50" speared

[Quackaddict9]

Just saw a couple pictures of a near 50" muskie speared on Lake Bemidji. Too bad there are people who do these things today and even they do it for fun. If it was accidental, well you know...spearers should know the difference between a muskie and northern pike before going out!

do some search on minnesota waterfowler and you should find it.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

do the people that speared it get fined then?

[Caleb S]

Accident or not its illegal and fineable.

[Flaco651]

I read the story and it says the guys that recovered the fish from the lake weren't the ones who speared it. They saw it laying dead on the bottom, drilled a couple more holes and snagged it. Then contacted the DNR. DNR are now trying to track down the culprits that are responsible.

[DHanson]

What a shame. That tells me that it was intentional.

[setterguy]

A guy flat out told me he spears every muskie he sees. The ignorance force was strong with that one. That is a shame, that fish is probably 15-20 years old. Small chance of anyone getting caught but one can hope..

[10,000 Casts]

imo spearing should be outlawed on all muskie lakes, the dnr works to hard and the people of MN pay to much to let fish like that get speared.

[Esox_Magnum]

Guess I don't understand spearing, just glad its not allowed here.

[Croix]

Guess I don't understand spearing, just glad its not allowed here.

I have to agree with you, never understood spearing especially on game fish like big pike.

It only takes a few to ruin it for all of us, disapointing that people are out diliberatly spearing muskies.

[Quackaddict9]

what Flaco said. The DNR have started investigating...nothing so far as an arrest or fines yet

[MUSKY18]

Heres the thing that kills me with all of the Northern Inc and Darkhouse Assoc guys that are always complaining about the muskies in "their" waters. The Darkhouse guys go out and spear every large fish (pike or muskies) they have come through their hole and then the NI crowd blames the muskies for eating all of their pike so none can grow up to be trophies. Just chaps my hind end like none other. If the Darkhouse guys are really after meat, go to one of the 5000 lakes that have too many hammer handles, spear them, and make everyone happy.

I hope that the DNR catches the people responsible for this and they lose their fishing priveledges for a few years!

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

da BEARS are your 2008 NFC champions!

nope

[Quackaddict9]

Quote:

Quote:

da BEARS are your 2008 NFC champions!

nope

you got that right It's my way of thinking that Bears will win but they lose and Vikings win. Rather than thinking Vikings will win but they'll lose. I likt to think the opposite. Get it?

[frogtosser]

the pike eat all the musky fry and are carniverous to themselves they are eating machines. I dont understand the point of spearing either. its much more fun to catch them on a rod.

[10,000 Casts]

To each their own, just don't break the law while doing it.

[JRedig]

the pike eat all the musky fry

False, or we wouldn't have any big muskies!

Spearing is actually pretty fun, like having an outdoor TV. You're not gonna find me doing it on any lake with muskies, biggest pike usually aren't on those lakes anyways!

[cjac]

It's not Spearing itself, it's the 1% of spearers that are negligent in what they do. They are bad apples in every group, as I've seen bass guys throwing cranks or worms for "crappies" in early Spring, just as I've seen 10" bucktails thrown for "pike" in late May. Always has been, unfortunately always will.

The long range Esox plan put out by the DNR is addressing many issues. Read the 65+ pages if you're bored.

If you don't like the current laws, there's many opportunities to get involved. Kellett is always saying the TC Chapter of Muskies Inc. needs help, both in volunteer time and money.

[Bluegill1510]

Quack was it in the Pioneer? Just curious I'd like to read the story. I just started spearing this winter and I was fortunate enough to get out on Bemidji by the 1st, and did see a spotted muskie first day out (I had no clue what the he!! it was, cuz I have never seen one before so I just let it go) Ya there is a big conflict between muskie guys and spear guys, and there will always be probably. It just takes some guys to mess it up for the rest of us, same goes with people tresspassing on others land to hunt or fish or trap. I enjoy spearing and am hooked on it because I love site fishing, and being able to watch fish in their natural state. Just because a big fish comes into the hole doesn't mean you have to spear it, its like bow hunting you don't have to shoot every deer you see when your on stand. It's also fun to catch some perch that come into your hole as well while spearing as you can angle at the same time.

If you really don't understand it thats fine, but I don't understand casting a $20 lure 10,000 times or even 5000 times to catch one fish, then to release it back and not eat it. So to each their own is what I say. Also taking away spearing on all muskie lakes will just add fuel to the conflict, so probably will not a good idea/comment, there are already a number of lakes that spearing isn't aloud. Why take more?

[Quackaddict9]

no there was no article in the pioneer on the big fish.

Minnesota Waterfowler- "A couple of buddies were out fishing on a lake near Bemidji. When they drilled their first hole they noticed a big white object on the bottom. They drilled a couple more to try to get on top of it. They were able to snag it and bring it up to the top. It was a huge musky that was speared right behind the head, perfect kill shot. The big fish measured just under 50 inches and had some excellent girth. The DNR was notified and they were doing what they could to track down the culprits. Here's a pic of the fish"

oh maybe it was on Plantan not Lake Bemidji?!

[Nick Kuhn]

To each their own, just don't break the law while doing it.

Agreed, if you are going to do anything at least have the knowledge and courtesy to do it ethically and lawfully.

[Caleb S]

Heres the thing that kills me with all of the Northern Inc and Darkhouse Assoc guys that are always complaining about the muskies in "their" waters. The Darkhouse guys go out and spear every large fish (pike or muskies) they have come through their hole and then the NI crowd blames the muskies for eating all of their pike so none can grow up to be trophies.

I do not spear but respect others rights that choose to do so. You make it sound like EVERY person who spears, spears EVERY large fish they see. I really don't believe that is true.

[JimBuck]

I agree with you. Not every person who spears targets all large fish...however spearing doesn't necessarily have catch & release involved with it. Or in this case maybe it does, just not successfully.

[Scottie Thomas]

Not against spearing at all, just playing devils advocate- why does the MN DNR allow spearing on one of its brood stock lakes? Why leave any room for error/accident/illegal activity?

[50inchpig]

Spearing has a STRONG tradition in the state and plenty of friends in St. Paul.

[guideman]

The MN Darkhouse assco.

has a very strong presents in St.Paul.

They also show up in big numbers, at any of the puplic meetings the DNR has.

Even though they are a small minority as far as anglers go, they are always very envolved in any new laws or regulations proposed by the DNR.

Unfortunatley Muskie anglers despite all the rederick, just don't show up in big numbers when it comes to these issues. The MMA has been working hard to change that problem and hopefully some day we'll get more Muskie anglers involved in the process.

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