Talked with a DNR officer....

[Crappyfishrman]

I finally got ahold a DNR officer to ask him about blue gill as bait and had some questions about tip ups and tip downs.

He confirmed that you can use blue gill caught by hook as bait on your tip up. That blue gill just counts towards your limit.

Then I asked him about tip ups and tip downs. He tells me that you are only allowed 3 tip ups max on the Mississippi and 2 fishing poles. I was hoping you could just use 5 tip ups and no poles. Oh well, no big deal. Then I asked him about tip downs. According to him, tip downs don't count as tip ups. He says since tip downs use a rod they don't count as a tip up. I asked him several questions trying to convince him other wise, but he says they have talked about this subject many times and there's no room for debate.

[Buckshots]

I know you can use bluegill for bait in Iowa (I'm a big cat fisherman). As far as the tip down and tip up deal goes, do the regs specify tipups, or is it all specified as lines? If lines I say do whatever you want.

[Royalwapiti]

That's some good info.  I was always confused by the bluegill for bait thing because the regs mention something like "only green sunfish can be used as bait".   

[Oldbear]

Do the blue gill have to be taken from the water you are going to use them in?

[Kevin23]

That's some good info.  I was always confused by the bluegill for bait thing because the regs mention something like "only green sunfish can be used as bait".

No, green sunfish are CONSIDERED bait in iowa which means no limit and you can catch them via seins and cast nets. Anything and everything can be used for bait in Iowa as long as you count it to your limit and it meets the minimum size limit of applicable.

You can use a 50" musky for cutbait if you want.

[Kevin23]

Tipups are a huge gray area in Iowa. This season i was told two opposite things from the DNR on quickstrike rigs. One said they count as 1 hook if in one bait, the other said they are considered two hooks no matter what. Was told a couple years ago that tipdowns count as tipups if you attach a flag, now apparently they are rods.

Thats our fantastic DNR at work!!

[Mr.Seaguar]

I understand everyone's frustration about not getting answers to their questions. The world of ice fishing is changing rapidly and the DNR is at the mercy of a huge beauracracy. They have no chance of keeping up.

[Shack man Shoney]

I understand everyone's frustration about not getting answers to their questions. The world of ice fishing is changing rapidly and the DNR is at the mercy of a huge beauracracy. They have no chance of keeping up.

I agree, however its when they decide to issue citations in these "grey" areas that concern me. It should not cost a ticket from one officer when its allowed by another.... My 2c worth.

[Crappyfishrman]

Was reading on the Iowa dnr website and found this! They need to get their story straight! I'm going to continue using my tip downs and tip ups.