shiner bait trap holes.. please take notice! ..

[flaggs]

Hey everyone,

Here is a story that is very bothersome to me. I have a camp in Wells Maine and a friend of mine also has a cottage in-land from the shore (about 2 miles). Her neighbor has a private pond that he does not want anyone around. Well, he went on vacation and the guys he asked to watch his place, took a chain saw and punched a 2' x 2' hole and set a bait trap. Well, My friend went for a walk with her young (and beautiful) chocolate lab and the dog ran out on the pond. He found the bait hole and while sniffing around fell head first into the hole. All she saw was is hind quarters disappear under the ice. (my guess is that the dog could smell the bait and stuck his head in and lost balance.

She immediately called the fire department and they came and said, 1. he is a water dog so chance are he began to swim once submerged and was quickly disoriented and swam away from the hole. 2. Because there was no current, the firemen said that he could be anywhere. If there were a current, they could follow it and punch holes to try and recover him. 3. They sadly informed my friend that there was not much that could be done. The dog will be recovered in the spring once thawed. This is a really sad story! So... What I would ask, if you trap your own bait in a hole that a dog, kid, or anything for that matter can fit through, please place a steel grid over your bait hole (I use an old bbq grill) so as not to allow anything to slip into the ice. My friend is totally beside herself... asking what if it was my grandchild?

This is a real bummer... It will be interesting to see what the pond owner does when he gets back from vacation.

This happened yesterday...

Thanks for your consideration!

Flaggs!

[Tim Hanford]

That breaks my heart, what a terrible way for a pup to go.

[fshnfool]

that's awful.....there should be some kind of law to keep this kind of thing from happening.  my sympathies to your friend

[ToeCheese]

Maine law says that all bait holes must be marked either by evergreen broughs placed around the hole or by suspending at least 1 strand of flourescent biodegradable tape at least 3 feet above the ice around te entire perimeter of the hole so that the tape is visable from al sides.

[flaggs]

Maine law says that all bait holes must be marked either by evergreen broughs placed around the hole or by suspending at least 1 strand of flourescent biodegradable tape at least 3 feet above the ice around te entire perimeter of the hole so that the tape is visable from al sides.

Toecheese: Thanks for the insight. I will pass this along to my dear firend. I am sure she is going to want answers and this will most definately help her cause. There were no markings at all around the hole. I am sure the owener is also going to have something to say about this as well!

Thanks again

Flaggs!

[jigmasterjr]

not that I dont feel sorry but as far as im aware there is also a leash law isn't there?

[Pail Rider]

That really stinks about the pup, sorry about your friend's loss.

You don't need to leash your dog on your own property.  There isn't a leash law here in Hopkinton jigmasterjr...

[jigmasterjr]

well the story states its not her property

[Pail Rider]

well the story states its not her property

True, I read it as her property, my bad.  Still is a private pond owned by a friend, I wouldn't have leashed my pup either...

[pikemaster789]

thats terrbile. I feel bad for that woman, I know my mom would be crushed if her dog was killed like that

[Phoenix]

Maine law says that all bait holes must be marked either by evergreen broughs placed around the hole or by suspending at least 1 strand of flourescent biodegradable tape at least 3 feet above the ice around te entire perimeter of the hole so that the tape is visable from al sides.

I'm not familiar with that law, could you cite the statute?

[Hellfish]

from the IF&W rule book:

Marking holes. When using drop nets to fish through the ice for baitfish/smelts, all holes made in the ice MUST BE MARKED either by evergreen boughs placed around the hole, or by suspending at least 1 strand of fluorescent biodegradable tape at least 3 feet above the ice around the entire perimeter of the hole so that the tape is visible from all sides.

[Phoenix]

That doesn't apply to the small bait traps most of us use though. Does it?

[Hellfish]

I wondered that as well.  Can your bait trap fit down a regular auger hole? 

One would think that if I had to cut a hole for my bait trap that was larger than a fishing hole, common courtesy and concern for public safety would motivate me to mark it, even if the law didn't.

[ToeCheese]

I'm not familiar with that law, could you cite the statute?

2006/2007 state of maine ice fishing regulations page 11 paragraph G.

[ToeCheese]

The law says all holes.

[Phoenix]

I never knew anyone to mark theirs in such a manner, most of the guys I know go out of their way to hide the location of their traps as best they can. I usually chisel about a two foot square, not much activity on the bog where I trap bait though.

Sure is too bad about the dog though.

[wyogator]

Whether it is a law or not, I say mark it.  I have been guilty of hiding traps too, mostly in open water though.  I am also concerned with 3'X4' rectangular holes used for spearing.

[TheRo0sTer]

Wow that sucks! I would be wrecked if you Chocolate Lab died because she fell into a bait hole.

[flaggs]

Whether it is a law or not, I say mark it.  I have been guilty of hiding traps too, mostly in open water though.  I am also concerned with 3'X4' rectangular holes used for spearing.

Exactly! That is the point!  Thank you Wyogator! As a matter of fact, based on the pointers that toecheese gave us, the state regulations not only state that they must be marked, but you are also required to leave your name and address attached to the markings your required to construct!

But again, the point is, COVER/MARK YOUR HOLES! It is the responsible thing to do!

BTW: Thank you to everyone for wieghing in on this issue. Your condolences are greatly appreciated. Any of us who own a pet knows, they ARE part of the family and it is like loosing a member of the family. Bait trappers out there... be smart...

Flaggs!

[Mainehazmt]

Trap your bait before the water freezes   makes Much more sense to me  there is no way Id want to drill chop etc thru 2' of ice for bait!  Id be buying it before I went thru the trouble!  I collected over 700 this summer / fall for myself  and they are still doing great   Follow the law MARK the hole!   even mark the regular drilled holes   10" hole + small child = tragedy  Where I fish on long lake  I like seeing all those trees!growing thru the ice! Personally I use lathes till hole freezes shut

[slider]

I think it was sort of tacky bringing up a leash law
it didnt sound like the pond was anywhere near a populated area and the woman evidently had permission to be on the property

[pageman1j]

i send my deepest symapthy to the woman who lost her dog.  my lab and i are very close to each other and it would be like losing part of myself if anything ever happened to her.  and lastly, about the whole leash law issue, i think that it was very ignorant to even think of bringing that up.  those guys had no right punching holes in that ice and that is the point.  this is not a post to argue, it is for us sporstmen to send our sympathy and encouragement to the woman who lost her dog.

[sheephead higgy]

Here in Michigan the method is to put some sticks or a small branchin the hole before leaving it.  It freezes in and is clearly visible even in the dark.  This seems to be a great preventative tactic, and provides good structure when it setles to the bottom in the spring.