tackle question?

[fishinmedic]

I'm psyched about this upcoming season. But I have to admit I'm getting disappointed. First I found out (from here) that I'm illegal by cooking walleye on ML. Then I go to FF and buy some new tackle, and after reading the regs, I found out that THAT may be illegal.

The tackle in question is the Northland drop rattle spoon. My question is, if I use the 'trailer hook' when fish are inactive like it says on the package, does that count as two hooks? Is using this spoon in this fashion breaking the law? If it is, and this is the sad part, it's a Minnesota company. (I prefer to keep it local) After reading the regs, it's kind of a gray area. Can anyone shed some light. Thanks.

Fishinmedic

[wplatehunter]

I would say no. I use a stinger hook during open water sometimes and have never had a problem.

[Random guy]

Good thing they simplified the laws a few years back.

How I look at it is a dropper hook would be legal, at least I hope so I use them all the time. It is part of a lure, just like the second hook or trailing hook on a bucktail is part of the lure.

Only sure way to know is contact your local conservation officer on legal issues, he or she will be the one writing the ticket or making the call if it is legal or not.

[HarryG]

Northland drop rattle spoon would be considered a artifical lure and considered one hook. A trailer hook is not against the regulations. IMO. I always cover myself on with this disclaimer.

[jigginjim]

What I have done is move to split ring and hook from the rattle spoon, then attach the dropper with minnow hooked on it. If you ask a C.O. hopefully this will be the same person to check you later. As some of these issues end up being a different from one C.O. to another. My friend SGT at lake harriet said "Every C.O. looks at the reg a little different on multi-hook rigs." Think of crawler harness rigs 2,3,4 hook rigs. When do you go from a single lure w/multi hooks to multi hooks on a single line.

[fiskyknut]

I'm not 100% certain what this particular lure/rig bit you are getting at looks like exactly so.....

I often take the treble off a buckshot or other spoon types and then run a length of mono to a kahle hook. Any drop length is legal with a single hook dropper rig.

If your running a treble hook off the same type dropper rig there is a limit on length, I think it is 4 inches??? Maybe 3??? Just use a single hook instead and no probs, and its easier on fish. That Kahle style I mentioned I like hooks up the fishes great.

Now if your treble is still on the spoon and your dropper/stinger exceeds that 4inch length with any style hook, be it a single or a treble hook that'd be a no-no too.

See what I'm getting at? Am I making sense to you with this, Hope so!

As for not being able to chow them Walters while your on the ice? Yum Yum eat them Perch, that you can do legally, and they're tastier anyways!!!

fiskyknut

[fishinmedic]

thank for the replys, the spoon in question is the Northland Buck Shot dropper Spoon. My wife works at a bank, and one of the COs comes in once a week, I'm gonna send it with her and have her ask him. He works ML, so I should be covered seeing how that's the lake I fish.

fishinmedic