How many lines do you want to fish?

I’m starting to plan a spring fishing trip to the Missouri River near St Louis for blues. I thought I would look at the Missouri fishing regulations to familiarize myself with some of the Do’s and Don’ts in Missouri. I thought you all might find this information kind of interesting from their Sport Fishing: General Rules

SPORT FISHING: General Rules

Methods: You may take fish by pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line and jug line. If you use more than 3 poles (or two poles on the Mississippi River) at any one time, the additional poles must be labeled with your full name and address. Regardless of the method or number of poles, you may not use more than a total of 33 hooks at any one time; except on the Mississippi River the maximum is 50 hooks at one time. If fishing on the Mississippi River and on other Missouri waters at the same time, nor more than 50 hooks may be used and not more than 33 on waters other than the Mississippi River.

I guess you would call Missouri’s fishing regulation kind of liberal compared to Minnesota’s. I’m kind of looking forward to chasing some big blue cats in Missouri now.

Awww, only 50?

Thats crazy. I would be happy with 2 here in MN.

I dream of the day I could use two lines(summer).

I would love going to a good pike lake and setting 2-3 dozen tip-ups. That would be awesome.

Tim

I miss SD for this rule alone. 2 open water rods and 4 lines ice fishing. Two jigging, two tipups. Or 4 tipups.

2 lines would be great, with 3 for ice.

They have a crappie fishing technique called “spider rigging” in Missouri. They use about 12-15 rods spread out in a fan shape on the bow of a boat and drift along at different depths until they find an active school. I don’t know how they keep that many lines from getting all tangled up, but I guess its fairly popular.

My son is moving to northern Missouri in about a month or so. We’ve already scoped out some fishing spots down there. We got into the crappies pretty good this Summer. I know he’s just dieing to hit the Spring spawning run.

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I don’t know how they keep that many lines from getting all tangled up, but I guess its fairly popular.

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The poles are different lengths, two 6′, two 8′, two 10′, two 12’… you got the idea. They usually run two jigs on three way rigs with a 1 or 2 oz sinker.

Jug lines can be anchored and if they are they don’t have to be attended. I think the minimum anchor weight is 2 pounds. They use two liter bottles for the jugs. Take the cap off of the jug, drill a 1/2″ hole and fit the lid with a valve stem replace it on the jug and inflate it to 40 or 50 pounds. The anchors are usually made of concrete, fill a Dixie cup with cement and insert a rebar tie to tie your set line. As far as attaching the lines to the bottle, first tie a loop on the end of your line slip it over the neck of the bottle take the other end to the bottom put a swivel on the line and tie a loop knot so your swivel is on the bottom and tie the other end on the neck of the bottle. Now that the string goes from the neck under the bottom and back up to the neck using duct tape tape the string to the side of the jug so it does not slip off and inflate the jug. Presto the jug is ready for your anchor and hook line. The hook line is attached to the swivel and the anchor line is attached to the neck. I think most guys use the J hooks now and they set the lines from 7′ to 10′ of water.

I have never done either of these techniques with crappie or catfish but both were explained in pretty good detail to me, I hope I have done the same.

It’s always interesting to hear how people fish in other areas.

In Sept. on Texoma, we saw a number of “lost” jugs floating around.

From my understanding they put out 2 or 3 sets of jugs. A set is generally 12. Once the last set is out..they go back to the first set to see what’s been caught.
Each jug is to have the owners name on it..and possible their address.

I don’t think our DNR would ever allow this just because of lost jugs…not even considering the extra “unattended” lines. And that’s ok by me.

But I would like to try it at least once…kinda like noodling.

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But I would like to try it at least once…kinda like noodling.

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Noodling can be very dangerous. Would hate to have a snapper take your typing finger off.

Seriously a bank could cave in on top of you so don’t even think to do it by yourself or without a line tied to your waist.

Jug lines of any kind are not legal in Kansas, however we can use limb lines or trot lines. I don’t know the regulations on how many lines or how many hooks you can have per trot line. I do know that you have to put your name and address on the lines. Hillsdale lake is my home waters, it has a lot of standing timber and is close to the Kansas City area. Kids get out on the lake with their jet skis, seadoos, and such dodging the trees like mogles. I just think one of them might get caught by someones left behind line. To me it should not be allowed!!!

I am curious how they arrived at the 33 hooks? Why not an even number like 35? Personally I think a lot of rules are in other jurisdictions are too liberal out there. I like jugs and all, but jugging would not be my cup of tea. I think 1 line is a bit too conservative on the flip side. You know that isn’t going to change though because they’ll whine that they don’t want to go down that road or it’s too hard to enforce. But as suggested before I believe, what a great way to bump their revenue if they allowed you to buy a tag or something to use 2 lines.

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I like jugs and all…

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Who doesn’t?

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Why not an even number like 35?

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Fantastic material.

Tim

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But as suggested before I believe, what a great way to bump their revenue if they allowed you to buy a tag or something to use 2 lines.

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I forgot to mention in Kansas you are allowed to use two rod n reels (poles) often when the crappie bite is slow I will jig with a rod in both hands and each one has two jigs. I also drift fish or drag jigs with two poles for walleye. Kansas also allows you to purchase the right to use a third pole.

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Awww, only 50?

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Hey Ralph
You want more, take 3 friends and you can have 200 hooks.

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I forgot to mention in Kansas you are allowed to use two rod n reels (poles) often when the crappie bite is slow I will jig with a rod in both hands and each one has two jigs. I also drift fish or drag jigs with two poles for walleye. Kansas also allows you to purchase the right to use a third pole.

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[sarcasm]Let me guess, the fishing in Kansas has been decimated? [/sarcasm]

In Illinois, you can fish multiple poles in most areas, similar to Missouri additional poles need name and address.

Funny, I’ve set-up and fished 3-4 livebaits at a time, but two rods is probably more effective. I think I get more selective on bait placement then (which is key), plus it’s easier to watch two. So that’s a good number for me.

Of course with two guys in a boat, it’s not hard to spread 4-5 rods in some spots.

What I don’t like is how many states have rules about fishing 1-2 rods, but guys can put out 50 bankpoles. Illinois allows set-lining with up to 50 hooks per person. What a joke. And, no limit on channel or flathead catfish. I’m all in favor of someone keeping some smaller fish, but no limits

Maybe when our Gov. gets impeached, we can start getting our DNR back on track. Their funding was ripped to shreds last few years…

Shawn

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In Sept. on Texoma, we saw a number of “lost” jugs floating around.

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I fished the Cumberland River in Tenn, a couple of times in the 90’s and there were abandoned jugs all over the shorelines.

Also, we asked several people how many rods we could fish (after not finding it in the rule book) and they all said “as many as you’ve got”.

Speaking of “how many lines”

In case anyone is interested, legislation has been introduced once again to allow 2 llines. If anyone has been keeping track, I believe this is the third year.

It is House File 0022 and was introduced by Juhnke on 1/11.

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF0022&ssn=0&y=2009

Hey Darren – that link didn’t work. Can you try it again?

Steve

Because he left the … in there.

Link

Let yer voices be heard! I just emailed my rep to see what he says. You will know either way. If he is against it, Pug might be running for a House seat next time around.

sorry, link fixed.

I exchanged a few emails back and forth with Rep Junke and from what it sounds, there should be no issue pushing this through the house but could get stalled out in the Senate. I’ve asked him to please let me know what we can do to help (for those that support it).

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If he is against it, Pug might be running for a House seat next time around

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We could do worse…I think.

Thanks DTRO. Although I would hardly benifit from this…I do support it.

Please keep us informed on what we can do.

I forgot my thanks Darren!

Got an email update from the DNR

At this time the following DNR related hearings are scheduled for next week:

HOUSE:

Monday, January 25: Game, Fish & Forestry Division. HF 22 (Juhnke) dealing with anglers being permitted to use two lines to take fish; HF 26 (Juhnke) dealing with fish spearing from a dark house allowed by nonresidents.

ps. I haven’t heard from my rep. I guess he is too busy figuring all the ways to tax us out of the recession. Or maybe he is at some sensitivity seminars. Collecting bribes from local businesses? Figuring out funding for the statue of poo. Having lunch with his mistress? Certainly more important things than fishing. After all, Minnesota isn’t a big outdoors state.

You could always move to IL. We’re lucky we still have a DNR, and with the Govenor trying to sell senate seats and what not…

Hopefully, Blago will be impeached or resign. The Lt. Govenor is actually an outdoors guy, and pretty well respected. At least for an Illinois politician.

Shawn

Good luck Shawn!

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Hopefully, Blago will be impeached or resign.

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I don’t know what you have been watching, but the guy seems pretty sure that he is innocent.

I’ll agree with you there. He thinks he’s innocent, maybe he thinks the tape they were rolling is inadmissable. But, if you saw the transcripts, it sounds pretty bad.

Anyway, hoping our DNR gets some more support soon. With the thousands of miles of Illinois rivers, some of them major commercial fisheries, and some impressive trophy catfishing waters, we only have a few biologists to covering all of this, and no protection for catfish that aren’t stocked except 1 pool of the Mississippi where they have a joint agreement with Iowa (who has a terrific catfish attitude in their DNR guys).

Shawn

Shawn

He thinks he is innocent. I think he’s nuts.

I hope your DNR gets support too.