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Posts: 540
Location: MN | Is it illegal to take the hooks off your lures and cast? I just want the follows. I was thinking about it when I was crappie fishing today and the muskies were chasing the crappies like crazy. Just thinking out loud. |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | if so put a bulldawg on and you could probably land the fish then. |
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Posts: 142
Location: Appleton, WI | According to the warden I talked to in MN last spring it is illegal as you are still targeting muskies.
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | I thought of that too I cut the top hooks off allready so I should be good  |
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| Your kidding right????
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | Just a little. |
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Posts: 189
Location: West Bend, WI | I take the hooks off and practice the figure 8 in the bathtub. I almost had a 50 pounder, it was my son. |
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Location: South East Wisconsin | LMAO! |
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Posts: 283
Location: beloit | I had a truck driver at work telling me how he was up north fishing for crappie and he told me he decided to throw a bucktail to see if he could move anything. when I told him musky was closed he says "that doesn't mean you can't throw a bucktail around" |
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Posts: 541
| it would probably just be a 38" anyway! |
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Posts: 2893
Location: Yahara River Chain | Here on the Yahara Chain I had the warden tell me she talked to a coule of guys that just come off the lake with muskie gear in the boat. She told them that it was illegal to have those bait while out there and they said they were just trying them out. Not too bright doing that. |
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| LLS, good one... |
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | Lol LLS at least you can dish it out. I had a low 40" chasing one of my crappies it was going nuts until the crappie froze then she just swam away. Got me all jacked up though 1 1/2 more months to go!! |
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Posts: 1030
Location: APPLETON, WI | Unfortunately, "practicing" isn't even something anyone should be doing right now. Whether or not you're actually targeting the species - it's still illegal. |
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| I took about 20 new basement baits over to the dam the other day to test them. I did not have hooks on any of them so I figured I was fine. And I really wasn't "targeting" muskies as much as I was just testing the action. Either way, no one stopped me and I was outta there in 30 minutes or so. |
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| If you are just "testing the action," there is plenty of water to do that on where there is no muskies. So, picking muskie water is pretty obvious in your intentions IMO. These fish see so many lures over the course of a season. Throwing lures past these fish before season is just educating the fish IMO and actually may hurt your chances on those same fish once the season is open because they have "seen it before." Not to mention, these fish are still in pre-spawn and we don't need guys harassing these fish at this time as the spawn is a very stressful time for these fish, even if it is with no hooks. Just my 2 cents.
Edited by Baby Mallard 4/12/2010 10:42 AM
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | While Northern Pike fishing a couple of years ago on Pike/Walleye opener, I had a game warden question me about the net I had along. I explained that we were only fishing Pike with small Pike sized baits, didn't have any Muskie baits or rods along, and had the big net because we were trying for big Pike. And we caught a couple too. I explained that we weren't after Muskies and routinely pulled our lures away from them, but wanted to be prepared just in case we accidently caught one.
The warden suggested bringing a slightly smaller net next time. Like I own nets for each species. 
I have seen a number of boats ticketed for "fishing for Pike" with muskie rods and lures. The DNR does not mess around in the metro so if someone does it, they are asking for trouble.
I have also seen people ticketed when they were targetting Bass during Pike season. Throwing plastic worms into Bass spawning areas claiming one is fishing for Pike is not to smart either. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | What do they do when people say they're fishing for big pike and thus using muskie baits? |
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Posts: 541
| I guess I fugured that it was o.k. to target big pike with muskie gear as long as it was'nt designated muskie waters maybe I'm wrong though! I wonder what there law is that actually states this stuff, espicially not even having hooks, it's not hardly considered fishing without hooks! |
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | I'm pretty sure that I watched a clip of a metro guide casting muskie lures with no hooks last year before season. As far as pike fishing with Muskie lures I think as long as your not hucking dbl10 and pounders you'd be ok. |
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Posts: 633
| I just try to stay off muskie waters before the muskie season opens. I will go fish lakes that have good pike populations with my muskie stuff. That way it will be just like my regular muskie season. It seems the only thing I land are pike anyways. I get muskies to follow, pike commit. |
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| I let my wife 'try out' one of my set-ups while I was Musky fishing once and she was tagging along. (She didn't have a license.) WDNR L.E. just happen to spot us from across the lake and came over to investigate. He didn't agree with the 'just trying it out' point of view, and issued a $190 citation. I guess to him it looked exactly like NOT just trying it out.  |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | double post
Edited by Cowboyhannah 4/12/2010 9:20 PM
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I used to obsess over skis all pre-season too. I think we go through phases as muskie fisherman, and I've kind of 'gotten over' feeling like all other fishing is somehow detracting from my musky skills. Maybe I'm mellowing out or maybe I'm just more confident that I'll get my share of muskies each season. Either way, I now use this time of year to develop my non-musky fishing skills by seeing if I can find walleye (river) or crappies. For example, yesterday, I drove around the lake visiting what I thought might be likely crappie spots. After a couple hours of searching and getting el-blankoed, I pulled into a deep trench near likely spawning grounds. Set 1 slip near the bottom, one at 4 ft and one half-way down. THe half-way bobber got hit by a nice crappie--set them all that way and was soon headed home with dinner for kiddoes who love them rolled in pancake mix and fried in a pan!
I guess my point is why not develop your skills fishing for other species, this will surely make you a better ski fisherman--we all love muskies---the rest are just BAIT---if you can find the bait, you can find the skis! |
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| Or you could read the regs and just fish legally... |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | This subject has always left me a little confused.
I saw a couple of boats on Minnetonka throwing Muskie baits yesterday. I would have gone over to see what they were up to, but my kids needed a bathroom break and quick. After running the boat as fast as she would go and locating the much needed bathroom, we went looking for the two boats, but they were gone. One of the other boats at the landing mentioned they saw them too. He was obviously not a Muskie fisherman and it was a little emberassing because after he mentioned it he asked me if I was a Muskie fisherman. All I could say was that I wait for the season, but that seemed lame at best.
I called the DNR and told them about it. They said they would tell the game warden. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good look at their boats. I kind of just fixated on those big baits they were throwing and was almost in disbelief that someone would be doing that on April 11th.
I suppose it is possible that they were throwing lures with no hooks. For all I know, they may have even asked the DNR for their OK and even could have been filming it. And then they might have just been fishing when they shouldn't have been. I have no idea what was going on for sure.
While one shouldn't be targetting Muskies before the season, its almost impossible to prevent a Muskie from biting on your line if they want to. Like some have said, the best thing would probably be to fish non-Muskie lakes until the season opens. But that is not practical for some and many Muskie lakes have very good Pike fishing. And its hard to give up good pike fishing that is close to home.
I wish I knew the answers for all this. I guess there is the white (stay off Muskie lakes entirely) and black (fish for Muskies before the season). Then there are the grey areas which lie somewhere in between.
By the way, sorry I got crabby earlier.....
Good fishing all. |
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Posts: 720
| Wow,
There is a lot of bad advice on this thread. You can't target muskies, fish for them with baits without hooks and you certainly can't claim to be fishing for big pike while using musky gear. Any of these will draw conservation officers attention. All of these are considered poaching. I'll throw this one out. How about going to a state that doesn't have a closed season? |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Hunter4, I totally agree that going to a state where the season is open is best. I'm "hoping" to do that in a few weeks. I'm also hoping to win the lottery.
The question may be more down the lines of "what is acceptable on Muskie waters during the offseason?"
I've been on Muskie lakes when the Muskies were hitting everything including small spoons and beetle spins. Sometimes you can't keep the Muskies off, but someone might think you're targetting them when they keep hitting your lures. I agree about not throwing Muskies lures, but what do you do when the Muskies are eating your Walleye jigs or small spinner baits intended for Pike? Pull off the lake and go to another one? What if that is not practical? Just go home?
Those are the tough questions IMO. |
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| Yes..you CAN use Musky gear to fish Pike in waters that have both Pike and Musky in them, as long as you're not catching Musky. Now, before somebody goes ballistic here--I wrote to and interacted with three different game wardens (WI) on this very matter a few months ago, because of the conflict of using similar gear and lures when fishing an upcoming Pike tournament, during the Musky closed season. While there was a warning that IF Musky were being caught we'd better be sure to do something different (use different tools'), there was also an acknowledgement that sometimes small Muskie baits and Pike baits are the SAME. And sometimes rods and reels are the same. And...location, etc. Let's not be so quick to assume that all Game Wardens are idiots, and just looking to write a ticket.
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | A person's intentions are usually given away with their gear. A spin-cast rig with braided line is sufficient for pike fishing in most waters. These guys with big bait-casters tossing big baits that claim to be pike fishing are lying, maybe even to themselves. |
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| Dude...are you a mind reader, and know when someone's lying? Or have you just never fished for BIG Pike? You don't use spinning reels..... |
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | I hear you cowboy about other species but after the last month and a half of putting the smack down on the eyes from red wing to raniy those skies this weekend crushing the crappies just got me all jacked up. I'd never fish for muskies out of season I don't need that kind of heat on me. |
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Posts: 720
| Guys
You do what you want. But the regs are the regs. I don't think its worth losing your fishing season. I also think you're being naive to think that Conservation officers aren't out there doing their job. Writing a ticket doesn't make them idiots. It makes them good officers. Breaking the law is not a gray area. |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | IDK----the waters I generally fish have some nice pike, but anything over 35" is not all too common so lobbing giant baits with heavy gear seems amiss to me...sorry, guest, didn't catch your name,
Rick Koepke
Edited by Cowboyhannah 4/12/2010 10:40 PM
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | Cowboyhannah - 4/12/2010 10:24 PM
A person's intentions are usually given away with their gear. A spin-cast rig with braided line is sufficient for pike fishing in most waters. These guys with big bait-casters tossing big baits that claim to be pike fishing are lying, maybe even to themselves.
so what am I supposed to do then. I only own 1 spinning rod and it's on a 7' ml loomis. that won't hold up to pike. After pike season opens I've got a few little ski baits that need to be chewed and will be tossing them on pike only lakes with a 9' 1-6oz rod. I will also have a few bass baitcasting rods with spinnerbaits, spoons, and minnow baits on my front deck. Are you saying I will be breaking 2 seasons by using bass and Muskie gear. As long as you're not trying to fish Muskie I don't see where the problem is. As for hooks with no lures I would just cast it one or two times if you are looking to see the action but wouldn't press my luck anymore than that. |
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Posts: 38
| I have been so paranoid about getting caught practicing with my new musky baits I have been using a 5/8" Craftsman wrench for preseason casting practice!
I got a silly ticket 2 years ago (i had an uncased bow in a motor vehicle, which ironically is no longer illegal in MN) and if i get another game related violation in the next 3 years I will be considered a habitual offender and have my license privileges revoked for 5 years.
I plan on getting my real practice in the weekend of opener tossing some bucktails up in Ottertail County for trophy Pike! |
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Posts: 3513
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | heck...one more year and that should be done...
and...how's the casting going? by the way, I did get your PM the other day.. Open seat this summer for you.
Steve |
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Posts: 556
| As far as the WI.DNR is concerned--if you have musky gear in the boat--rod / lures that are typically used in fishing musky--and you are on Musky waters you have "INTENT " to fish for Musky. You will I would say in 95-100 percent of the time get a ticket in the state of WI. Don't believe it--find a Game warden and start casting that equipment and you will see--it's that simple---Call whoever you like and ask the question---In the field you will recieve a ticket. |
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| Cowboyhannah - 4/12/2010 10:24 PM
A person's intentions are usually given away with their gear. A spin-cast rig with braided line is sufficient for pike fishing in most waters. These guys with big bait-casters tossing big baits that claim to be pike fishing are lying, maybe even to themselves.
Have you ever used a Giant Killer when fishing for pike? I wouldn't go on a northern trip without them. I can't control a Giant Killer with less than a 15-30 lb. rated musky rod.
What if you're throwing a Lindy Gator Spoon or big Len Thompson? The muskie size rod and reel is normal |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Cast - 4/13/2010 7:01 AM
Cowboyhannah - 4/12/2010 10:24 PM
A person's intentions are usually given away with their gear. A spin-cast rig with braided line is sufficient for pike fishing in most waters. These guys with big bait-casters tossing big baits that claim to be pike fishing are lying, maybe even to themselves.
Have you ever used a Giant Killer when fishing for pike? I wouldn't go on a northern trip without them. I can't control a Giant Killer with less than a 15-30 lb. rated musky rod.
What if you're throwing a Lindy Gator Spoon or big Len Thompson? The muskie size rod and reel is normal
okay, perhaps the word liar was a bit strong. I guess my point is that I do not look favorably on those guys lobbing BIG baits on HEAVY gear who are obviously musky fishing. I don't want to mistaken as one of those guys so I purposely use lighter tackle when pike fishing. |
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Posts: 3513
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I believe he will not be on musky water guys...so....nothing is at issue here... He is a friend of mine...
Steve |
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Posts: 59
| Just think how many little pike you catch on supermodels during the summer. |
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Posts: 723
| as a bait maker I constantly am down the road by the boat landing to test stuff out,
I live right near lake winnebago, so very very low density water,
now there isnt really a way to test baits out without hooks IMO,
kind of need the weight there to get the closest results to how its going to work.
I know there is always potential to actually have a fish hit, as ive had a few pike
over the years come out of no-where and try to smoke a pine bait, no paint, lead showing. and frankly yes, not trying for any sort of fish at all.
so, how does one go about testing his own stuff other than sneakin into the public pool? im certain the DNR would frown upon testing, as it is still casting large baits with hooks. |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | Baby Mallard - 4/12/2010 10:39 AM
If you are just "testing the action," there is plenty of water to do that on where there is no muskies. So, picking muskie water is pretty obvious in your intentions IMO. These fish see so many lures over the course of a season. Throwing lures past these fish before season is just educating the fish IMO and actually may hurt your chances on those same fish once the season is open because they have "seen it before." Not to mention, these fish are still in pre-spawn and we don't need guys harassing these fish at this time as the spawn is a very stressful time for these fish, even if it is with no hooks. Just my 2 cents.
So it is still legal to "target" muskies where there aren't any?
Wierd that anyone can target bass anytime they want as long as they release the fish when out of season, but there are double standards for other species such as muskie.... |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I think its best to be safe rather than sorry. Its only a few weeks of Pike season before Muskie season open so why not play it safe and use lighter Pike/Bass class tackle when on Muskie lakes? Like many have said, try to skirt the law and you may end up in trouble. Its best to just not go there IMO. |
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Posts: 285
Location: NE Wisconsin | I shouldn't be saying this, but in court here in WI the warden must prove intent and the court says possession of an illegal fish is intent. In other words, if you do not have an out of season fish in your possession, the warden can not prove intent in court in WI. In the past, I have reported anglers throwing bucktails in early April when all game fish seasons are closed. The wardens said they could do nothing unless the angler kept an out of season fish. The angler could say he is targeting panfish. If you say you are not fishing muskies and do not have one in your possession, here in WI, they can't do a thing. This is wrong, but it is the way it is. |
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| Actually, shutupnfish, it is illegal to target bass out of season as well, at least in MN. It is illegal to target any species that is out of season. Pretty simple really. Using muskie baits before season on non muskie water to test muskie lures out makes sense to me. I guess I don't understand your question that well. I would say, just make sure pike season is open before doing so though, otherwise they may nail you for fishing for pike out of season.:-) Like someone mentioned before, do what you want. I can't control what anyone else decides. I know one thing, I won't be tossing any muskie lures until muskie season opens. The fish were really beat up post-spawn last year right when the season opened, more than I can ever remember in previous years.
Edited by Baby Mallard 4/13/2010 12:07 PM
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Posts: 1030
Location: APPLETON, WI | Johnnie - 4/13/2010 11:34 AM I shouldn't be saying this, but in court here in WI the warden must prove intent and the court says possession of an illegal fish is intent. In other words, if you do not have an out of season fish in your possession, the warden can not prove intent in court in WI. In the past, I have reported anglers throwing bucktails in early April when all game fish seasons are closed. The wardens said they could do nothing unless the angler kept an out of season fish. The angler could say he is targeting panfish. If you say you are not fishing muskies and do not have one in your possession, here in WI, they can't do a thing. This is wrong, but it is the way it is. Interesting point. I guess I could see this being the case, as well. I would think the gear in your hands and what's in your tackle box is reason enough to be your "intent"... but perhaps I'm mistaken? Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'm surely not advocating the action of preseason musky fishing, however, I'm approx. 0.5 miles away from Lake Winnebago where I'd love to practice my casting. I have a better chance of winning the Powerball and being bitten by a rattlesnake on the same day than I do of catching a musky from shore while practicing my casting on this lake. Winnebago is really known for its Sheepshead. (haha) But the last thing I need is a large fine from the DNR. |
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Pre season