Spearing

Anyone here do any spearing around the metro area?

One meatball left on the plate from the local church supper. Nailed that sucker first try.
Pap used to say the only ice you can really trust is at the bottom of your glass…and make sure someone else holds your truck keys! Thank the Lord for what starts to happen to H20 a few degrees above 32…or search on why ice floats.

Timmy is around here some place.

He sticks a few now and then.

Last time I dropped the tine was Dec 7th 2004.

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One meatball left on the plate from the local church supper. Nailed that sucker first try.
Pap used to say the only ice you can really trust is at the bottom of your glass…and make sure someone else holds your truck keys! Thank the Lord for what starts to happen to H20 a few degrees above 32…or search on why ice floats.

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Well that was certainly helpful…

It’s my favorite pastime…..but I have never done it in the metro area. Leech Lake is the furthest south I have ever speared….

Look for a decent clarity lake with a pike population and have at it….good times!

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One meatball left on the plate from the local church supper. Nailed that sucker first try.
Pap used to say the only ice you can really trust is at the bottom of your glass…and make sure someone else holds your truck keys! Thank the Lord for what starts to happen to H20 a few degrees above 32…or search on why ice floats.

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This is why we don’t mix alcohol and computers

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This is why we don’t mix alcohol and computers

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Where the ‘ell is that written?!

No metro guys huh

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No metro guys huh

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We like trophy pike in our lakes around here

Give it rest with this spearers kill everything junk

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Give it rest with this spearers kill everything junk

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Is there a new method of spearing that I’m unaware of?

I’ll admit – I kill every fish I spear. That is common sense. As far as killing every fish I see – nothing could be further from the truth. A couple weeks ago, I spent a morning spearing and saw 6 pike. I killed a single 7lb fish and watched everything else swim away. A group that was near me had tip-ups out for themselves – 4 guys, 8 lines. They killed several nice fish from 7-11lbs. I am guessing 8-10 fish(maybe a limit, I am not sure). Those hook and line caught fish were just as dead (and more numerous) than the speared fish in the area. Given the shear numbers of anglers vs spearers in the state, I would wager that hook-n-liners are a far greater threat to fish numbers.

T

Yup people kill fish when they catch them with hook and line no doubt about it. But when a 40 incher eats a quick strike rig it you’ve at least got the option to let it go. I doubt many spearers let a 40 inch pike swim. The whole look and release mantra of the mdha is bologna. Hate me if you want but I’m glad your “sport” is dying.

I’d love to give it a try. Have heard many cool stories, kind of like bow hunting deer, I’d imagine.

Sport isn’t dying yet. License sales are holding steady at around 15000. Like I said – I would wager that hook-n-line anglers kill FAR more pike of all sizes than spear fisherman could ever hope to – just as a result of the pure numbers. Lots of anglers will release a nice pike – and lots of spearers will pass on one. The limit remains 1 fish over 30″ no matter the method……. Spearing is an easy scapegoat for a lot of people, so hate away, my shoulders are broad enough to support that.

In the meantime, enjoy Cass Lake for what it offers, because according to the haters, there will be no musky or pike left for anyone in short order…..

I’m not worried about Cass’s Muskies it’s the trophy pike fishery I’m concerned about. 40 spear shacks on allens bay can’t be good for those gators. Timmy why did the mdha fight so hard for Cass? Was it for the abundance of small eater pike or the healthy population of true trophy pike? It’s truly sad how that whole situation played out especially when you think of the longterm impact it will have on the fishery.

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Timmy why did the mdha fight so hard for Cass? Was it for the abundance of small eater pike or the healthy population of true trophy pike?

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From what I understand, They fought for it because it was long standing, traditional spearfishing lake that was to be closed for a “10 yr” trial period. The trial period was to end in 10 yrs – but it was unjustly extended.

I do not know all of the dealings and what-not that it entails, but that is the basic premise as I understand it. I suspect that Muskies Inc had a big hand in it also. I am very curious as to what lakes will be dropped from the protected slot lake list, as I believe the DNR needs to cut 25 or so lakes. I have a few lakes that I would like to see the slot removed, as a tight slot in the winter is a pretty thinly veiled spearing ban IMHO.

a tight slot in the winter is a pretty thinly veiled spearing ban IMHO.

Or its a effective management tool to ensure a healthy trophy pike fishery for feature generations to enjoy? But it’s now been taken away from the DNR by the legislature.

I would say it is part both.

I am not a fan of large protected slots in the case of pike, because they effectively remove the pike from being table fare for many people. Take Pelican Lake, near Orr, for instance. This was an extremely popular spearing lake – with dozens and dozens…hundreds? of dark houses on it each winter when I was growing up. We speared a lot of nice pike in there. Now with the protected slot – either the pike are too little to be worth cleaning…..try and remove the bones from a bunch of 22″ pike…. or too big to be desireable……. It is effectively a C&R pike lake. Don’t tell me that it is benefiting most people, because when we go there – there is usually NOBODY ice fishing….as opposed to hundreds of people when it was pre-slot limit. A quick chat with any resort owner(if you can find one still in business) will confirm this.

I am much more in favor of a one-over type of limit instead of a large totally protected slot.
T