MnDNR Speared Muskie Citations

[merkman]

Quote:

From: Patty Holt <[email protected]>

To: merkman <merkman>

Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:35:31 AM

Subject: Re: Angling muskie citations

In the past 10 years there have been a total of 114 summons or warnings issued where muskie has been indicated on the paperwork.

Patty Holt

Arrests & Confiscations Supervisor

Division of Enforcement

651-355-0162

[email protected]

Of those 114 muskie violations 3 were spearing citations.

[BOUNCED]

A poacher obviously doesn't care about the laws, so making more isn't going to stop them.

But don't all these new laws give you that warm fuzzy feeling like someones taking care of you.

[Shawn Kellett]

Quote:

From: Patty Holt <[email protected]>

To: merkman <merkman>

Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:35:31 AM

Subject: Re: Angling muskie citations

In the past 10 years there have been a total of 114 summons or warnings issued where muskie has been indicated on the paperwork.

Patty Holt

Arrests & Confiscations Supervisor

Division of Enforcement

651-355-0162

[email protected]

Of those 114 muskie violations 3 were spearing citations.

The reason is that other muskie guys are quick to call tip on people we see poaching.

Here's an idea, if the MDAA is truely offended by these poacher and want to put their money where their mouth is join us putting up a reward for information leading to an arrest for those that spear muskies. We can work it as a joint MI/MDAA arrangement. This will show muskie people that you guys are indeed serious about this and the extra money may get people to turn in the bad apples. We'll match what you will.

P.S. I may not see this post for a while. Going to the land of Red Stripe beer and bikini clad women in the morning

[merkman]

I have called in every muskie poacher I have seen.

Total calls so far: 0

Hopefully I will never have to call.

But If I see it I will call.

[merkman]

I would just like to see valid unbiased data that supports the current spearing ban on Muskie lakes.

So far the only thing I have heard or seen so far is hearsay, something that supposedly happened to someone else, something that may happen, or things that have happened that are so statistically irrelevant that they don't justify the banning of a group of individuals from a public resource.

I think that the banning of spearers from a public resource, one that they pay and additional $225,000+ a year in additional spearing license fees needs to be dealt with in the court system.

I don't think it is a far stretch at all to make a case that spearers are being wrongfully targeted and banned from a public resource.

I would be interested to see what the courts think of overturning the current ban-laws.

[Muskiefool]

As Ive stated before a poacher will use whatever means is the most efficient and risk free to do his or her Damage, unfortunately for darkhouse anglers I think the poachers like to use your passion as a tool of destruction, much like the report of a .22 ringing out in the night, their act hampers the carrying of such a weapon during certain times of the year effecting all of us.

This is my concern as well for non res spearing, they can do allot of damage to your activity; I think mainly because they dont feel they have a stake in your states future.

We all have passions and a close connection with the outdoors.

Poachers don't have either regardless the method to their madness.

[merkman]

This is my concern as well for non res spearing, they can do allot of damage to your activity; I think mainly because they dont feel they have a stake in your states future.

[merkman]

As Ive stated before a poacher will use whatever means is the most efficient and risk free to do his or her Damage, unfortunately for darkhouse anglers I think the poachers like to use your passion as a tool of destruction, much like the report of a .22 ringing out in the night, their act hampers the carrying of such a weapon during certain times of the year effecting all of us.

This is not about poachers.

This is about sportsmen being banned from spearing northerns on muskie lakes for no valid reason. What is the data that justifies a ban of a sport on certain lakes?

3 out of 114 violations?

I don't see it.

[merkman]

Just be careful with ban logic,

When you allow a sport to be banned for no justifiable reason, you are setting a dangerous precedence that may one day be used against the very sport you are trying to protect.

[Bill Powell]

merkman do you fish in the summer time like jig for Walleye cast for Northern, Musky or Bass or jiggle in the weeds for Bluegill or Crappie How many of the 10000 lakes in Minnesota have you fished on with a line and not a spear. Do you feel your a well rounded angler

[merkman]

merkman do you fish in the summer time like jig for Walleye cast for Northern, Musky or Bass or jiggle in the weeds for Bluegill or Crappie How many of the 10000 lakes in Minnesota have you fished on with a line and not a spear. Do you feel your a well rounded angler

I am no where near a well rounder angler.

I spear northerns in the winter and fish sturgeon in the spring.

For the most part I “look and release” in the winter and “catch and release” in the spring.

Pretty much, that is all I do.

I spear to relax, if I feel like eating fish, and the fish are willing I will take one now and again. This year I took 2 pike and ate a lot of kipper snacks.

I sturgeon fish to be out on the river with some friends from the city and my brother who lives about 300 miles away from me.

I have friends who tip-up fish Rush Lake and are out there most every weekend.

I would like to spear Rush while they tip up fish but I can't.

Just because of some crazy ban that from what I have seen so far, has no more of a justifiable reason than someone banning me from driving a red car on the freeway, since everyone knows that red cars get more speeding tickets. (at least that argument could be backed up with data)

And yes I buy an extra DNR license for spearing and an extra DNR license for sturgeon fishing (not because I want to harvest a sturgeon anymore, but I do want to support DNR sturgeon programs and it is a great way to be counted as a sturgeon fisherman)

[merkman]

Doesn’t this thread look familiar?

More Ban Logic

[merkman]

Of those 114 muskie violations 3 were spearing citations.

[Jameson]

...I hope that Jameson will be able to donate some time and photos to this effort also.

...

Let me know...

I have always thought that the DNR would have some rearing ponds or something where setting up a side-by-side picture would be possible. Something like the State Fair, but maybe indoors?

[dcmusky]

Hey Merk, just from looking at your avitar I think your a WELL rounded angler.

[guideman]

There already is a page in the regulations book that shows the difference between a muskie and a Northern Pike.

Does it need to be in some special type, or 3d photo for the darkhouse guys?

Perhaps the guy with the spear in his hand, should educate himself on the differences between the two fish well

BEFORE he starts to throw it at everyhing that swims under the hole in the ice.

There are just a handful of lakes with any restrictions on spearing in Minnesota. There are far more restrictions on angling statewide than there are on spearing, so please get off your woe is us spearing guys soap box. I'd like to just make one other comment to this thread, Spearing isn't angling oK? You have 1000's of lakes to spear on, we have 100 lakes to fish muskies on, so leave the persecution complex at home, it isn't selling here.

"Ace"

Ace guide service.

[dcmusky]

How about a picture on French, 3 ft water clarity would make it interesting to tell then wouldn't it.

[MuskyChad]

I dont believe a citation was handed for the 50" speared on Plant. this winter. The value to replace this valuable fish to our resource is immense. Not even close to every muskie speared gets reported.

Chad

[mrklean]

I went spearing for the first time this year, i never got anything but it was real fun just looking down the hole and seeing what would pass by. Im not for or against banning spearing on muskie lakes or not just wanted to put my 2 cents in. A person in the archery forum said something how they saw a deer on there cam with an arrow in it and said how he doesnt like archers cause we wound deer. Based on the number of archers and gun hunters who do you think wound more deer and kill the deer because of that? Same with spearing, based on the number of spearers and muskie fisherman who do you think accidentally kill more muskie? My dad told me of a guy we know who spears leech a lot, has been for years, accidentally speared a muskie a few years ago. So really what is right and wrong, accidents happen, so what should be done stop spearing on muskie lakes? Who accidentally kills more muskie per year anglers or spears? Tough no matter what way you look at it.

[Central Bassman]

I still don't understand why some of you guys come into this forum. You cried for how long about us talking about spearing in the Northern-Muskie forum, and now we have our own to talk about spearing and you still come in here. Everyone needs to look at spearing with a open mind and most of you aren’t. IT IS WHAT IT IS AND WE ARE STILL GOING TO DO IT NOT MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, coming on here isn’t going to change our minds on spearing. Give it a rest and move on.

Mitch

[Jameson]

How about a picture on French, 3 ft water clarity would make it interesting to tell then wouldn't it.

Go for it dc. You do seem to know it all.

Don't muskies need clean, clear water to thrive? Maybe you should be putting your efforts towards cleaning the water.

[dcmusky]

Already taking care of that, thanks.

[spearchucker]

There already is a page in the regulations book that shows the difference between a muskie and a Northern Pike.

Does it need to be in some special type, or 3d photo for the darkhouse guys?

Perhaps the guy with the spear in his hand, should educate himself on the differences between the two fish well

BEFORE he starts to throw it at everyhing that swims under the hole in the ice.

There are just a handful of lakes with any restrictions on spearing in Minnesota. There are far more restrictions on angling statewide than there are on spearing, so please get off your woe is us spearing guys soap box. I'd like to just make one other comment to this thread, Spearing isn't angling oK? You have 1000's of lakes to spear on, we have 100 lakes to fish muskies on, so leave the persecution complex at home, it isn't selling here.

"Ace"

Ace guide service.

Who said spearing is angling?

[BOUNCED]

bye the way "Ace" it's only one guy's soap box not "woe is us spearing guys soap box"

You wouldn't want me to lump all muskie guys in the same category based solely on your comments would you? Because if you ALL think we "throw it at everything that swims under the hole in the ice" we'd have some serious misconceptions.

[Esoxmn]

Last i heard there hasnt been any spearing bans on any muskie lakes in years. The three citations doesnt mean it doesnt occur, it just means they dont catch them. There are also those who would catch them on hook and line and kill them because they think they are eating all "their" walleyes. I think everyone has to sit back and realize they are just fish. there is no sense in fighting among ourselvse.