take is on the 2-line v. 4-line scenario is.

Though I don't fish them religiously, I think tip ups provide a great way to cover the water, and isolate good fish holding areas.

[Northlander]

It would be nice to have 4 out but 2 is fine by me. We fish 3 in Wi. and I seldom use all 3 lines. Only when strictly tip up fishing do I use all 3. You are correct they do give you a great idea of where the fish are holding at times.

[ASMOLEY]

When the fish are biting i have a hard time fishing two lines i can't even imagine fishing four!

[paceman]

I would be all for a four line rule. It would be very helpful to try different jigs, minnows... until a pattern was developed. If the limit of fish is still the same I do see any harm in fishing with more lines....

[metrojoe]

I think tip-up fishing is a lot of fun. My kids really get a kick out of seeing a flag up. I've been to outings where tip-up fishing is all we do. We get a big group together and cover an area looking for them pike. As far as 4 lines go, I'm satisfied with using only 2. There are situations in the summer where I wish I could use 2, but not often enough to make a stink about it.

[rundrave]

we have 4 lines in south dakota as well, I dont complain, but its awfully hard to go to minnesota and only use 2.

Its just nice to have 4 lines in 4 different depths to help see where the fish are, and try different setups.

[fisherking01]

should ask the guys fishing with four six or more lines if they're catching more fish. I personally know who the guy in the report of no license, seven lines, no snowmobile registration, no shelter license, no say of fish, that's right no fish. If they aren't biting on 2 then 4 is no better. It is fun if you have the kids out and can run a bunch of tip ups, really keeps em busy! Thats if they're biting of course. I say 2 is fine, but I really don't care. I'll fish within the limit. I use 4 in ND, never caught many, could have used 2 and saved the bait.

[blue_healer_guy]

To me number of lines isn't the issue. Limits are. No matter how many lines you have, not to go over a limit is my concern. I really can't remember the last time I have brought a limit home tho.

[hanson1287]

I feel that even 2 lines is too many in the winter. The way I see it is that when you have 2 lines you have a better chance of deep hooking a fish and killing it. If you have one line you'll focus on it and won't have that happen. Another thing is that think of if everybody was able to catch their limit each time they went out. What fun would fishing be if it's not a challenge. Also think about the future of these fishing lakes. The more we take out now, the chances are the fishing isn't going to be so hot there in the future.

[njsimonson]

Here in ND, we use a process I call dragnetting Where three or four of us will set up 9-12 tip ups in an area and make a sort of drag-net that fish will swim through. We identify what depths, and where in those depths fish are biting, and start concentrating our efforts there.

While the dragnet of tip ups is out, we punch a grid and work that jigging. An effective way to cover areas and find fish.

Do you suppose tip ups would be more popular in MN if you could use more lines?

[sluggo106]

I'm happy with 2 lines in MN. I use only one unless I run a tipup for pike while fishing pannies or eyes. And yeah the tipups are awesome for kids. It makes crack up everytime a young kid almost falls over themself trying to get to the tipup that popped.

[Fishin Beast]

I could just picture the metro ice shack towns with twice or three times as many tip-ups

Having 2 lines in the summer though would be a nice option in Minnesota.

Kinda nice when you can jig with one rod and have a bobber setup on the other.

[fishin5]

While growing up in Nebraska we could have 15 lines per person!!!! We had 45 tip ups and would put em all out at times! Talk about "busier than a one-armed paper hanger!!"

[Master Guide]

Ask Raj22 from this site, I hear he has first hand knowledge on tip up laws.

[kdawg]

sluggo, don't know where you got that "saying" at the bottom of your thread, but it cracked-me-up pretty good.

[njsimonson]

Imagine the expense these days! 15 tip-ups at around 12-20 bucks a pop? Yikes 175-300 bucks! I think owning SIX is too many, but its nice to have alternate rigs out too. Course, you could make a tip up out of some line and a cross of wood too.

[tylerflom89]

I say 4 lines, but two must be tip ups. That way, you're only uping your chances on pike (or big walleye), which are hard to find normally.