Report from yesterday

[Walleye71]

I walked out of Izaty's yesterday afternoon. Lots of perch from 3pm till 5pm. Couple of 'eyes later on. 13 inches of ice where I set up (measured with my Judge ruler). The ticket for the perch was a number 12 genz worm with a 3 inch dropper with a bare hook. Catching perch on both

I was hoping to get out where I normally go by the Conoco but was told the ice was moving around over there.

We need a cold snap!

[Willy]

How deep were you fishing? I've done good in that area and usually the bigger fish came from the deeper water mud areas.

[PieEyed]

I'm not saying for sure, but I think two separately baited hooks on one line is illegal? Not that I care, I'd just hate for anyone to get a ticket if they didn't know it was illegal. I'd check the Regs. and make sure. Nice job on the fish though. Thanks for the report.

[Finlander]

Is a stinger hook then considered illeagal also?

[RogersMN]

from page 10 of the 2006 minnesota fishing regulations:

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.

So, it is illegal.

[Walleye71]

I started in 20 feet. Nothing. All the fish were up in the 12 to 13 foot range. I usually find the perch at the bottom of the drop off in that 20 to 24 range or out to that 28 range. Good late season spot .

Now, during ice fishing I thought you could have two lines. So technically I would think that I would have my two lines (hooks) with just the one rod. So as I understand stand it I think I'm okay for ice fishing.

So from the definition from the rules, in open water fishing, drop shotting with a jig as your 'dropped' would be illegal.

Well all I can say is I won't ice fish without my dropper.

[pegleg]

You can use a treble hook provided you use a spinner on the line. It is then considered an artificial lure.

[PieEyed]

I talked to a DNR. He explained to me that a jig with a stinger (baited with one minnow where both hooks were in the bait) was legal and considered one lure. He said where it becomes illegal is when you bait two hooks separately so that it looks like two different lures.

Walleye71 I didn't ask him about your set up used as your two lines. He just told me it was illegal as one line. I wish I would have asked now.

[Walleye71]

I guess it my rig isn't the first thing that I've done that was illegal. Oh well.

Good conversation. Thanks PieEyed.

[RogersMN]

what gets me is how the dnr could just come out and answer some frequently asked questions, but they don't. they love to be vague. it's almost like they change the regs so much and keep them vague just to keep that ticket money coming in. i guess fishing isn't as bad as hunting but looking at the regs i would think a 3 hooked crawler harness would be illegal.

anyway...

[Capt.Blaine]

What gets to me is, if we are only going to keep our 4 fish why can’t we use 4 lines in the winter and 2 in the summer? Other states do this with no problems and their fisheries are like ours or better.

[Stradic]

Hey, I grew up in Saginaw........Michigan. And your right. Michigan=2 lines in the summer, South Dakota, same thing. So, who knows.