Fish-Hawk.Net

with the implementation of zoning would lake st clair become a 2 rod lake as the western basin in erie. any thoughts guys and gals

Probably NOT.

I had a quick discussion with my sister in law on the weekend, she is sitting on one of the many committee's coming up with the new regs lots of exceptions on a lake by lake bassis.

Live Bait is taking up much of the discussion time, with talk of getting rid of it all together.

Taking away live bait would probably be good for the fisheries. In quebec most places dont allow live minnows. you can use worms, leeches but not minnows in most places. I used to use live minnows during the winter and let me tell dead minnows for eyes just don't cut it.

DH

Enforcing the live bait ban can be a real problem. Personally I met a CO
only 4 times in past 10 years.

It can be a problem but if there are no live bait lakes or rivers in the area, the chances that a tackle shop carry live bait will be very small and therefore less people will try and use live bait.There will be some people who will find some but there will be less people using live bait than there was. I can't find live bait here cause of the regulations. I would have to drive 1.5 hours to get some even if I wanted to fish with some.

DH

Live Bait is taking up much of the discussion time, with talk of getting rid of it all together.

Oh my... I could see a lot of bait shops going out of business from that one. I'm not a big live bait user but the majority of shops in this area make 80% of their profit from minnows

Back to the original question about rods/angler on St Clair. Since I fish with just me and my wife mostly, it would be nice to have two planer boards and one out the chute (3 rods) total.

I don't think it would have much of an effect on fish depopulation, just allow you to catch them sooner. I am a meat fisherman, so when I fish for walleye, I plan on eating. Can't remember the last time I actually took our 2 person limit home.

CD

I dont get the 1 rod rule, like Casey said you just catch them faster. If bag limits are 6 fish what difference does it make how many rods you use to catch them

Those anglers that want higher limits or, maybe, no limits ( ) on rods...

If the idea is that it allows you to catch your limit quickly so that you can head home with a tub of fish, maybe, just maybe, you're missing out on what sport fishing can be.

Relic - it sounds as though you feel there should be no limit on the number of rods allowed. Is this just for Lake St. Clair? If so, would you want the laws changed so you could fish with four rods , or six, or ???

Presumably if an angler was targetting pike or walleye or whatever in a lake or river and threw out a dozen bobbers with lively minnows under them, he/she might conceivably bag his/her limit in no time at all. But doesn't that water down the sport or turn it into something completely different?

Is the name of the game catch a limit as fast as possible using any legal methods? If dragging a trawl became legal, would most anglers use them to cut their effort (fishing time) to a minimum?

I admit I have never fished with multiple rods, so maybe I'm right out to lunch on this subject (out to lunch again- some readers are probably saying ). The only time I could see a benefit in using multiple rods might be in trying to deal with an overpopulation of an undesirable, invasive species. But not in angling for any of our prized game fish.

CCB

CCB, not out to lunch, always insightful. There are times when I have the blinders on and forget that catch and release is not as prevelant in the fishing world as it is on this board or the crew that I fish with. I see your point of "meat hunters", for lack of a better term, being able to catch, and keep many fish in a relatively short period of time.

Being a catch and release angler I see myself doing no harm to the fisheries in fishing with two rods.Though, I catch and keep my possesion limit of walleyes opener every year and release many more, I would have caught those fish no matter how many lines I use, just takes a little longer with one. Being a muskie fisherman, (and probably a little single minded) when I am out byself it would be nice to run two rods,and cut the "hunting" time down. Doesn't take away from the sport, it's just more fun to catch (and release) more fish, isn't that what it's all about???

this is for 2 rods not more. the western basin of erie has 2 rods. the michigan side of erie and st clair has 2 rods. the majority of sr clair anglers are u.s. based mich 80 per cent. so would it be detrimental if 20 percent more angle with the 2nd rod.ex canadian side

CCB, You have ( as usual) a valid point, and I could see alot of ways for multipul rods to be abused... Pesonally I would like to see a two rod system set in place. Muskie is not an easy target, as we all know (especially this year ), the use of an extra rod while trolling, would increase your chances at actually catching one, and perhaps in establishing patterns. It could certainly mean the difference between a long fustrating boat ride and a productive day ...

hooked on fishing (HOF) wrote:CCB, You have ( as usual) a valid point, and I could see alot of ways for multipul rods to be abused... Pesonally I would like to see a two rod system set in place. Muskie is not an easy target, as we all know (especially this year ), the use of an extra rod while trolling, would increase your chances at actually catching one, and perhaps in establishing patterns. It could certainly mean the difference between a long fustrating boat ride and a productive day ...

Then again to get around it simply bring a 2nd boater...

Good point Rich , but unfortunatley that's not always an option

Two rods for muskies? If you are by yourself and fluked into a double header that would be quite a dillemma, and one that probably doesn't work well for the muskies.