No more spearing!?!

[LundBOY]

There has been alot of talk about banning spearing in MN. They say we nab all the big gators. To me we are conservative we let the little ones go with us knowing it was "nabbed" I have been spearing for years and have only speared one that went 10 lbs tops. We don't hold the the 20 pounder out of the water for 2 minutes well we try to find the camera or they flop out of our hands on to the bottom of the boat. Let's make it illegal to use barbed hooks. there is only 8,000 registered speareres in mn . How fast can we move a house spot to spot? We make our lures. We need to speak up fellow spearchuckers.

[Fishguy]

I don't think banning spearing is going to solve much. I know a ton of "chuckers" and really they are not getting many big fish at all. A knowledgable angler with 2 lines and good bait will outfish a spear any day of the week. Both types of anglers kill fish by accident--but the spear chuckers have to live with the guilt of seeing it happen. I don't spear, but I realy like fishing through spear holes, it is very educational and better than a camera. So why must a spear be involed unless it's a for food mission? Highly unlikely. Fishing today as we know it is a sport, sports have rules, and participants must follow the rules or get penalized. Atleast anglers have the option of returning their catch. A spear--no option, and the fish will probably get freezer burn before it's cooked. Spearing is an old sport, and a dying sport, but it should not be banned. But, spearers should not take it personally when there are slots imposed. The goal is to protect the fishery, not the line angler.

P.S. It still amazes me how many big 'eyes are feeding in 10 ft of water on Mille Lacs during broad day light. Went 2 weeks ago, cut a 32" hole in the ice and watched 'eyes,perch and pike all day long--each had their own mood. Biggest sightings-10 lb eye, 20 lb+ pike, and numerous huge perch. It's like bird watching only better!

[GullGuide]

Lundboy,
I personally do not spear, in fact I really don't care for it but if that's what you choose to do, that's ok by me. Just like every other outdoor sport, you have a few bad eggs out there. I can't even count the times I have heard people bragging about how many fish over 10lbs they speared over the winter, how many other species they chuck'd and the one that really gets me is about how they spear muskies on purpose to "get rid of the walleye eating monsters". I'ts things like this that have given spearing a bad name with quite a few people.
I think it's great if you practice selective harvest...your sport needs more of that. You need to start by policing your own ranks.

I posted this on the limits thread-
"This might open a whole can of icky, slimy, stinky worms but.....
How does the MNDNR propose to enforce a slot limit on Pike when it comes to darkhouse spearing? You can't spear and release, and anyone who says they can tell how big a fish actually is before they spear it is just kidding themselves. Is this a way for the MNDNR to try and abolish the sport?
What are your thoughts on this one?"

I spose this is a good place to get this discussion going as well.
GullGuide
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[Hans]

I think (might be mistaken) that northern spearing is prohibited on lakes that have size limits on northern pike, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Hans

--
"I long for the dear old lakeshore, where I dreamed my youth away;
for a dreamer lives forever, and a toiler dies in a day.
From the sleepless thoughts endeavor, I would go where the children play;
For a dreamer lives forever, And a thinker dies in a day."

[GullGuide]

Hans,
No, we are talking about the proposed STATEWIDE slot for pike. This WOULD affect spearing.
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[Hans]

Hand't heard about that proposal. That sure would complicate matters for spearing.

Hans

[Badfish]

I believe there are a couple of things to look at on this subject. To give my point of perspective, I am 33 and have been spearing for about 10 years.
1) This year I didn't get out a lot, so only took about 10 fish with a spear. I bet that during the summer a number of us inadvertantly kill that many fish by poor handling, overfatigue, injury, etc.
2)I don't know more than about a half a dozen guys my age who spear and most of them are either family or people my father-in-law and I have introduced to the sport. I firmly believe this is a slowly dying sport and if the MNDNR leaves it alone it will virtually go away. On the other hand, I took my 6 year old son along this year for the 2nd and 3rd times, and he loves it.
3) In the 10 years I have been spearing, I've only lost about 3 fish off the spear. I only know of one big fish (19-20lbs)that has gotten off. So I don't think this arguement holds a lot of water.
4) Yes, some guys are out there taking a bunch of big fish, but so are the guys angling. In any group of people, you will have meat-hogs and people who are going to ignore the limits. Again I don't think this one holds a lot of water.
5) If the DNR puts in slot limits, or greatly reduces the maximum size limit on northerns, I believe it will cripple the sport. I know the slot limit on LOTW has kept us from going there since they put it in. There is virtually no way to tell the difference between a 29 & 30 incher, or a 39 or 40 incher unless you haul them out on the ice and measure. I don't want to end up on the wrong side of a ruler and have already killed the fish. (##### my father for instilling ethics)
I guess my overall point is that right now spearing has a minimal effect on the state fishery as whole, and it is getting less and less all the time. Thanks for your patience on the ramble.

Badfish

[hawgboy]

Spearing is not for everyone, But I love it and can't wait for next year.

[LundBOY]

I never thought of it that way I think that is a very good reason, if it is for the better of the fish I'm all for it but spearing is one of the funnest sport to do and I love It I think it is great that we are beginning to go somewhere with this If we can organize something maybe the mndnr could realize this that hey we still are out here and lets wait a while here, it has never been proven that spearing hurts the lake if it did
I wouldn't be doing it but someone else on the post said about taking their boy out too. We need to practice ethics, ethics, conservation and to teach the musky spearers that you ruin our sport as a whole and make us look bad for the people that have never tried next year let's go out to my house I dare them, I respect their opinion just don't hold it against us if you haven't tried it.

[Backwater Eddy]

A spear to the back of the head compared to a CPR fish, I suspect the CPR fish has a slightly better chance to survive, but I may be wrong?

Maybe barbless spears is the answer EH?