Where Everyone going Opening Day Spearing?

[Central Bassman]

LOL Muskylover9 you act like a big pike is the only thing in the lake that iwll help keep the population of some fish down and that not right there are many different thing that help keep fish population down. Many type of birds for one!!!

[muskiemachinery]

In a system without Muskies, large pike & monster walleye are in a class by themselves in controlling schooling species population, That's why C&R of large predators is so important. Spearing has had it's time. My grandfather and obviously RK's speared for food in the winter. I also grew up in my Grandfather's spearhouse. It is true that you do learn much about the nature of the lake viewing it thru a spear hole. However, these lessons could be learned just as easily and have the exact same impact with a quick strike sucker rig instead of a spear. You could even still use decoys to attract the Pike in. That way C&R would be an opinion. There is no reason in this day and age not to move in this direction. Spearing is to wasteful, uncontrollable, and devastating to the Pike and other unethically speared species. The temptaion is just to great to many to justify the risk.IMO

[bassNspear]

Spearing is not wasteful. If you would read a few pages back, on where everyone is talking about taking the smaller pike out of the lake to make it less populer. Its not always about spearing the big fish, its about controlling to population of the PIKE. Are you against it or what?

[Central Bassman]

100% for it... There is nothing better to do durning the cold winter mouths!!!!!

[bassNspear]

Got that Right

[Hockey Guy]

Correct me if I’m wrong (and I’m sure some of you will), but I have read this entire post and here is the bottom line conclusions I have come up with:

1. Spearing is fun.

2. Spearing is educational.

3. Spearing is traditional for many families.

4. Pickled Northern is awesome.

5. There’s nothing else to do in the winter. Being the Hockey guy, I have a little problem with this one.

6. It’s a fact that Large Pike are not as common as they used to be. This may or may not be attributed to spearing.

7. Large pike control the population a smaller fish.

8. CPR is not possible when spearing.

9. Somehow large Bucks control the population of squirrels in some areas.

So my solution to all this would be to introduce and enforce a slot limit for spearing. Say… nothing over 26” or something like that. That way the small pike that are over-running the lakes will be reduced by the spearing guys, and the larger pike will be alive to eat the smaller pike as well. After a few years the big pike population should come back.

I also think that large deer should be trapped instead of shot. They should then be released in areas that are over-run with wild squirrels. That should take care of that problem as well!

[MJBo]

I nominate hockey guy for head of the DNR.

[bassNspear]

Ok first off, there is a slot. A angler can not take no more then one fish over 30 inches long. This will allow the lake to be able to hold the bigger fish so there no just taking out the hogs.

Second, if you take a deer to a different location, it is not only going to take away from the location that they are at, but that deer will eventally leave the new location to make its way back to a different location. Plus, can you image how much money will be invested in trapping deer. Think about that for a min.

[Central Bassman]

LOL trapping deer i just stupid...I agree with Bass N Spear!!!!

[PikeKing]

Not only do i worry for you two and your enjoyment of poking fish with spears, but im shocked you cant see the sarcasm of what he is saying about trapping deer. And since you like shooting pike did you ever think of catching a deer with a rod and reel? Just wondering.

[bassNspear]

How does a guy shot a Pike? J/W

[MuskieMojoTackle]

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did you ever think of catching a deer with a rod and reel? Just wondering.

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Now we're talkin'!!

Just like bow hunting...I think I could hit a deer with a Weagle from 20 yards.

[bassNspear]

Im sure you can!! I still would like to know how to shoot a pike through the water??

[mplspug]

One problem with having a length limit on pike is it is difficult to judge the size of a fish through water. How productive is spearing anyway? When I look out on a lake, I usually only see a few dark houses. To me it seems like it's kind of a non issue because their isn't a ton of pressure from it. However if it is easy to bag your possession every day of large 10#+ fish, maybe then it might be something that needs visiting.

I hope some day to get to try it out.

[bassNspear]

For Myself, It is easy to tell where you have a 30 inch fish in the whole. Depends alot on how much fishing you do. The more your out there, the easier it is to tell.

[Hockey Guy]

I am seriously laughing out loud right now! I can’t believe anyone would take me seriously about moving deer to control the squirrel population! I can’t stop laughing here! I guess PikeKing, Mojo, and I should reconsider the influx of sarcasm to these forums before there is a DNR officer at our door accusing us of promoting deer angling. By the way, what type of line would you use for deer fishing? Would you use a steel leader or just tie your line directly to the baby squirrel?

[bassNspear]

Directly

[bassNspear]

I understand where the funny part comes out of that. People just dont understand where i was coming from about the sixe off the fish per lake. I understand that people have a problem with alot of anglers that are spearing everything that comes into the whole. That is why the DNR set standers on it where you can only take one over 30. Makes since to me. But the problem with that is alot of people will go out and take all the smaller fish along with that 30+ fish. I dont think its going to hurt the lake, and the population shouldnt go down, just that it dont get out of hand.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

I have speared in the past and enjoyed it. Its very exciting watching a fish come and stare at the decoy.

The only problem I have with spearing is that the population that is taking part in it, at least the ones I know, are not very conservation minded.

I know a couple guys that speared 3 38-39" pike in one weekend last winter on LOTW because they thought they were over 40, and they wanted their trophy. After they put the tape to 'em and came up short they just tossed 'em under the ice.

I know not all spearers are like that, but most I know will spear anything that comes in the hole

[Cowgirladdict]

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I have speared in the past and enjoyed it. Its very exciting watching a fish come and stare at the decoy.

The only problem I have with spearing is that the population that is taking part in it, at least the ones I know, are not very conservation minded.

I know a couple guys that speared 3 38-39" pike in one weekend last winter on LOTW because they thought they were over 40, and they wanted their trophy. After they put the tape to 'em and came up short they just tossed 'em under the ice.

I know not all spearers are like that, but most I know will spear anything that comes in the hole

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enough said on this subject IMO

[Central Bassman]

Ok first off just because you NOW some people that do that doesn’t mean JACK... There are thousands of people that go out every deer season and shot a big buck and leave that body of the animal in the woods and take the head. Just because one or two people you "NOW" doesn’t mean everyone does and it people that say stuff like that make everyone else believe that talk!!!!!!

[bassNspear]

Not everyone is like that. And i believe that the DNR is pushing alot to force there workers to watch for people that are spearing. This will catch the guys that dont follow the laws.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

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Not everyone is like that. And i believe that the DNR is pushing alot to force there workers to watch for people that are spearing. This will catch the guys that dont follow the laws.

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I realize that, stated it right in my post. I am just saying that those are the guys that put a little sour taste in my mouth about spearing.

[muskiemachinery]

For those of you who are thinking about 'trying spearing' be aware that you need a dark house license and a dark house tag. As far as the house it's self, it must be light tight or your holes light up like a spotlight and nothing will come in. Small Pike are very hard to spear as most spears have a large gap between the tines for big fish. Many smaller Pike are just wounded in the process. Just stabbing a fish also doesn't mean you got it. Even with a head shot the fish thrash and are not easy to get up the hole. Many come off the tines to become turtle food for sure. Wasteful is the key word. No option to release. Nothing back into the resource I've observed by the Dark House Assoc. In this day and age this is a sport we don't need. Think about it.

[muskiemachinery]

Also your dreaming if you think we have enough Wardens to insure compliance to regulations. Currently we are at levels that are less than the 1930's as far as numbers of Wardens. The amount of damage a couple of unemployed yahoos could do to the fishery over a winter is mind numbing. Think if you'd like these two on your favorite lake? (and that's only TWO) Get real. Again I repeat, the potential damage to the resource is NOT WORTH THE RISK.