Is Night Crawler Harness Legal?

[Shack]

My buddy was reading reg.'s yesterday and came upon the legal hook area. It went on about treble hook with out being attached to lure is considered the hooks and in against the law. You are allowed only one hook per line, unless treble is hooked to a lure. Well here, I will quite rambling on and post reg's on page 10 from 2007 regulations manual for fishing in Minnesota.

Quote:

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Angling Methods

• Anglers may use only one hook. An artificial lure is considered one

hook. A treble hook, when not part of an artificial lure, is considered

three hooks and is not legal. The exception is three artificial flies may

be used when angling for trout, crappie, sunfish, and rock bass.

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This sounds like it applies to worm harness's being illegal. What do you guys think?

P.S.

I have posted this in two other forums. I figured this forum would get me a good responce aswell. Thanks!

[gunflint]

One bead in front makes it a lure. I've talked to several COs about it.

[Shack]

I just got off phone with DNR headquarters and left a message for local CO to call me. I bought several packs of worm harness the other week with no bead or swivel on them at a local "large" retail store. They only have three hooks (about 1" to 1 1/2" apart with loop on other end. They were on special. It sounds like so far these harnesses are illegal. I have to modify them to make them legal (I.E. one bead or swivel. The lady at DNR H.Q. stated many items sold over counter in MN are illegal and it is up to sportsman to find out what is and what is not illegal. I also was asked and told a question a minute ago about treble hooks. When you use a treble hook with clear bead on it, I was told by co worker this is legal. This co-worker is on pro walleye trail and has used this before. I will ask CO when he calls back if this is true. The CO I left message with is out of Big Lake.

[Great Outdoors]

A crawler harness is legal as long as it has a spinner. The spinner must be part of the hook (ie on the same line the hooks are tied on) Though many say the bead makes it an artificial lure, some CO's state a spinner is needed. A crawler harness, either 2 or 3 hook is illegal without hardware, and a double hook counts as 2 hooks, treble hook counts as 3 hooks.