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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | Existing Rule, Broken into paragraphs: “Motor trolling” is trailing a lure, bait, or similar device used to attract or catch fish from a boat while being propelled (forwards or backwards) by a motor or a sail or while being towed by a boat being propelled by a motor or sail. Motor trolling is illegal except in some counties and waters as listed in the section titled Special regulations - Listed by County, beginning on p. 17. Casting and immediate retrieval of a bait or lure while positioning a boat is not trolling. “Backtrolling” is only legal in waters where motor trolling is allowed. “Position fishing” is fishing from a boat where the fishing line extends vertically into the water while the boat is maneuvered (forwards or backwards)by a motor used to position the boat over underwater structure. Position fishing is allowed statewide in all waters. Here is an option that could possibly keep the trolling issue separate though it basically makes electric motor trolling legal. Replace the Position Fishing paragraph with the following: “Position Fishing” is trailing a lure, bait, or similar device to attract or catch fish from a boat; without the aid of above and below water planner boards, and or down riggers, while being propelled (forwards or backwards) by an electric motor not exceeding 0.5 horse power (250 pounds of trust). Position fishing is allowed statewide in all waters. I tried again last night to reword the existing language, but anyway I cut it there was interpretive language that made it tough to make enforcement consistent. The above changes, basically defines Position Fishing as trolling with electric only and no use of planners and down riggers. I added the planner board and down rigger language to address the fact they were why bakctrolling was eliminated based on comments in the article by W.O.J. I also added a horse power (trust) limitation to prevent possible problems that could evolve with the use of bigger and bigger eclectic motors. This would give more options to anglers without the need to be a lawyer. Does it give TO MANY options? Go ahead let me have it. Nail A Pig! Mike
Edited by MRoberts 11/9/2007 11:38 AM
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | That's not half bad, Mike, the elimination of downriggers and planer boards takes care of most possible objections I could see popping up. Snap weights and leas core will work for 'eyes and skis using electric motors, but the 'spread' will be narrow and unobtrusive.
It's quiet, too, and cannot possibly be offensive for that reason, I wouldn't think. |
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Posts: 1270
| SO with this law I could still troll 3 rods per person as long as I didn't use a board or a Dipsey and only used my electric motor? This isn't really any different than what I use trolling for walleyes often except I use one set of boards. So now I get myself some 10' rods and I would basically have the same thing only not extending quite as far from the boat. With 250lbs. of thrust I could now drag musky baits at a good 4mph.
Here's my suggestion: Either make trolling legal (without any goofy restrictions like electric motors or boards) or make it illegal (without any grey area like legally dragging a sucker). |
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Posts: 5874
| Dipsey diver and like devices? There is always a grey area, isn't there?
Mike, I appreciate your efforts here. This is a tough one to get right, so that it accomplishes what we all want, yet does not negatively impact existing practices in the rest of the state.
In the other thread, I suggested that the head of the DNR Wardens determine if running suckers while casting, with or without bobbers, is leagal, and instruct his warden to enforce it that way. No grey area then. I fail to understand a manager that cannot, or won't, manage his people.
Edited by Shep 11/9/2007 11:56 AM
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Posts: 8782
| Mike, I think its great, but I'm not sure I would ever want an eclectic motor on my boat...  |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Shep,
I don't think it's a management issue with the Wardens. It's an interpretive issue and by law in this state, that interpretation is by definition left up to the officer in the field witnessing an event he feels is legal/illegal. What you are saying is the management needs to redefine the law to clarify it for the wardens, I assume. Reference the issue when Greg Bohn was arrested in a 'sting' operation row trolling a Tuffy Esox LTD and used his cavitation plate mounted electric to 'modify' his position...he won the case and the law was not changed to any extent.The law needs to be rewritten. |
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Posts: 5874
| I agree, the law/reg needs to be rewritten. But I do believe it is a managment issue. Because it IS open to interpretation, I believe the top warden should instruct his officers how HE wants this interpreted, until the reg is deleted, or rewritten. That would help ease some pain in those necks that are bending the wrong way up north! |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | True enough, Shep; there could be a directive to leave the anglers who are not obviously trolling alone, or if that's too hard to define, just instruct the wardens to forget the position fishing law is there, unless egregiously broken.. I'm fishing this weekend with Norm and lambeau, and will be watching those sucker rods behave VERTICALLY all day.
Creatures will be cast about as well, I fear. If the eyes are going, I'll let you know so you can get over here and try that. Fun. |
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Posts: 8782
| The way I see it, what makes the entire law unclear is the statement that the lines have to be vertical. If you're casting, the line is NEVER vertical, whether the boat is moving or not. It also seems that if you stop reeling to pick out a backlash for example, and the boat is still moving, you have effectively just broken the trolling regulations as they are currently worded.
How about something like "live bait fishing is allowed only when positioning and propelling the boat as one would during casting" Still too ambiguous, I suppose.
Or maybe we more clearly define what trolling is? "Motor trolling is defined as using a gas or electric motor for the purpose of propelling a lure or live bait through the water so as to attract or catch fish. Using a motor to position the boat while casting or fishing live bait is not considered trolling." |
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Location: WI | I would be for it this way. |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | My biggest problem with the whole trolling/ position fishing thing is that in my mind you can't be casting and trolling at the same time. I am always casting when I fish with suckers. I am not doing anything differently with my trolling motor than I do all summer long. Often I am using my trolling motor to slow my boat down not to speed it up. I have never thought nor will I ever think that I am trolling when I have suckers out in the fall.
I don't go along with the people that think I am trolling if one of my suckers is under a bobber. If there are two people in my boat I will have one sucker on a float and two going straight down. I put the float off of the back of the boat so that the person casting has a little more room for casting and figure eighting. How much weight you have on your line or if you have a float out doesn't have anything to do with it IMO.
So riddle me this....Can you cast and troll at the same time? I don't believe you can. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sure you can. |
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