Where Everyone going Opening Day Spearing?

[bassNspear]

I found it. I found the page where it just shows the spear and where it talkes alittle bit about him. I am going to send him a email tommorrow. Thanks again

[bassNspear]

Looks like we are going to be seeing more ice forming on the lakes here in the next few weeks. From what the weather is looking like in the state to the west, we should be getting colder soon!!!!!!

[npn74]

I have come late to this discussion but have strong opinions I would like to share. So much has been said it is tough to decide where to start.

We "spearers" are a very small group of people. I don't have the numbers, but remember reading about the steady decline of licenses sold in the state in the past few decades. As everyone can see we are very passionate about our sport. I have spent a few evenings this past month making a couple of decoys from a block of basswood. The same way my father and grandfather did decades ago. The tradition of the sport IS very important. I will go out on a local lake (hopefully soon) with my cigar box of handmade decoys and a great antique spear probably made in the 30's or 40's at the BN railroad shop in Brainerd. That is it. I will spend probably an hour cutting and chiseling a hole in the ice. Many times I will only see a couple of pike. But the satifaction of seeing a hungry pike going after a decoy that I made is quite a thrill. It does not get more basic or simple than dark house spearing. This is a tradition that should never be lost. I don't know if I am just a bad spear fisherman, but I have not seen a trophy northern come through the hole. I know that there are not as many around as there used to be, but if you listen to those against spearing they make it sound as if you open up a spear hole and the 40" fish flock to your hole. This is not true. My theory on the decline of trophy pike is it has been gradual. From the stories I hear about the 50's very few people would CPR a 40" pike if they caught one in the open water season. They either ended up be eaten or mounted. Decades of angling and spearing for the "trophy" have hurt the pike population. The other factor may be the MN DNR liberal limits in the past and present. I don't think we have looked to the future of fishing like they have in Cananda. I fished a great lake in Northern Ontario this past summer..lots of walleye. The limit was 3 fish..all under 18". That is just fine with me. Who needs more than 3 fish a day? Minnesota spends millions of dollars on walleyes. We as tax payers spend miilions on walleyes. Why?? So that the tourists flock to our lakes to catch their liberal limits of walleye each year. It is all about money. This may be off topic, but I am getting back to my point. We don't stock pike as far as I know. Why? are the numbers that low that we should? I dont think so. We have a lot of pike in our lakes, the average size is not good. But I do not think banning spearing is going to make any noticable difference. As I said before..WE are a VERY, VERY small group of people who enjoy the tradition of winter spearing. I am almost positive that you have to be a resident of the state to spear. WE HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT ON THE Lakes. I want trophy pike back in this state as much as anybody. But this is going to take a lot of time, a lot of work with the DNR, and good ethical fishing and spearing. I am no expert, but I think pike would be considered an under-utilized game fish. Most walleye anglers hate to cath these "slimers" and can't wait to get them off their line. "We" love the pike. One of the most aggresive hunters in the lake. We take our "slimers" here and there and enjoy a meal of fish. If you have not expierenced a dark house I reccomend you at least try it once. Heath's Resort on Whitefish lake rents spear houses for a very reasonable price. It is a thrill that can not be duplicated, it is a thrill and deeply rooted tradition that will fit in with future fishery plans. Do not lump "us" together as poachers, muskie killers, and meat hunters. I think most of "us" have a deep respect for nature and conservation. It has been said in this thread many times before..there are bad deer hunters, bad anglers and bad spearers... We should not punish the ethical legal spearers for the mistakes of a few.

So as you walleye angler head to the lake with your gas auger, vexilar, aqua vu cameras and GPS think about "us" fishing the way our grandfathers did. I own a GPS and Vexilar and plan on using them this year also...but somedays I want to "unplug" and fish in the most simple way.

Nels

[RK]

Hiya -

Thanks for the thoughts Nels... It articulates very very well how many spearers feel about the sport.

It also really gets to the heart of the issue as a whole: how much of an affect does spearing have on pike populations. One the one hand, yes, spearer numbers overall are low. But can even low effort with a high harvest rate of mature or near-mature size pike (high being relative to the percentage of the population those fish represent, not necessarily raw numbers of fish harvested) have an effect on the pike fishery that's unbalanced relative to effort? This is, I think, the real thorny issue with spearing. Take one example - creel survey data from a fairly large lake in northern MN. Spearing was 2% of the effort directed at Northern Pike. Spearing accounted for 24% of the pike harvested in pure numbers (i.e., counting fish). By weight, however, spearing was 51% of the NP harvest. When you figure 24% of the fish accounted for more than half the total by weight...spearers ARE taking a larger portion of large fish than other anglers. That's not supposition, speculation, or theory. It's math.

Right now I'm part of a group discussing these issues with the DNR, and it's been interesting to say the least. It's an impossibly thorny issue. As I said in my first post on this thread weeks ago, spearing's part of my heritage too, so I get the passion. But it still doesn't make reconciling spearing with improving pike populations a challenge with any easy answers.

I know many that post here have said their overall harvest is low. I don't doubt that at all. There are also a lot of spearing advocates that don't see any reason why spearing should be banned on some muskie lakes, because they don't spear muskies. The problem is, not everyone who spears is as responsible and ethical. If anyone wants to try to argue that nobody spears muskies, I have some photos to show you. Or ask the DNR. On one muskie lake where spearing IS allowed, 14% of the muskies captured during the spring survey showed signs of spear wounds. Those are the ones that lived... It does happen, and saying it doesn't is either an example of benign ignorance or utter denial. I take it on faith that it's the former. You may not do it, but there are those that do, and it does have implications for management of the fishery that have to be considered. That's true whether the issue is illegally speared muskies, or legally speared pike that by being harvested have an effect on the pike population dynamic and by extension the fishery as a whole.

Nels brought up a great point about MN limits, etc, compared to Ontario, for example. I couldn't agree more. But time and again it's been shown that there's no public appetitte for reduced bag limits. I think most MN anglers believe the right to 6 walleyes a day is in the state constitution. The result is a classic case of the Tragedy of the Commons. Everyone wants 'their share' no matter what the consequences are for the fishery... And in this I'm not just talking about spearing but about anglers as a whole...

Like I've said several times in this discussion...lots of complexities to the issues, and no simple answers. Keep the discussion civil, but keep it going. It's a conversation all interested parties need to participate in.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[npn74]

I don't deny that some muskies are speared. Just like I don't deny that many anglers this winter will keep twice thier limit of walleys or crappies on many fishing trips. That is unfortunate, but true. We will never stop poaching. I am all for increased fines and stiff penalties to those who break the law. Spear a musky..$1000 fine..take too many crappies...$1000 fine. Let's deal with poachers that way, not outlaw a method of fishing that means so much to a small group of dedicated sportsmen. Will Gull Lake get muskies? Should that mean that "we" have to leave that lake now. Musky fishing seems to be booming in MN. And I think most pike fisherman or spearers are happy muskies are coming to more lakes. I am guessing most people who spear would like to fish for musky during the summer months. I think you have some walleye anglers who will take matters into their own hands when it comes to controlling the musky population. They may have more of an impact than spearers..who knows..We can't stop poaching, but I hope the DNR will increase the fines and pressure on those who poach.

The ice is coming and I am looking forward to swimming my new decoys. Sometimes they don't work at all and I have to try to re-balance them...but carving and painting the decoys and preparing is half the fun..as we all know fishing and hunting is not all about the harvest or kill. It's a Minnesota tradition.

Nels

[Early Riser]

Good post Rob. Some common ground here is educating spearers about the problem of mistaking a muskie for a northern. Like hunting, if you are not absolutely sure of the shot - don't take it.

We also have to keep educating people anglers and spearers alike, especially kids about selective harvest and respect for our resources. Kids go the way they are brought up.

Some more data on Minnesota anual gamefish harvest:

Panfish 65 million pounds

Walleye 35 million pounds

Northern 3.5 million pounds

With selective harvest, special regs and good enforcement, we should be able to bring back some lakes and protect others from over-harvest of big northerns.

Well, I am leaving soon with our kids to go spearing up north - good times together and great opportunity to teach them the right way to go.

[Early Riser]

npn74, let us know how the decoys work out - hope they bring in a lot of fish!

[Duck Matt]

Just bought my spearing liscense and shelter tag at lunch today. I have not speared in a few years but it is time for my five year old son to start spearing, about the same age my grandpa and dad took me for the first time. Going to try a couple of small lakes north of deer river.

[bassNspear]

This weather rocks. Its going to make the ice that were looking for when it comes to getting on the water to spear some pike. I was in the basement tonight getting everything ready to go, now its only time will tell on the ice. Im getting jacked andi cant wait to hit the lakes around cass lake.

[flagsup]

hockey guy you rock!im sitting here laughing out loud,sarcasm just isnt understood by everybody i guess.heres to trapping deer to control squirrel problems,and wait till the gun control advotes here about shooting pike

[Central Bassman]

Yea this weather is nice. Ones it gets nice and cold it would be nice to get some SNOW!!! so we can walk on the nice just fine!!!!

No we understand Sarcasm but he is just a cry baby!!!

[flagsup]

yea we got our cold weather,most of the lakes around here are skimmed over,wont be long now.i havnt speared since i was a kid,prefer tipups myself,but to each his/her own.might have to try spearing again,it is fun to watch the underwaterworld from a birds eye veiw

[bassNspear]

Weather is going to be nice, Looks like is going to stay below freezing to make some ice. I hope that its going get to that point where we can get out and watch some pike move in.

[Bassman]

Hey bass N spear I was wondering if you would know how much ice was on lake Marion?

[bassNspear]

Sorry to say, but i have no idea. I have a few friends in that area, but im never around that area to be able to go and check it out. I can make a phone call or two and see if they have been out there or not, maybe that will help. Where you from?

[Bassman]

I live in the cities but my cousin wants to go spearing and he lives in browton.

[bassNspear]

i was told the lake is and will be very dirty, might want to find another lake in that area to go.

[Central Bassman]

yea some of the lake are just [PoorWordUsage]y for spearing...

What are some of your guys favorite lakes to go spearing on???

[bassNspear]

Does anyone know of places that are selling spears right now in the area of Chaska?

[bassNspear]

Was out today on a metro lake. Had about 6 inches of ice. Saw three pike but didnt throw at any of them. Man it was nice to see them fish move into the decoy. Im jacked for the spearing season.

[Central Bassman]

Cool... im goin to head out this weekend and hopefully stike a big one. I dont know where im goin but it really doesnt matter!!!

[bassNspear]

Was out on Waverly today. All that i seen were Carp and Bass. No Pike. Going to get out on a Metro lake tommorrow. Anyone else been out and having any luck.

[mille lacs muskie bum]

Went out for my first time today and loved it. Saw 4 never threw the spear. I will definatly go again. I would like to know if the 5 tine is better than the 7 tine by preference, also weighted or unweighted. Also what is your favorite color and styles of decoys.

[Central Bassman]

Hey MLMB.. Where did you get out on??? I would get the 7 tine because when you have a chance to throw at a bigger fish you will have better odds of gettting a good hit on it and killing then just hitting it on the side.. and Weighted.

A red decoy is good but some time not haveing one or just trying different color can work good to. It just like fishing u need to try different colors and see what the fish tell you!!

[bassNspear]

honetly, i usta throw a 5 but after i broke a tine, i went to a 7 and i will never go away from it. Reason that i like the seven is because you have alot more tines where you are able to hit the pike with a solid kill shot, not hittin git with just one tine and then not killing the pike.

You have to look at it alot of different ways, I use red and one 85% of the time, i do have other colors that i use, but the red and white is my go to color. Anything that is bright, i found works well.