I picked that bottom feeder up on the Minnesota on the bottom where the flatheads hang out.

In Michigan you are allowed two lines. During the times I spent fishing there with my Father in Law we moved from spot to spot and it was kinda nice to be casting while waiting for the bobber to go down. It also allowed us to determine if fishing suspended or moving was the way to go. When ever the fish are really biting one line is usually removed from the water anyways.

I used a properly weighted line and a light bobber and had no problems with deep hook sets but do agree it could be a issue if the setup was wrong or it took to log to notice the bite.

Please do allow this final comment to turn the thread sour but
requiring one man to pay by the line while allowing another man to harvest by net does not set well with me. There is enough tension between the fishermen up Nort. no need to add fuel to the fire.

One or Two lines no permits please.

Pay extra for this, and a precedent will be set. I would like to know who's idea this was so I can make sure not to vote for him/her or anyone who supports another state raid on our wallet. What will they think of next, tax stamps for live bait!! Why not give something back for a change and make this sport more affordable instead of more expensive...like no license required until you are at least 18 and out of HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!

The sad part is, we are in Minnesota and we all know its the land of extra taxes. You are correct KK, that the state or DNR could do this for free but I think that some politicans believe this is the only way the DNR might allow it. I e-mailed my reps and asked that they approve this but without the added fee. No response to date. I think they are tired of all my e-mails.

I'm for SD rules 2 lines, four fish, one over 20", 8 fish total poss. no matter the lake.

IMHO

My vote is to keep it as is. I did fine the first two mornings of walleye fishing using only one rod (at a time). Would I have caught more with two rods? Definitely! The chances Joe Angler catching fish will increase. It will increase the number of fish harvested, and the number of gut-hooked fish killed. When the total harvest increases, the state may then need to look into lowering limits to address the harvest.

If this does pass and someone wants to use 2 lines, I think the cost of an entire new license should be the price paid for that second line. I'd probably pay it. The DNR could use the money.

That's a good one. Like anywhere else, some strings could be tightened too.

Of course, it is part of the govt after all.

It would be nice to have a few more COs hired. I got to my spot Friday night about 10:40. I saw a lot of lighted bobbers and people casting. I know they weren't crappie fishing. I am glad that those people weren't doing both (2 lines), but then again it was very dark.

There are many states that allow two lines and it seems to work just fine. I don't know if it would really increase ones catch that much for most soecie as when I'm on the border waters fishing eyes, I see hardly anyone using two lines.

Now, for trolling it may as one could find the right lure or color a little quicker and for catfish, yes.

As far as the CO's goes, we would need 1 for every lake to see that noone breaks a law. We will need to increase the education for this to happen and then there will still be a percentage that will break the laws.

Sure it would increase the catch. That is the idea, isn't it? Some people not organized would really tangle their lines, though.

I like to think that we have pretty good fishing for our population and the number of people that comes here to fish. I don't think we need to model ourselves after other states.

I don't believe that I was modeling this state after any other, just using them as an example. The Mississippi river in the spring cannot see much for an increase of catch simply because I rarely see any anglers using two lines.

Yes, increasing the catch using two lines is the idea and for some specie, that will work but I do not believe all specie. When the panfish are biting good, I can catch more with one line than two. One simply misses way to many bites with two lines at times.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been checked around here...

I was just stating that we don't need to model after any other state, not that you were modeling.

Everytime I have been to Red Wing I see some using 2 rods for jigging. At least trying to use 2 rods for jigging. It takes coordination that not everyone can do. Bobber fishing, bottom-fishing, & trolling (or combinations including these) are the obvious situations were multiple lines will help you figure out the pattern and increase your catch.

Just my opinion, I don't think it is needed. There is more of a potential downside than upside.

I completely agree. Very well said.

I just don't see where it is going to harm the fish population that much. The guys that are catching plenty of fish now, it won't make much difference. For others that don't fish much, I don't believe it will help that much but it will help some.

I guess we could go back to no sonar, canepoles and the older way of doing things if we were really worried about the fish popilation.