Some good reports of walleyes along the south shore. Some excellent reports this week along with some just good reports. Water temps are holding, but days are getting shorter which moves things along and fish are being caught. It's fall walleye fishing time up on Lake of the Woods, however, the weather this past week felt more like late summer. IN MN we do allow devices that will give movement to a bait or lure as long as they don't set the hook. I say on the bite because there is a huge difference between a fish striking at a trolled lure and hitting resistance of a downrigger ball or Dipsy as apposed to nibbling a dangled bait under the ice. Again the hook is set on the strike.Ī Jaw Jacker or Whipper Snapper are fished stationary and are intended to set the hook on a bite. Or trolling stick baits with the rod set in the holder. There is no slack time after the strike and you wouldn't set the hook when using divers. In comparison, if you use Dipsy Divers the hook it set on the strike. The forward movement in trolling also takes up slack and probably just as much or more then the loaded rods. The amount of slack time determined by set back, blow back, and belly. Used in deep water and really that is what the downriggers are intended for, there is always slack time after the strike. The idea of taking the slack out ASAP is the same as not giving slack when reeling up and fighting the fish. When downrigging the hook should be set on the strike followed by the release and rods loaded up to take the slack out. How are anglers suppose to know all these laws not covered in the fishing regs book? Side note, I could not find this topic covered in the fishing regulations book. Seems to me like the AF would be better than a tip up for not allowing fish to swallow the hook.

What does © mean, would this allow the AF to be used. (d) To protect water quality or improve habitat for fish or wildlife, the commissioner may prescribe restrictions on fishing seasons, limits, or methods on specific bodies of water. © The commissioner may, by rule, allow the use of a nonmotorized device with a recoil mechanism to take fish through the ice. ( If a person possesses a substance or device listed in paragraph (a) on waters, shores, or islands, it is presumptive evidence that the person is in violation of this section. (4) spring devices that impale, hook, or capture fish. (3) nets, traps, trot lines, or snares or (2) substances or devices that kill, stun, or affect the nervous system of fish (1) explosives, chemicals, drugs, poisons, lime, medicated bait, fish berries, or other similar substances (a) Except as specifically authorized, a person may not take fish with:

Automatic fisherman ice fishing closeup