Egg Shells in MN

[spearingMN]

I was reading under the dnr for this question but all i could find is you can not use artificial lights to see fish. Are egg shells considered artificial lights if not are they legal to use in MN? Im in pretty murky water so i think that would help alot.

[PikeSticker]

You definitely need to check on you state's regs. I've seen some comments last winter but don't recall which state(s) the guys were in and in that state dropping egg shells, beans, and other materials was considered some sort of pollution of the lake bottom and prohibited. Considered foreign matter or something, especially with things that don't dissolve quickly like the shells. I'm glad
AK doesn't have any restrictions since we have a lot of tundra swamp tainted waters in some pike fisheries.

[kasilofchrisn]

No it is no longer legal in Minnesota
See page 12 of your state regulations.

Littering of any materials and depositing
rubbish, poisonous substances,
or chemicals harmful to aquatic life into public waters, onto ice, or lake or
stream shores is illegal. Fish line and various packaging materials can be
harmful to wildlife.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing2011.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=bookmarks

[PikeSticker]

SpearingMN,

May I suggest, since your state doesn't allow dropping materials PERMANENTLY on the lake bottom for lightening your hole and view....run this by your DNR officials. I think you can beat this law legally.

In my exploration of Youtube pike videos I came across someone (I think it was across the "pond" in Europe) that dropped a washing machine top lid (dryer would work too) on the lake bottom and it didn't seem to bother the pike nor inhibit them from coming into and over the area. I've used white paper napkins and paper towels in a pinch on the bottom, then at the end of the day just dropped my spear on each of them to retrieve.

But with the washing machine lid you are dropping it down with a line attached. From a legal point you aren't really "polluting" the waters by having that material in the lake as a benign retrievable object, no more than having a boat floating in the water calling that polluting. And since you will be retrieving the door when you leave there is no "littering" of the lake bottom. Its just another tool you are using for your pike spearing. I think you can get away with this as long as whatever you use has no polluting capabilities and is retrievable when you are done.

[PikeSticker]

Ah, just thought of one "small" point....better be VERY GOOD at stopping that spear before it ends up chipping the enamel off that door. My spear is soft steel so it would flatten those points like a .22 bullet hitting a cement wall. I guess you could always try using something like part of an old bed sheet with a string attached. And use a long pole (fishing rod) to spread it out on the bottom relatively even. NO WAY could the fish cop bust you for THAT. Just tell them you are doing your laundry while spearing! 

[Skipper]

My grandpa swore by aluminum foil. Once he got it down there, the barbs of his spear brought it right back up. He got bigger sheets of it from somewhere.

[Higgins]

It's always up to the discretion of the CO and if he is having a bad day you will too, hear in Michigan I'm pretty sure it's the same law but thats not going to stop me from dropping a few potatoe slices down in the hole. The point is that any time you drop something in the water to light your hole just plan on the chance that you will get a ticket or don't take the risk and know for sure  ................I'll stick with taking the risk 

[spearingMN]

i emailed this question and i also asked about having something down there on a string so i can pull it up at the end of the day. Hopefully they will respond tomorrow.