2 lines in the MN open water season?

Will it happen this time?

Bill SF 226

Good Lord, this old topic comes up as routinely as the Vikings collapse.

Better question might be…..which comes first, 2 lines open water or a Viking Super Bowl.

This will give you a topic to moderate today (you’re welcome)

I am in support of this, not that it would help in my catch rates but it would make me feel better. It would be nice to run 3 maybe 4 lines through the ice for the tip up guys as well.

It’s not just a topic, it’s an actual bill. Big difference.

What ev, I’ll buy one if it happens. I’ll go fish superior if it doesn’t.

Doubt it will pass. But if it did, I wonder if they would limit you to one line on Mille Lacs. I would love to leadcore Mille Lacs with 2 lines, have two completely different baits out.

Personally, I would like to see 2 lines (or hooks) without the fee.
Exclude the big lakes like Mille Lacs, Winni, Leech, Red to name a few.

The $5 that goes to walleye stocking is just to pacify folks on those lakes that don’t want 2 lines (IMHO). I will go on record as saying less than 30% of MN anglers will buy a stamp anyway.

BUT if that’s what it takes to get two lines through in MN, I’m for it.

I’m in support of 2 lines during open water. But I hope they keep it to 2 in hardwater. These lakes seem to get hit real hard in the winter.

I’m hoping this passes, does anybody know if a bill has been introduced in the past?

Dennis Williams wrote:

Doubt it will pass.

Dennis, it made it to the governor to sign a few years back. Dayton vetoed it as part of a mish mash of other bills. New Governor…

If it doesn’t go through, you can say “I told you so”.

watisituya wrote:

I’m hoping this passes, does anybody know if a bill has been introduced in the past?

Many times. Don’t hold your breath.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I’m in support of 2 lines during open water. But I hope they keep it to 2 in hardwater. These lakes seem to get hit real hard in the winter.

Agree with Bearcat here. I don’t mind the fee if that’s what it takes. On the ice we don’t need a pair of guys with 8 tip-ups out. Just my opinion. Thankfully this bill looks like it leaves ice regs alone.

watisituya wrote:

I’m hoping this passes, does anybody know if a bill has been introduced in the past?

A few times but it’s put in an omnibus bill that has a whole pile of bills included. Last year the bill was included in a package that was over 1000 pages.

These are the bill authors. I don’t see anywhere that the DNR supports this. Ingebrightsen I believe is the same clown who went after the Muskies last year. Wonder who is in his pocket this year?

Koran ; Ingebrigtsen ; Eichorn ; Utke ; Lang

Bearcat89 wrote:

These lakes seem to get hit real hard in the winter.

This is what’s odd with the DNR’s stance on two lines.

They feel that we catch less fish in the ice months because we aren’t moving around as much. However that had a graph of a creel survey for lake of the woods that clearly pointed out more fish were caught in the winter months then the summer.

Many of the wheel houses have rattle reels down from Friday night to Sunday afternoon when they head home. A boat or shore angler does not spend that much time with hooks in the water.

And remember, even if a person were to by the stamp we don’t have to use two lines.

Bwahahaha!! Its mn, the biggest joke of a state in the nation. 2 lines? Never happen…
This state was once a great place for outdoorsmen. Now it’s an absolute joke..

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Personally, I would like to see 2 lines (or hooks) without the fee.

x2 and no lake exclusions either, let’s start working on shrinking the reg’s book…

How about this you can use two lines for any species but walleye. Skip the $5 joke about stocking walleye.

I can see how having two lines would be nice for catfishing and muskie fishing. Trolling two lines for walleye is just irresponsible IMO.

Riddle me this. You’re trolling leadcore, bobber fishing or Lindy rigging for walleye. One rod gets hit and then the second one gets hit what do you do?… you don’t have 4 hands, so the only option is to either drag the fish behind the boat or feed the fish an unwanted amount of time. Any way you write it up the walleye on the second rod doesn’t have a bright future.

Only way I would want this to pass is if we had to remove our GPS units and go back to a simple flasher in the boat. Technology is great but we can’t keep increasing technology and have two lines.

Many will argue a limit is a limit. But I disagree because most do not get a limit everyday. This is such a bad idea for walleye.

Dutchboy wrote:

These are the bill authors. I don’t see anywhere that the DNR supports this. Ingebrightsen I believe is the same clown who went after the Muskies last year. Wonder who is in his pocket this year?

Koran ; Ingebrigtsen ; Eichorn ; Utke ; Lang

Ingebrightsen was doing what is constituents wanted. Stopping musky stocking if the county didn’t want it. I guess that’s why he was reelected…to be a clown.

If you haven’t picked it up yet, the official stance of the DNR is not for two lines. I’m going to bet .25 (and I don’t bet) that if poll was taken of the biologist within the DNR, it would be split between the North not wanted it and the South wanting it.

Joe Scegura wrote:

Riddle me this. You’re trolling leadcore, bobber fishing or Lindy rigging for walleye. One rod gets hit and then the second one gets hit what do you do?…

A big fat LOL

Let’s change this to… Your reeling in a 70# sturgeon and you have a second rod with a 40# sturgeon and also a 3rd rod out… Well, I catch all three while managing the trolling motor, kicker, and all the lines.

Or how about a triple catfish by yourself…. Catch all three.

Walleye fishing… Bahahaha. Gimme 6 lines trolling.

Are you going to get that good watching YouTube videos … Nope. But you’ll learn the more you catch.

You mn 1-liners are funny

Joe Scegura wrote:

Only way I would want this to pass is if we had to remove our GPS units and go back to a simple flasher in the boat. Technology is great but we can’t keep increasing technology and have two lines.

You need to realize most lakes rise and fall… Always have.

If you don’t like it. Move to a fishery that can sustain everything nature and people throw at it. That’s why I moved from lakes to the Mississippi. None of the boom and bust crap.

Joe Scegura wrote:

Many will argue a limit is a limit. But I disagree because most do not get a limit everyday. This is such a bad idea for walleye.

I’ll go ahead and start the other 2 annual walleye topics.

Should we keep walleye open to catch and release during the closed season?

Should we reduce walleye limits statewide?

There, it’s out of my system.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

A big fat LOL

Let’s change this to… Your reeling in a 70# sturgeon and you have a second rod with a 40# sturgeon and also a 3rd rod out… Well, I catch all three while managing the trolling motor, kicker, and all the lines.

Or how about a triple catfish by yourself…. Catch all three.

Walleye fishing… Bahahaha. Gimme 6 lines trolling.

Are you going to get that good watching YouTube videos … Nope. But you’ll learn the more you catch.

You mn 1-liners are funny

Think of the weekend warrior.

So riddle me this.

The clowns position was the Muskies hurt Walleye fishing (or so he was told) by eating the Walleye. Which the DNR has proven time & time again as having no effect. So, now he authors a bill to allow two lines which would increase Walleye harvest? Just as some folks should never have kids, some people should never be a politician. Next year he will be back begging for more stocking money.

biggill wrote:

Think of the weekend warrior

You mean, where we all started!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

They feel that we catch less fish in the ice months because we aren’t moving around as much. However that had a graph of a creel survey for lake of the woods that clearly pointed out more fish were caught in the winter months then the summer.

Yeah, there are waaaayyyy more fish caught in the winter on LOTW than the summer, and I would bet it’s not even close.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

A big fat LOL
Let’s change this to… Your reeling in a 70# sturgeon and you have a second rod with a 40# sturgeon and also a 3rd rod out… Well, I catch all three while managing the trolling motor, kicker, and all the lines.
Or how about a triple catfish by yourself…. Catch all three.
Walleye fishing… Bahahaha. Gimme 6 lines trolling.

Fish Blood. I understand you don’t agree with me and I’m fine with that. Catfish and sturgeon both fish well with circle hooks and they are both strong fish. Now drag around three walleye on your leadcore for a few minutes mid summer. Even someone as “open minded” as you should be able to see the difference here.

Oh I can guarantee I catch as many eyes as you with lead in the summer.
Open minded and been there done that buddy.

And all this coming from a guy getting paid for a bucket of fish….

Joe Scegura wrote:

Only way I would want this to pass is if we had to remove our GPS units and go back to a simple flasher in the boat. Technology is great but we can’t keep increasing technology and have two lines.

This hits the nail squarely on the head and is one reason I feel that we should have a definite opener for ice season along with a ice specific license and regulations and close the season on Feb. 28 [29]. It would make enforcement much simpler. It would help keep some people safe from themselves….those who want to push the limits of early and late ice. I know people who aren’t with it enough to catch fish in a boat but who have flashers and have learned to use them more than effectively and are people who keep limits every day they’re out. All this technology is going to trash winter fishing.

I’d be fine with a one line limit for ice anglers using ANY sort of flasher or locator and a 50% reduction in limit regardless of the species of fish plus having to purchase a “technology use” license for $35 bucks. Those who choose to fish without “technology assistance” [no shelter, no electronics and no electric or fueled augers, could pay a $5.00 season fee. Anyone standing on terra firma, a dock, a pier, or in a boat fishing any open water not created thru the use of saws or augers or other artificial means can fish according to the state’s open water rules and seasons.

Way too many people want to see more lines in use but then harp when limit reductions come along. Make a choice. All these electronics are going to ruin that which they are used to exploit, then what?

Simple solution is to make the Mississippi & St. Croix regulation free. Run as many lines as you want.

I am not in favor of it. I agree with Joe on this one.