2 Fishin Rods Per Angler

[Lee Borgersen]

Should Minnesota Allow Two Fishing Rods Per Angler? Republicans Say Yes,   Democrats Say No

  5/2/19

Two fishing rods per angler, or one?

It’s a perennial question in Minnesota, and one that might spark heated disagreement  in the otherwise-friendly confines of a boat.

And it’s back — even with a partisan flavor.


  ...
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled state Senate voted to allow anglers to use two lines while fishing, while the Democratic-controlled House seems unlikely to agree.


Today, you can use two lines while ice fishing, but only one when fishing on open water inside the state. Two lines are allowed on border waters, such as the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, and in all the states that border Minnesota — Wisconsin, Iowa and North and South Dakota.

But Minnesota has remained stubbornly a one-pole state for years. Which raises the first question: Why?

Why one rod in Minnesota?

There are two primary arguments behind only allowing one rod per angler in Minnesota.
•Fish can unintentionally be harmed or killed with two lines. The idea is that people can’t tend both rods at once, and with two rods with live bait, the odds will increase that a fish will swallow the bait, and the hooks.

•People will catch too many fish. For years, the Department of Natural Resources has cautioned that if more rods are allowed, more fish will be caught and killed, and the only way to protect fish will be to lower limits.

Why two rods?

There are two primary arguments by those pushing for two lines per angler to be allowed.

•Let us fish. This is basically a libertarian argument that says Minnesota’s one-line rule is a needless restriction. “Plenty of other states do it,” said state Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, who chairs the Senate environment committee.

•It’s more effective, fun and traditional. Here are some examples: Walleye anglers double-fisting it, jigging a rod in each hand over a bar, are more likely get action and fill the cooler. Muskie anglers can cast large lures toward structures for active fish, while dragging a sucker beneath a bobber for less-active fish. Bank fishermen can cast two lines into a river, set each rod on a forked stick and enjoy a beverage while they wait for a fish — whatever it may be — to pick up their bait from the bottom.

What’s the proposal?

The proposal this year isn’t to universally allow two lines everywhere for all anglers.

It would be optional. An angler, resident or nonresident, could pay an extra $5 to buy the privilege.

  ....
“That’s an enforcement nightmare,” said Bob Meier, policy and government relations director for the DNR. Today, Meier said, an angler with two lines in the water — which can easily be spotted from a distance — is pretty much an automatic violation. But if the change were adopted, he said, conservation officers might feel compelled to check anglers they wouldn’t otherwise check.

The proposal would not allow more than one line to be used on the scores of lakes with special regulations, which would include major destinations like Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods.

Is it really partisan?

To be clear, most lawmakers don’t have strong opinions on what is often referred to as “the bobber bill.”

  ...
Nonetheless, over the years, it’s tended to break with Republicans more likely to support, and Democrats more likely to oppose. This year, it’s contained in a much larger bill that includes environmental policy and appropriations, as well as game and fish laws.

The Republican-controlled Senate included the two-line measure in its version. It appears unlikely the Democratic-House will include it in its version. Whether it makes it into a final version that reaches the desk of Gov. Tim Walz remains to be seen.

[glenn57]

There's a huge discussion over on IDO over this.  It's about 50/50. Me, I couldn't care less, and not sure I'd pay extra for it either. It's hard enough sometime to fish with 1.

[Gunner55]

You'd just need somebody else ta hep ya take the fish off da hook den, glenn.

[Lee Borgersen]

There's a huge discussion over on IDO over this.  It's about 50/50. Me, I couldn't care less, and not sure I'd pay extra for it either. It's hard enough sometime to fish with 1.

Come on Glenn   You could increase yer fish enteries in da challenge wit 2 rods.
 2 times O = O 

  I guess dat wouldn't help you after all

[LPS]

I'm all for it.  And I emailed my legislator a few times about it over the last few years.

[deadeye]

I guess if the Republicans said ONE rod was enough, the Democrats would say we want TWO.  Jeezs, what give with them guys.   

[Leech~~]

If its one rod or five a limit is a limit!   

I only want to try and keep track of one rod in a boat. Ice houses an't going anywhere. 

[glenn57]

There's a huge discussion over on IDO over this.  It's about 50/50. Me, I couldn't care less, and not sure I'd pay extra for it either. It's hard enough sometime to fish with 1.

Come on Glenn   You could increase yer fish enteries in da challenge wit 2 rods.
 2 times O = O 

  I guess dat wouldn't help you after all

[Lee Borgersen]

There's a huge discussion over on IDO over this.  It's about 50/50. Me, I couldn't care less, and not sure I'd pay extra for it either. It's hard enough sometime to fish with 1.

Come on Glenn   You could increase yer fish enteries in da challenge wit 2 rods.
 2 times O = O 

  I guess dat wouldn't help you after all

Glenn's ma man! He can take a beatin and still land on his feet every time

Now back ta da topic at hand!

  ...
If I'm by myself in da boat fishin Wisconsin I'll set up tree rods when anchored only. One fur casting & one fur slip bobber & one dead sticking. If I forward troll it's two rods wit one in a holder & one in hand. Driftin it's tree rods. It depends on what kind a fishin yer doin. Fur Back trollin one rod gives ya better focus and ya need dat wit all da rocks & boulders I run in-ta in da BWCA.

[LPS]

When I am anchored and jig fishing which is the common way to fish the river here I would like to have 2 lines down.  If the fishing is hot and heavy you only can take care of one rod just like ice fishing.  When fishing is slow having two lines out with different colored jigs may help to catch something.  Used to troll the St. Croix with crankbaits.  I loved doing that.  So doing that, 2 guys can have 4 lines out.  2 behind the boat and 2 on planer boards.  Was a gas.  Still can only catch a limit. 

[Steve-o]

... 2 guys can have 4 lines out.  2 behind the boat and 2 on planer boards.  Was a gas.  Still can only catch a limit.

This makes some sense if you got the rigging for it.

If you're tossing out worms with bobbers, two rods can make sense.

But anytime I'm actively working a rod - casting, jigging, etc. - I prefer to leave the 2nd rod in the boat (in WI, where this is currently allowed).


I'm always surprised how an issue that shouldn't be political becomes political just so politicians have something to haggle over.