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Location: 31 | sworrall - 8/27/2019 10:58 PM This argument parallels the trolling argument that trolling harms fish populations. What difference does it make how the fish is harvested? Control the numbers and size harvested, and worry less about how hook and line anglers catch them. From the fish cribs thread...
I'm curious what other people's thoughts are about WI eventually going statewide with their "3 hooks, baits or lures per angler with no maximum number of lines trolled per boat". |
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| Bring it on! It gets old trying to figure out a trolling pattern with one line. |
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Posts: 144
| Im all for it as well. Being an effective trolling fisherman isn't any easier than being an effective caster as far as muskies go. For other species, the same amount of fish will be caught and kept. Why would it be an issue in Northern WI when it obviously isn't in Southern WI? I never understood that. |
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| The same old timers who opposed a 50" size limit in Vilas will be the vocal minority against 3 lines for trolling. With any luck they will be fewer in numbers. |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | pete619 - 8/28/2019 9:36 AM
Im all for it as well. Being an effective trolling fisherman isn't any easier than being an effective caster as far as muskies go. For other species, the same amount of fish will be caught and kept. Why would it be an issue in Northern WI when it obviously isn't in Southern WI? I never understood that.
The majority of lakes in Southern WI are significantly larger than the heavy bulk of lakes up north. I personally think it should be altered on a per lake basis only (if at all). 200 acre lakes don’t need masts and 12 boards, and from the stories I used to hear it happened.
I think things are fine as is
Edited by Musky Brian 8/28/2019 9:57 AM
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| Musky Brian - 8/28/2019 9:55 AM
pete619 - 8/28/2019 9:36 AM
Im all for it as well. Being an effective trolling fisherman isn't any easier than being an effective caster as far as muskies go. For other species, the same amount of fish will be caught and kept. Why would it be an issue in Northern WI when it obviously isn't in Southern WI? I never understood that.
The majority of lakes in Southern WI are significantly larger than the heavy bulk of lakes up north. I personally think it should be altered on a per lake basis only (if at all ). 200 acre lakes don’t need masts and 12 boards, and from the stories I used to hear it happened.
I think things are fine as is
If it's a 200 acre lake it will be thoroughly covered no matter how many lines are allowed per boat. Lame excuse for the outdated status quo that is based only on tradition and NO science. |
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| As Brian said, I think the issue in Northern WI is that many of the lakes are small. In the fall when there is little boat traffic, probably would not be a problem, but in July with pleasure craft of all kinds, jet skis, kayakers, you put a someone out there with planer boards, masts, etc. it could get messy. And like it or not, it is not the fishermen that provide the bulk of revenue for the hospitality industry in Northern WI. |
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Posts: 2381
Location: Chisholm, MN | One theory that I have been coming up with is that trolling/open water fishing is PART of what is hurting MN muskies. I think June is an important recovery time for muskies post spawn. They are in open water feeding heavily. Now that more and more people are figuring that out, the muskies have no time to recover. In the past, with he smaller amount of open water fisherman, muskies had basically the month of June and early July "off" from getting pounded by fisherman. Not true anymore. In fact it's even more pressure than most other months now because people figured out that it's easy and the fish are biting. I was one of them. I figured June always sucked. The muskies were in open water barely feeding. Obviously that's not true.
I think that in some cases, fish are hit so hard in June that they no longer move up on spots in mid July because they were caught already and either died (deeply hooked rubber baits/poor handling), or they are just sick of seeing baits and are even harder to catch.
I would never want to see two lines in MN. Of course Wisconsin is different and I don't fish there. But that's my theory.
Also, I'm not saying don't troll or fish for them in June. I'm not going to stop. Just saying that I think it's hurting the fish.
Edited by Kirby Budrow 8/28/2019 11:28 AM
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Location: oswego, il | It's not winternet! Jerry with the summertime sneak attack! Many make the assumption it is easier to catch a musky trolling. If you are not doing it right you won't catch many fish at it, just like casting.
Look at the lakes now, are there lots of trollers? Granted my experience is limited but I am not seeing a change in the way people are musky fishing northern Wisconsin. .seen a couple of walleye trollers but even they were few. |
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Location: Vilas | Like someone mentioned, the lakes in northern Wis arent very big except for a few. If guys were able to set out mast setups with multiple lines out each side...youre gonna see trouble. That being said, one line per person is abit silly, when you`re allowed 3 lines for every other method... I think it should be 3 lines per boat,max, regardless of occupants.... its awfully tough to find a pattern with only one line out if your a walleye/muskie fisherman by yourself.... I never understood the thought process of trolling as a devastating method and needs to be banned....only to be turned into back trolling...lol, what geniuses came up with that one?? only for that to be banned as well.... It was the "old boys" with the big voices the spread the myth of trolling not being right simply b/c they didnt like it or want to do it....its been proven many times that trolling is no more detrimental to a fishery as any other method. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | Oh my... people with masts? Good grief. Again, people pretend that Vilas/Oneida lakes are somehow different then the rest of the state. I hate to tell you, but they really are not.
You are limited to 1 lure trolled per angler in just 8 counties and 3 lures per angler (no max) in the other 64. There are LOTS of 200 acre lakes in those 64 counties too and guess what.... not a problem. |
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| stdevos - 8/28/2019 2:57 PM
Oh my... people with masts? Good grief. Again, people pretend that Vilas/Oneida lakes are somehow different then the rest of the state. I hate to tell you, but they really are not.
You are limited to 1 lure trolled per angler in just 8 counties and 3 lures per angler (no max) in the other 64. There are LOTS of 200 acre lakes in those 64 counties too and guess what.... not a problem.
Another way to view that is that if they already have 64 counties in which to troll with three, is it really an issue if they are limited to one in the other 8? |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | North of 8 - 8/28/2019 4:19 PM stdevos - 8/28/2019 2:57 PM Oh my... people with masts? Good grief. Again, people pretend that Vilas/Oneida lakes are somehow different then the rest of the state. I hate to tell you, but they really are not. You are limited to 1 lure trolled per angler in just 8 counties and 3 lures per angler (no max) in the other 64. There are LOTS of 200 acre lakes in those 64 counties too and guess what.... not a problem. Another way to view that is that if they already have 64 counties in which to troll with three, is it really an issue if they are limited to one in the other 8? Only if you enjoy unnecessary regulations. Limiting trolling lines makes no sense. |
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| I'd be all for it on the bigger lakes as long as there was regular stocking along with it and better size limits. But a relatively infertile 200 acre lake with a 40" size limit, maybe 50 adult muskies that relies 100% on natural reproduction? Pretty fragile to begin with. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | Right... we should probably not allow ANY fishing on those lakes then.... so fragile afterall.... |
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| stdevos - 8/28/2019 6:01 PM
Right... we should probably not allow ANY fishing on those lakes then.... so fragile afterall....
Or you could row troll, then you can use more than one line. I use a jon boat to do that. Good exercise as well. |
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Location: 31 | Fear of someone using a mast system is not a very good reason to have different regulations. Not that it matters much, but they don't even use them on Green Bay. I think it's hard to argue that if they opened up 3 lines per statewide, there'd be more of a problem in those areas than in the other 64 counties as Seth pointed out. I would personally like to fish some of those lakes like I have in MI and other areas in WI, but I'm not going to do it when just a short drive away I'm allowed 3. I don't think it would amount to much, but those 8 counties might be losing out on some precious tourism dollars. IMHO, this unnecessary regulation is simply a deeply rooted unfounded fear from yesteryear.
Edited by Jerry Newman 8/28/2019 10:53 PM
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Location: Ashland WI | I mostly fish Namekagon in Bayfield Co. It has been open to 3 lines per angler for a long time. I can't say I have ever seen someone trolling there with a mast system, and rarely even see single boards. Namekagon (if you include Garden and Jackson) is over 4000 acres as well. |
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| As far as losing "precious tourism dollars", in areas like Minocqua, visiting fishermen are a very small percentage of the tourism dollar and that is not who the very healthy hospitality industry in that area caters to. 40 years ago it was a different story but not today. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | Heck, I can't troll 2 lines without have problems on most inland lakes, no matter where they are. First problem is shear boredom after 15 min of it. Then it's not as easy as I thought, I snag everything or pick up weeds or dead leaves. Passing structure I want to cast at makes me jumpy and has me questioning my approach.
Salmon & Trout fishing on Lake Michigan using Dipsy's, down riggers, Copper wire and leadcore is a different story. That's fun when a 20lb King hits.. Big open water makes it way easier and we head out tomorrow morning for that..
Trolling breaks using cranks is not as easy as it seems. |
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Posts: 577
Location: WI | stdevos - 8/28/2019 5:12 PM
North of 8 - 8/28/2019 4:19 PM stdevos - 8/28/2019 2:57 PM Oh my... people with masts? Good grief. Again, people pretend that Vilas/Oneida lakes are somehow different then the rest of the state. I hate to tell you, but they really are not. You are limited to 1 lure trolled per angler in just 8 counties and 3 lures per angler (no max) in the other 64. There are LOTS of 200 acre lakes in those 64 counties too and guess what.... not a problem. Another way to view that is that if they already have 64 counties in which to troll with three, is it really an issue if they are limited to one in the other 8? Only if you enjoy unnecessary regulations. Limiting trolling lines makes no sense.
Bingo. Couldn't have said it any better. I feel like I want to buy a mast and head up north and terrorize these tiny lakes with my 1 line this weekend. |
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Location: 31 | raftman - 8/29/2019 10:00 AM stdevos - 8/28/2019 5:12 PM North of 8 - 8/28/2019 4:19 PM stdevos - 8/28/2019 2:57 PM Oh my... people with masts? Good grief. Again, people pretend that Vilas/Oneida lakes are somehow different then the rest of the state. I hate to tell you, but they really are not. You are limited to 1 lure trolled per angler in just 8 counties and 3 lures per angler (no max) in the other 64. There are LOTS of 200 acre lakes in those 64 counties too and guess what.... not a problem. Another way to view that is that if they already have 64 counties in which to troll with three, is it really an issue if they are limited to one in the other 8? Only if you enjoy unnecessary regulations. Limiting trolling lines makes no sense.
Bingo. Couldn't have said it any better. I feel like I want to buy a mast and head up north and terrorize these tiny lakes with my 1 line this weekend.
x2, thought that was very well stated as well! Regarding the "precious tourism dollars"... John, I did say I didn't think it would amount to much. However, I bet if a resort could fill a cabin just a few more times a year because of it, they might take more interest in getting it approved statewide. Plus, our vehicles/boats still use gas and we sometimes stop long enough to eat out as well... every little bit helps.
Does limiting anglers to 1 line trolling help protect the "fragile muskie fisheries" in those 8 counties?
Yes, I think it does... but only by only by keeping other anglers with different methods off the water of a locals pet lake. Nobody owns the water, and pushing the false narrative of protecting the fragile muskie fishery is just some hogwash designed to install fear IMHO. Does 3 line motor trolling put more pressure on the fishery than floating 3 suckers? |
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| Jerry, I don't know what the right answer is and if they changed the rules, I would troll with more than 1 line. However, many of the lakes in Vilas and Oneida do have a lot of recreational boating and I think that if the hospitality industry has a say, and they have a lot of influence with legislators in this region, they will side with the recreational boaters.
Me, I have an 18' Lund Pro V tiller with a 15hp kicker, so I could make the transition to three lines very easily. It would work if both fishermen and recreational boaters showed some courtesy, but that seems to be a lost skill. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | Guess what, there are recreational boaters in the other 64 counties too, significantly more in some locations. Again, no issues. It's as if you expect SIGNIFICANTLY more boat traffic if it were opened to 3 lines, not going to happen.
North of 8, have you ever fished a lake where trolling is legal with 3 lines? If yes, please describe the problems you encountered on those lakes and avoid conjecture. In my 20 years of fishing lakes where trolling is legal (many under 100 acres some that are not stocked) I have yet to encounter a problem with someone trolling. These lakes have muskies in them still today, some fisheries are even better than they used to be and trolling had nothing to do with it.
I'm actually not even that interested in trolling up north, not going to drive up north just to put around. I do want to hang 2 suckers off the side of the boat in the fall when I'm fishing lone wolf which became illegal when 1 allowed trolled line was introduced. |
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Location: 31 | The root of that silly regulation comes from directly from local fishermen, not from some recreational boaters who probably care little (if any) whether we are trolling with 1 or 3 rods. Southern lakes have as much or more recreational boat traffic. |
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| stdevos - 8/29/2019 1:27 PM
Guess what, there are recreational boaters in the other 64 counties too, significantly more in some locations. Again, no issues. It's as if you expect SIGNIFICANTLY more boat traffic if it were opened to 3 lines, not going to happen.
North of 8, have you ever fished a lake where trolling is legal with 3 lines? If yes, please describe the problems you encountered on those lakes and avoid conjecture. In my 20 years of fishing lakes where trolling is legal (many under 100 acres some that are not stocked) I have yet to encounter a problem with someone trolling. These lakes have muskies in them still today, some fisheries are even better than they used to be and trolling had nothing to do with it.
I'm actually not even that interested in trolling up north, not going to drive up north just to put around. I do want to hang 2 suckers off the side of the boat in the fall when I'm fishing lone wolf which became illegal when 1 allowed trolled line was introduced.
Yes, I have fished lakes where 3 line trolling is legal. Have you ever been on Lake Minocqua on a hot summer afternoon? By the way, you are incorrect about having two suckers becoming illegal. Per the Oneida county warden, prior to the one line trolling law being put in place, regardless if you had one or two suckers over the side, if you were using your trolling motor to do anything other than to hold your position, your were trolling illegally. Had a long discussion with him prior the law being finalized. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | North of 8 - 8/29/2019 1:38 PM Yes, I have fished lakes where 3 line trolling is legal. Have you ever been on Lake Minocqua on a hot summer afternoon? By the way, you are incorrect about having two suckers becoming illegal. Per the Oneida county warden, prior to the one line trolling law being put in place, regardless if you had one or two suckers over the side, if you were using your trolling motor to do anything other than to hold your position, your were trolling illegally. Had a long discussion with him prior the law being finalized. No I have not fished Lake Minoqua in the summer and I never want to. The yahara chain is a zoo on cold/windy summer afternoons.... trolling does not introduce any problems, for the life of me I can't think why Lake Minoqua would be any different. In your experience, did you encounter any issues with people trolling when you've fished on lakes where 3 line trolling is legal? Was everyone running masts? Legality of sucker fishing with multiple lines was very much open to interpretation, warden to warden, based on the position fishing rule (documented on this very site). |
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Posts: 171
Location: Cedarburg, WI. | If the rod isn't in YOUR hands you ain't fishing! Trolling is for Forums! |
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| stdevos - 8/29/2019 2:02 PM
North of 8 - 8/29/2019 1:38 PM Yes, I have fished lakes where 3 line trolling is legal. Have you ever been on Lake Minocqua on a hot summer afternoon? By the way, you are incorrect about having two suckers becoming illegal. Per the Oneida county warden, prior to the one line trolling law being put in place, regardless if you had one or two suckers over the side, if you were using your trolling motor to do anything other than to hold your position, your were trolling illegally. Had a long discussion with him prior the law being finalized. No I have not fished Lake Minoqua in the summer and I never want to. The yahara chain is a zoo on cold/windy summer afternoons.... trolling does not introduce any problems, for the life of me I can't think why Lake Minoqua would be any different. In your experience, did you encounter any issues with people trolling when you've fished on lakes where 3 line trolling is legal? Was everyone running masts? Legality of sucker fishing with multiple lines was very much open to interpretation, warden to warden, based on the position fishing rule (documented on this very site).
I spoke to the Oneida county warden in January of 2015. He stated he had just recently been to a training session and one of the hot topics was sucker fishing and what constituted trolling. The wardens were all told that only if it was clear that someone was using the trolling motor to hold a position was it not trolling. He acknowledged that enforcement had been difficult and subject to interpretation. He was really hoping the one line rule would go into law because it would make his job a lot easier. Of course it was put in place a short time later.
And no I didn't have any problems with trolling on 3 line lakes, but I was on big lakes, Winnebago, and the up stream portion of the Winnebago system, like Butte de Morts. If you read my posts you will see where I said it could work IF both fishermen and recreation boaters showed some basic courtesy. People talk about the rudeness of jet skiers but I never had a jet skier bounce a big lure with multiple trebles off my dock, pontoon boat, fishing boat, boat lift canopy, etc. I wish those guys could troll because they sure don't know how to cast. |
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Posts: 275
| If it wasn't "easier" with 3 lines then you'd be happy with one. How about no line limit.? It only makes sense to me to make laws on a lake to lake basis, same as size and or creel limits. I'm not a marine biologist, however, i just think trolling is cheating...jmo
Jaimy |
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