PORTABLE ICE SHACK USE

I just talked to the MN DNR and they require one of the following on our portable ice shacks .

We will need one of the following,as long it is NOT left unattended .

You can also fish overnite using a portable so long as it is NOT left attended.

I for one will be using my nine-digit Minnesota DNR number off my fishing license. ATLEAST 2″ TALL LETTERS/NUMBERS.

1) complete name and address,
2) driver’s license number
3) the nine-digit Minnesota DNR number on the license of the owner plainly and legibly displayed on the outside in letters, and figures at least 2 inches in height.

This should clear things up for all portable users…

I got a written warning for this last season. I was fishing the river, but parked on the MN side. I’m a WI resident. Apparently doesn’t matter to MNDNR.

Just wondering, but what is the intent of this law?? Just seems a little uncessecary when a CO get the info from the people fishing in it… I believe a number of years ago they required a license to be bought for portable shacks as well. (They have since gotten rid of that license, correct?)

Anyway, seems like an uneccesary law, but then again I’m not a DNR official, so what do I know…

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I got a written warning for this last season. I was fishing the river, but parked on the MN side. I’m a WI resident. Apparently doesn’t matter to MNDNR.

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Seems weird?? When you fish open water on the river, you can fish the whole water system, east to west, with either a MN license or a WI license – irregardless of which side you parked on. Isn’t this also the case on hard water???? If it is, wouldn’t your WI license dictate your regulations? (e.g., how could a MN CO apply their rules to your WI license??)

As far as I know, WI does NOT require ID of this type on portables…

Just seems weird to me when you are abiding by the regulations your state has issued, you are fishing your state’s legal water, but yet another state is giving a warning for not following their regs????
?????

I lost a bet on this once. There is an imaginary line going down the middle of the channel. When you are on the West side of that line, you are in Minnesota and have to follow the laws of the state you are in. A WI license is fine to fish anywhere but once across that line, you have to use 2 rods only and follow what the good MN COs want you to do.

Mudshark rules.

I would have to agree with you on that one. It shouldn’t matter where you park when using boundary waters. the primary license or state residency should be the deciding factor in my eyes. If you are in MN waters that’s a different story, I would expect to follow the MN rules and regulations.

OK, here are the regs (from WI DNR)… be careful how you read this, it could be interpreted in a few ways, I suppose…

The ice fishing regulation is one I’ve overlooked in the umpteen times I’ve read the regs in the past.. I guess that clears up that question, other than what the work “prominently” means… (see regs below)

As far as fishing MN/WI boundaries, what does this mean?? –“You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishing.” Does that mean the state in which your license is issued, or the state you are physically in at the moment??? e.g., If I have a WI license, can I run 3 lines while trolling the WI side and only 2 while trolling the MN side??? Can a guy with a MN license troll 3 lines while trolling the WI side, even though he is not allowed to troll 3 lines anywhere else in the state???? Interesting….

“FISHING RESTRICTIONS ON WISCONSIN-MINNESOTA BOUNDARY WATERS
• • Wisconsin residents need a Wisconsin fishing license and Minnesota residents need a Minnesota license to fish in these boundary waters. Residents of other states need a nonresident license from Wisconsin or Minnesota. Regulations on these waters may differ between states. You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishing.
• Ice fishing: Angler name and address must be prominently displayed on ice fishing shelters (portable or otherwise) in the WI/MN boundary waters.

2009-2010 wisconsin fishing regs. say fishing shelters on wisconsin boundary waters with iowa,michigan or minnesota must display the name and address on all shelters at all times,even portable shelters that are occupied or in use.

Just chatted online with the WI DNR… Here’s the scoop.

“On boundary waters there is a state line.. This means that if you are on the Wisconsin side of the body of water you need to follow WI regulations, if you are on the MN side of the water you need to follow MN Regulations.”

We further went on discuss that if I(having a WI license) fish on the MN side of the river, I would follow all MN regs, one example being the use of only two lines open water trolling. If I were to fish on the WI side, I could use 3 lines. Same for the MN angler. Even though MN regs do not permit 3 lines on other waters, since you are fishing in WI waters, you may use 3 lines… But only 2 when fishing the MN side. This is all irregardless of which state issued you your license.

MN REGS –

WISCONSIN–MINNESOTA Regulations
• Two lines with a single lure or bait on each are permitted. If fishing
with one line you may use two baits.

It’s complicated laws like this that are just irritating and discourage people from fishing at all. No wonder there is a drop in younger people entering the sport. Trout regulations got rediculous a few years back and I gave up on that as it seemed one needed to spend most of one’s free time looking over maps to make sure the laws aren’t broken. By the way, if your portable isn’t fully up, then is it a shelter or just a sled with a seat or two on it??? Last time I was checked on the ice, the kind DNR man let me know about this loop hole after he and his budy went through my gear even checking the storage in the bottom of my Frabil portable–this was after we showed him no less than 3 measuring devices to ensure we were in compliance with the walleye length. All I can say is at least my license fees are going to enforcement and education which I was glad to see. They were friendly about it. I guess I’ll get out the ruler and cardstock and be making and ID sign sometime soon!

True.. how complicated do we really need to make some of these things??? Just like any other law, I guess, they always seem to add more, but never take any away…

Gotta love big government.

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Just chatted online with the WI DNR… Here’s the scoop.

Even though MN regs do not permit 3 lines on other waters, since you are fishing in WI waters, you may use 3 lines

MN REGS –

WISCONSIN–MINNESOTA Regulations
• Two lines with a single lure or bait on each are permitted. If fishing
with one line you may use two baits.

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I’d sure feel better if you put this idea to test for us. I read the Mn license requirements because I have a Mn. license. And I’d be willing to be the skin off your dicky do that if you were trolling 3 lines on any portion of the river with a Mn license and a MN co stopped you, you’d be writing a check to the Mn court system.

If you are fromMn you pay heed to that state’s laws. If you are from Ws, pay attention to what that state tells you.

Well, go check with your MN dnr then.. better yet, call the CO that patrols Pepin and see what they say. Why would a Mn officer stop you on the WI side? Do they have any jurisdiction there?????

I live in WI. I have a WI license. I checked with My WI dnr, I now understand the rules, so I’m all set. best of luck to you though.

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If you are fromMn you pay heed to that state’s laws. If you are from Ws, pay attention to what that state tells you.

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Not necessarily… If you are from MN and are physically fishing in WI owned border waters, you better pay attention to WI laws, as previously stated…

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And I’d be willing to be the skin off your dicky do

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???????????????????? ???????????????

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I lost a bet on this once. There is an imaginary line going down the middle of the channel. When you are on the West side of that line, you are in Minnesota and have to follow the laws of the state you are in. A WI license is fine to fish anywhere but once across that line, you have to use 2 rods only and follow what the good MN COs want you to do.

Mudshark rules.

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You never did quite forgive me for that did ya Kev

I DO plan on coming over for some chain ice fishing this year….I’ll let ya know when

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I’d sure feel better if you put this idea to test for us. I read the Mn license requirements because I have a Mn. license. And I’d be willing to be the skin off your dicky do that if you were trolling 3 lines on any portion of the river with a Mn license and a MN co stopped you, you’d be writing a check to the Mn court system.

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CT..Here is a letter I received from Scott Fritz…The MN CO in our area…..

Jeff

The Wisconsin regulation is correct. An angler must obey the regulations of the state in which they are fishing.

The example of using 3 lines in Minnesota waters would be a violation that could result in a citation.

Minnesota CO’s have jurisdiction on the boundary waters between the rail road tracks. We enforce like laws from for both states. Example: life jackets – same for both states, fishing license – same for both states. Our authority covers all of the boundary waters.

When the laws differ between the states Minnesota CO’s only enforce MN laws on the MN side of the river. This is the same for the WI Wardens. Example: 3 lines on the WI side – we do not enforce MN law on the WI side of the river.

Contact me if you have any further questions.

Conservation Officer

Scott Fritz

This not good to have this much confusion about the border regulations. I called the MN DNR and asked the question about border water on open water. They said that you have to follow your home state law even if you have a license from both states. My question pertained to multiple lines and more than one lure per line. WI residents can fish with two lines and have two lures per line. MN can either fish with two lines with one lure on each line, or fish a single line with two lures on that line. Even though I have a license from both MN, and WI I have to follow MN laws. I wonder if that changes on ice. I think that one problem is the people answering questions from both states really may not know the correct regulation and just wing it. I never asked if it mattered where I was fishing on the river.

Shark – by this, do you take that to mean that a MN licensed angler could legally use 3 lines on the WI side?

Thanks for posting that letter…

Mike

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This not good to have this much confusion about the border regulations. I called the MN DNR and asked the question about border water on open water. They said that you have to follow your home state law even if you have a license from both states. My question pertained to multiple lines and more than one lure per line. WI residents can fish with two lines and have two lures per line. MN can either fish with two lines with one lure on each line, or fish a single line with two lures on that line. Even though I have a license from both MN, and WI I have to follow MN laws. I wonder if that changes on ice. I think that one problem is the people answering questions from both states really may not know the correct regulation and just wing it.

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But doesn’t it sound like you must follow the law of the state you happen to be fishing in at the time?????????

WI allows 3 lines per angler…..

I think you are right, though.. lots of confusion on this.. You get people on phone help lines that aren’t fully aware of the law, so they give you what they think is the right answer… But may not necessarily be the correct one….

I emailed the MN DNR with my 3 line example.. We’ll see what they email back.

Yep….
I think the border CO’s are up on this more than the inland guys..

I think it pays to talk to the local people…
I have had even DNR headquarters stumble over these questions

Here is another thing to consider in this dialog….
The state line does not follow the center of the navigation channel – in fact it can wander quite extensively in some portions of the river. I’m not sure how lenient a CO would be regarding ‘center of the channel’ == state line?

I know this introduces another variable to your WI/MN post but the IA/WI boundary regs from IA read as follows – note that they have the added caveat of ‘most restrictive regulations between the two states”.

“Iowa and Wisconsin have a reciprocity agreement that covers only hook and line fishing. No other forms of fishing (e.g. hand fishing, snagging, spearing, bow and arrow) are covered by this agreement, so you can only legally fish in this manner in the Iowa portion of the border water, following the Iowa regulations.

Licensed Iowa (resident or nonresident) anglers can fish in the waters of the Mississippi River lying between the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad tracks on the Iowa side of the river, and the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad tracks lying on the Wisconsin side of the river, including all sloughs and backwaters connected with the main channel of the Mississippi River.

This reciprocity applies only to hook-and-line fishing and the taking of minnows and crayfish for such fishing.

An angler must always follow the most restrictive regulations between the two states when he is fishing outside of his/her licensed state.”

barc

You still have to fish under the rules of the Minnesota license regardless of where or which side of whatever you are fishing. Read the Minnesota rules…..border waters between Mn and Ws 2 lines or one line with two hooks/lures. According to Minnesota rules, you are required to be licensed with a Mn license if you have a Mn driver’s license/mailing address. Even if you have a Ws non-res license, if you are fishing said border water, you MUST follow the rules of your state of residence. 2 lines. Period.

Thats true. But if you are on the WI side, a MN DNR officer wont be checking you. And a WI DNR officer wont be enforcing Mn law.

-J.

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Thats true. But if you are on the WI side, a MN DNR officer wont be checking you. And a WI DNR officer wont be enforcing Mn law.

-J.

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Exactly

Here are the MN regs… Should clear it up, I guess. Sounds like I was wrong earlier as far as MN anglers DO need to still follow MN regs (2 lines) when in WI waters… The WI DNR guy I spoke with obviously didn’t really know the MN regs…

Border water regs. Not Canada.
The following can be found starting on page 48 of the MN fishing regs.

Minnesota has a reciprocal agreement with each of its bordering states: Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Residents of Minnesota or a bordering state may fish throughout the waters bordering the two states only if they possess a valid resident license from their resident state. Lake Superior is not covered under this agreement (see pages 21-24). Nonresident anglers who have a nonresident license from either Minnesota or the bordering state may also fish throughout the border waters between the two states. Anglers may launch and fish from either shore and may transport their catch by the most direct route to the state in which they are licensed. This includes children who are not required to have a license.
When Minnesota*s fishing regulations differ from a bordering state*s regulations, Minnesota residents and persons fishing under a Minnesota nonresident license must comply with the Minnesota regulations and may not exercise more liberal fishing privileges in the waters of the bordering state. Please check other state regulation booklets and the Experimental and Special Regulations section of this booklet (pages
25-46) for different regulations that might apply.
Unless otherwise noted, all general regulations relating to angling methods, licensing, seasons, limits, possession and transportation of fish, apply to border waters (see pages 9-13 & 18-24). While on or fishing these waters, all fish must be within the specified length limits regardless of where caught.

Page 57 below
WISCONSIN*MINNESOTA Regulations
* Two lines with a single lure or bait on each are permitted. If fishing with one line you may use two baits.
* Fish hooked in any part of the body except the mouth must be returned to the water immediately.
* Angler must be within 400 feet of their tip-ups.
* Rough fish may be taken by spearing, archery, and dip-netting during daylight hours from May 2, 2009 through March 1, 2010. Dip net hoops cannot exceed 24 inches in diameter.
* Spearing game fish is prohibited. It is unlawful to have a spear on or adjacent to any body of water where the spearing season is closed.
* It is illegal to cull fish that have been reduced to possession.
* No fishing allowed within 300 feet below Mississippi River Lock and Dam 3 (near Red Wing) and Lock and Dam 4 (Alma, WI) from March 1-April 30.
* No fishing from Taylors Falls (St. Croix Falls on the St. Croix
River)
dam to 50 feet downstream from the pier in center of river.
* Dark house, fish house, and shelters see pages 61-65.

Either way, it does seem kinda silly that MN won’t allow 3 lines on MN/WI border waters when WI does (and when Pepin is such a liberal bag limit)… But I guess thats the way it is….

MN should just allow 3 lines and be done with it. Shark you are always welcome to come ice fishing. I might even drill the holes for you. We’ll be chasing perch in no time.

Barc, where did you find this:

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Iowa and Wisconsin have a reciprocity agreement……. An angler must always follow the most restrictive regulations between the two states when he is fishing outside of his/her licensed state.”

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Because the current 2010 regs booklet says: (For IA/WI)

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Where there are differences in the elements of the boundary water regulations, you must comply with the regulations of the state whose territorial waters you are fishing in.

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all the other border state agreements say

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You must conform with the regulations of the state in which you are fishing unless the regulations of your state are more restrictive, then you must conform with the more restrictive regulations.

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but IA/WI does not.