ATTN EVERYONE

[GullGuide]

Hey all, Latest news on HF242....the multiple line proposal...
HF 242 is scheduled to be heard in the Environment & Natural Resources Committee this coming Thursday, Feb. 22nd, 10:15 AM, in Room #10 of the State office bldg.
We need to make our voices heard on this one.
Let's flood the emails of our representitves!!

To find your Rep-
www.house.leg.state.mn.us

Trollin, Trollin, Trollin......
>"////=<

[Tommy Mac]

I have mailed my represenitives in both the house and senate. I would hope that all who would like to troll with two lines would do the same. Thanks for the reminder GullGuide.

[GullGuide]

They are also looking for some people to speak to the commitee. If you like trolling, this bill is for you. We only have a few more days to let our voices be heard on this one, so regardless of your position on this, contact your reps.

[BigPointer53]

Thats the problem it won't be just trollers with boards doing this. The nite fishermen on the flats will be bobber fishing and catching piggys and letting them go and in July and August this means twice as many will be floating on Millelacs.

[James]

I agree ! If you can't catch enough fish with one line then that is your fault. There is enough fish caught in the state the way it is. Why do you think they are having to put in slot limits and reduce bag limits.I feel it should stay at one line. Although, I respect the other opinions.

[Mark]

This is a tough one Gull!

On one hand I would like to fish with two lines because I would be able to key on what the fish like that day sooner.

On the other hand I love to feel the fish pick up the bait, That sharp thump or the rod just gets heavier, followed by the indecision of letting the fish have some line or dropping the rod tip back and crossing his eyes.

Yep I am a Walleye guy.

In this day and age of speed everything we seem to be doing plenty of damage with one line on open water.

I am not pleased that the walleye limit will be reduced to 4 this year and the lowering of limits for sunfish and crappies will soon follow, But, These reductions are being done as a long term investment to reduce the ammount of harvest.

At some point in the future the fish in a given lake will not be able to sustain the pressure we can put on it.

The number of people fishing each year increases. Our technology keeps advancing, and we are getting better and better at taking fish.

I can't aggree with you on this one Gull, I think one line is enough.

Mark
Mpls

[Backwater Eddy]

The choice of useing two line's has existed in many states for a long time with no devastating effects to any fishery purely due to the use of multiple lines.

Slot's, possession limits, and daily bag limits all set the scale of harvest not multiple lines.

In ND we can use two but I seldom do, my choice evan if trolling.

I cant see how MN residents will suddenly forget how to count fish just because they have two line's in use, can you?

Much to-do about nothing.

[FlyBoy]

I've voiced my opinion on this before, and it is really none of my business. I live in Wisconsin (3 lines) so the outcome doesn't effect me (much, I fish MN a little). The one thing I would instantly miss if Wisconsin didnt have 3 lines, is fishing Cats at midnight on a hot August night. We put out multiple lines and "Sit and wait" for hours. Some nights we will catch 4 - 6 fish, others none. Our sucess would go down signifigantly if we had to cut our number of lines by 1/3. I don't use multiple lines very often for other species, but I sure would miss the cats. Wiggle catches them all anyway, I just get to net them :)

By the way, what the ##### are piggys?

Thanks in advance,

John

[Hans]

Hello Senator,

I have been an avid fisherman in Minnesota and other states
for over 50 years.

I am writing to express my OPPOSITION to HF242.

I am OPPOSED to HF242 because:

1) Many of our prime fishing waters, especially in and near the metropolitan area already (with just a single line allowed) are overfished. Some species (panfish are an excellent example) are targeted by large numbers of anglers, including children new to the sport, such that some shorelines and "hot spots" on our lakes are already crowded to capacity, and vulnerable fish populations are depleted to a fraction of normal levels.

Effectively DOUBLING the fishing pressure in these areas flies in the face of all reasonable conservation tenets, and would severely diminish the fishing experience for all anglers.

2) Doubling the allowed number of lines in the water encourages the practice of "meat fishing". In one nearby state where I lived, they had a 2-line-per-angler law, and a "children under 16 fish free" law. These laws were abused by anglers who would load the family pontoon with a half-dozen neighborhood kids (who had no interest in fishing) and a couple of adults. With 8 persons aboard they'd be allowed 16 lines in the water, but in reality only the two adults were fishing. (This practice can also be practiced in a "single-line" environment, but it only half as attractive, and not nearly as common.)

3) Even discounting 1 & 2 above, this bill would serve to instantly DOUBLE the amount of legal fishing pressure on our lakes, rivers, and ponds. It is just a bad idea.

Respectfully,

Hans

[GullGuide]

I just don't understand the opposition to this one. I've talked to a lot of people from states that have 2,3,6 or unlimited line regulations. Every single one of them says it really does not make any difference. As for some of the posts from people concerned with Joe Schmoe taking out a dozen naighborhood kids on a pontoon to catch sunnies....I think that would be great!! Yes, some of the kids would have no interest in fishing before they got on that pontoon, but I'll gaurentee you that they will be hooked on fishing after they get off of it. Also, can you immagine one guy tring to handle 14 lines at once for panfish? I would love to see it and make a video....might win an award somwhere for the comedy. I have a hard enough time as it is with 3 clints in the boat, baiting their lines and taking off fish during a panfish trip and can't even wet a line myself....immagine adding a dozen more lines to the equation....impossible.
I think many of your fears are just that...fears and nothing else, maybe it's a fear of change...getting away from the familliar.
I really hope this bill passes, not because I would be able to put out 8 lines in my boat while guiding, I don't think I ever would, just asking for a tangled mess, but because I would love to go out and expieriment with new techniques and lures while at the same time being able to compare with old ones.
If you are worried about the fishery, get active in legislation for penalties for violations, because people who will abuse two lines will certainly do so with one.
>"////=<

[GullGuide]

Hey ED!!!
Missed you this weekend on Mille Lacs, hope you're feeling better. We had a blast!
>"////=<

[Backwater Eddy]

Thank's GullGuide.

I am feeling better but it is a slow process, this bug hit me hard.

Sure wish I could have made it! Sounds like everyone had a hoot.

That Lisa is a go-geter EH? That is the type of person that builds the tomorrows for a lot of fishing kid's. She deserves a big ATA-GIRL.

BE...

[BigPointer53]

FlyBoy:You make the point precisely, you sit on the bank with multiple lines waiting for bite. Most nites you catch and keep it sounds like 4 - 6 cats a nite.What do they weigh Flyboy. 10 pounds each. Well I guess you must eat them all before you go out again. Get the picture! Or do you release them for another day. Myself I only use 1 line in winter, I jig and don't really have time for a set line. I sure hope Minnesota doesn't go to multiple lines cause walleyes are too special to me to savage their population! And a piggy is a walleye that is let because its out of the catchable slot. Have a good summer. BigPointer53[Millelacs Lake]

[Backwater Eddy]

AH-HA?

SO That is what a piggy is?

;)

[sib]

can a Mn angler have 1 line with two baits, like a crappie rig? Could I use a jig tied to a 3 way and run a harness above that? just curious if that were legal under current law.

"go outside and play"
sib

[Lip Ripper]

1 line in the winter!? You don't have time to put down a set line when you're jigging!? Are these walleyes you're talking about here, because if they are you've got something really special going on. Can anybody else out there imagine walleyes biting so good through the ice that you can only keep 1 line down? That is unbelievable, in fact I don't believe it, I hope I find action like you next winter Big P.

If it's panfish you were talking about then disregared this post, that I can understand. In most situations you can only effectively fish 1 line thru the ice for panfish.

[Hans]

Legal for panfish.

Hans

[GullGuide]

OK, Then isn't that the same as using 2 lines? I mean, there are 2 seperate hooks on a rig like this right? This does not seem to be severly hurting the fishery does it?
GO HF242!!!!!
>"////=<

[Dave in Mpls]

From the 2000 MN Fishing Regulations:

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 exceptions are: Three artificial flies may be used when angling for trout, crappie, sunfish, and rock bass.

NOTE the word "FLIES"

[GullGuide]

HMMMMM.....
I thought that was illegal, but was not sure...thanks for the info!!

[FlyBoy]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-01 AT 03:19PM (CST)[p]good luck to you to.

-John

[River_eye]

Gullguide, you say that it doesn't really make a difference? If it makes no difference, then why bother worrying about two lines in the first place if you aren't catching twice as much fish?

And for these fishermen in states where multi-line fishing is allowed, when they say that it doesn't make much of a difference, what are they comparing it to?

Sounds a bit strange to me.


River eye

[GullGuide]

River_eye,
Its not because I want to put more fish in the boat, I just want the option and the ability to expieriment. That's all. I cant immagine trying to run a number of lines with a boatload of clients who don't know the correct way to hold a spinning rod, let alone being able to tell when a fish is on a planer board and having sense enough not to get their lines tangled....I have enough fo those problems with just one line a piece.
>"////=<

[GullGuide]

OK All,
Last day to get those emails in to your legislators!