bullhead fishing

[crowriverfisher]

I was out last night on the crow with a buddy and were using nightcrawlers and caught one bullhead. WE forgot to bring a knife so i ripped it in half and threw it out. Instant cat. THen my buddy put the head on and caught a 10+ lb. Ran out of bullheads didnt get another bite all night. I caught about 40 of them things today anyone know how to rig them with the spines and stuff. I usually use redhorse so i dont know how to work them bullheasds.

[mplspug]

We usually hook them on the back just below the tiny little fin on the top.

[river rat316]

went out to the Crow today with a buddy, covered about 22 miles of water, caught 1 huge pig beast cat, one 4 pounder and about 50 smaller ones 1 pound and under. Was a blast, got fish almost everywhere we stopped, all on cut suckers

[big musk411]

I was out last night[on the Crow] for a couple hours, caught 3 cats 3-6lbs and one yellow bullhead[i think]. I was using sucker minnews cut in half from shore. I was fishing behing some trees in the water. Lost a couple that ran into the snags. May go back out tonight and will try some cut bullhead if I get some.

[crowriverfisher]

last night went to the crow with my buddy and we got about 10 cats biggest being 8+, smallest was a little over 3 lbs. I cut the tails off the bullheads then poke holes in it. seems to be what there liking cause it outfished my buddy untill he switched to it. Will be back tonight.

[mngoosehunter]

just wondering....I thought it was illegal to use any kind of game fish as bait. Maybe this doesnt cover bullheads?

[MedicDan]

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just wondering....I thought it was illegal to use any kind of game fish as bait. Maybe this doesnt cover bullheads?

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these posts explains it. Yes it is illegal if they are over 7 inches. POST 1 POST 2

[mngoosehunter]

alright thanks for clearing that up for me. I appreciate it. Good luck finding bullheads.

[hanson]

Bullheads = Gamefish ???

What is this world coming to.

You can use bullheads over 7" if they were caught in the same body of water that you intend to use them as bait. You can only transport bullheads under 7" to use as bait if that makes any sense.

There has been a push from a number of catfisherman within the last year to have the DNR change the 7" rule. If interested, we need every voice possible to get it to happen.

[MedicDan]

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There has been a push from a number of catfisherman within the last year to have the DNR change the 7" rule. If interested, we need every voice possible to get it to happen.

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I voiced my opinion for it. I think you should be allowed to use any.

[bgreen82]

if anyone is interested and close, out between hastings and etter on 316 and county road 18 there is a river that has a ton of shad in it all the time. between 3 and 8 inches usually. great for cutting up and killing cats. not afraid to tell cuz im telling you there is a bunch of em, and they come back strong every year. back when we were in high school we would go down there and spear them. not sure if thats legal or not. anyways, just a tip for good bait.

[DTro]

*runs out the door with seine*

[hanson]

Dude! Get some for me too!

I'm good for it.

[Kurt Paulsen]

Does anybody use casting nets? I use a seine whenever I can, but casting net is alittle drier. I thought it was illegal to net this time of year?

[ratherbefishn]

bgreen, are you talking about the vermillion?? There are some spots back there that they must get trapped in after the water drops. We duck hunt down in there and some of the puddles will have a ton of them.

[Dennis Steele]

I almost want to skip this weekends trip up to the Rainy for sturgeon just to go get some shad! Well almost!

Casting nets are illegal in MN, period.

YOu can use a dip net, or a seine.

I wouldn't think that spearing is illegal as long as your doing it in season.

[bgreen82]

it might be. im not sure what it is. i know it is right after you turn onto 18 off of 316. if that is the vermillion then that is what it is. ive heard of people hunting out there so theres a good chance thats what it is.

[I Da Man]

Not that it makes a whole lot of differance...but the shad that a person would catch out of the vermillion...or even the old 'sippi is not allowed to be used for bait...even if you are using it on the same body of water...it's the "infested waters rule".

Sometimes I wish the DNR would adopt a "don't ask, don't tell policy". They do a great job, I'm not bashing them.

Above St Anthony Falls you can use 50 inch bullheads for bait...if you can find one and as long as it's not transported from the river.

[Dennis Steele]

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Not that it makes a whole lot of differance...but the shad that a person would catch out of the vermillion...or even the old 'sippi is not allowed to be used for bait...even if you are using it on the same body of water...it's the "infested waters rule".

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Awe...Sure, Be a "buzz kill".

[DARK30]

Maybe they should list the waters that are NOT infested....probably a shorter list.

[Kurt Paulsen]

Man, I searched and searched through the state statutes for fishing and I didn't see anything that prohibited casting nets... I thought that laws applying to sienes applied to cast nets, in that they cannot be beyond a certain size.

[SteveD]

Kurt - In March of 2004 I sent an e-mail to the MN DNR asking them to clarify a number of issues for me regarding the harvesting of bait for personal use. I wanted to catch some shad from the St Croix River using a cast net. I wanted to make sure it was legal before I bought a cast net. This is a copy of a post I made on another forum on March 10, 2004. I hope this helps clarify this issue for you:

I sent an e-mail to the DNR today inquiring about the legality of catching bait for personal use. I specifically asked two questions. #1. Catching and using bullheads for bait. #2. Using a Cast Net for catching Gizzard Shad for bait on the St Croix River. I got a very quick response from the DNR.

In response to question #1 regarding bullheads. Bullheads seven inches and under may be used as bait for angling.

In response to question #2. Cast nets are not legal for use in Minnesota. They also added that the St Croix River is closed to the taking of minnows and bait from Taylor Falls to the confluence of the Mississippi River. I asked for a clarification on this regulation and this is the response from the DNR. "The St Croix is closed to the taking of minnows due to the fact it is infested with zebra mussels. In the synopsis, the only waters where minnows may be taken and used in the same waters is those infested waters that contain Eurasian water milfoil. An example would be Lake Mille Lacs. Waters that contain invasive fish or invertebrates are closed to the taking of minnows.

[Gopher_Guy]

I'll tell you, MN has some of the most screwed up rules when it comes to fishing. Hunting too for that matter. Fortunately most of my fishing is done in MN/WI border water so I can use 2 rods.

[Kurt Paulsen]

Man, that is wierd. If they are stating that cast nets are illegal, they must have defined that is some sort of secret codebook! The DNR site as well as the MN legeslative section on natural resources doesn't mention anything about cast nets or even the definition of a minnow seine. My confusion comes into their definitions. If I tied a rope to a sqaure minnow seine and threw it out, it would technically be a cast net, but it is actually a seine on a rope? I don't know... I think they need to be more up front about these laws if they actually want anyone to know what is going on...

[mplspug]

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Man, that is wierd. If they are stating that cast nets are illegal, they must have defined that is some sort of secret codebook! The DNR site as well as the MN legeslative section on natural resources doesn't mention anything about cast nets or even the definition of a minnow seine. My confusion comes into their definitions. If I tied a rope to a sqaure minnow seine and threw it out, it would technically be a cast net, but it is actually a seine on a rope? I don't know... I think they need to be more up front about these laws if they actually want anyone to know what is going on...

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Ignorance of the law is not a defense.....

.....and confusing laws are an easy way to make money.