Trot Lines, Limb Lines, and Jug Lines

[Ohio Sportsman]

Who thinks we should change the fishing regulations to outlaw:

Trot Lines, Limb Lines and Jug lines.

[Buckmaster]

So long that they are properly monitored and checked I don't see a problem.

[M.Magis]

While it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they were, I won't go as far as saying they should be outlawed completely. What does need to happen are some regulations regarding creel limits and size restrictions for catfish. My only problem with such tactics has always been that many, if not most, people that use them keep anything and everything they catch. 6 cats under 30"/day would be plenty for anybody to eat. There's just no need to stock the freezer when a lot of it will end up freezer burnt. There's also no need to fill the freezer just to have a party to "empty the freezer". Nodoby needs hundreds of pounds of fish.

[flathunter]

Ban them I say, they are the tools of the meat hunter, and nothing more..Our water ways can no loger sustain good fishing when such tactics are used..To many people and to many fisherman.

[Ohio Sportsman]

I often see many limb lines hanging and jugs floating that are not attended on a regular basis in our lakes, streams and rivers, on the limb lines it affects other anglers who want to fish shoreline cover but can't because all the lines hanging from the limbs that are unattended. I see it as a lazy mans way to fish, there is no sport in a jug, trot or limb line (can anyone show me an advantage to this style of fishing) to catch a fish and therefore a detriment to Ohio fishing in general in my opinion. This does not condemn those who do attend their lines on a regular basis and comply with the Ohio fishing regulations, it is geared towards those who do not attend their lines as the law requires which in turn causes problems for other anglers trying to pursue a pastime of recreational fishing. From where I stand I see more bad than good and the damage it can cause to a fishery, to be fished out so to say in a short amount of time which in turn affects our fish species diversity and the quality of fishing in our lakes, streams and rivers. JMO. :)

All opinions are welcomed on your thoughts about this thread and poll. :)

[katfish]

Game officials who defend limblines and jugs because it is legal.
Those same officials often balk when asked if they approved of the same methods used to target muskies or bass;)

We all understand that channel catfish are stocked by the state and that the hatcheries have limitted resourses. Our tax dollars and license fees fund these programs. Flathead catfish are often targetted by limbliners and are not stocked or actively managed by Ohio.

So the 2 questions asked would be

1 Is it economically and ecologically sound practice to allow people to commercially harvest catfish?

2 Since subsistence fishing is not an issue, is it ethical for anyone to use these methods as sports fishing?

I agree with Jack and have witnessed the effects of limblining on what was previously good catfishing spots. If the outdoor recreation dollars are meant for the enjoyment of all, why should a few individuals be allowed to destroy or decrease all others opportunities?

I imagine that people in the past have given arguments for jacklighting deer. History has proven that our resources cannot support unrestricted hunting and fishing.

[salmoide]

looks like there lots of meat hunters, no wonder the fishing is going to hell in a handbag. :eek:

[bill dowler]

hey guys there is nothing wrong with setting lines or juggin, as long as you keep them checked, there should be more regulation on those who dont check there lines, buts what wrong with being a meat hunter?fish is good, dont be talkin about meat hunters, if the odnr didnt want meat hunters then, why dont they let you kill more than one buck? they make you meat hunt......anyways most of the lakes in southeast ohio are polluted with channel cats, nobody is going to hurt the pop...anyways most line fishing and jugging is done in areas where none of you would take your boat to fish.............everybody buys a fishing license, once you buy it you can fish however the regs let ya

[shotgun]

You know what ticks us "meathunters" off? "sportsman" who think they are always right and think they somehow have more of a right to fish then other people. Yall are really breakin my heart about this whole "trophy" catfish thing. Dont get me wrong there fun to catch but ill take a mess of small ones over a big one anyday.

[katfish]

anyways most of the lakes in southeast ohio are polluted with channel cats, nobody is going to hurt the pop


Col R.I. Dodge
The great herd on the Arkansas through which I passed could not have averaged, at rest, over fifteen or twenty individuals to the acre, but was, from my own observation, not less than 25 miles wide, and from reports of hunters and others it was about five days in passing a given point, or not less than 50 miles deep. From the top of Pawnee Rock I could see from 6 to 10 miles in almost every direction. This whole vast space was covered with buffalo, looking at a distance like one compact mass, the visual angle not permitting the ground to be seen. I have seen such a sight a great number of times, but never on so large a scale. The advancing multitude had been at all points 50 miles in length (as it was known to have been in some places at least) by 25 miles in width, and still averaged fifteen head to the acre of ground, it would have contained the enormous number of 12,000,000 head."

Twenty years from when he wrote that, when not even a bone or a buffalo chip remains above ground throughout the West to mark the presence of the buffalo, it may be difficult for people to believe that these animals ever existed in such numbers. The decimation of the buffalo has probably never occurred before in any country, and hopefully never will again


Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.

http://www.thefishfinder.com/members/jack/trotlines.jpg


From ODNR
Rush Creek Lake (Fairfield & Perry Counties) -- This 273-acre lake is located two miles east of Rushville on U.S. Rte. 22 east of Lancaster. Over 13,000 yearling channel catfish were stocked in fall 2002 and an additional 2,700 were added in 2003.

These are just a few examples of channel cat stocking in Ohio. Your claim that SE Ohio channel cat populations are natural and cannot be diminished are therefore refuted.



they make you meat hun
everybody buys a fishing license, once you buy it you can fish however the regs let ya



Not everybody buys a fishing license, but everybody (in Ohio)pays taxes that support ODNR. Part of the ODNR funding is used to stock catfish

You know what ticks us "meathunters" off? "sportsman" who think they are always right and think they somehow have more of a right to fish then other people.

I am right.

Wise conservation of resources will enhance everyones enjoyment of fishing opportunities. I have not denied anybody the right to fish. To the contrary--I release large catfish to spawn and sustain the fishery you presently abuse.

It is my opinion that Ohio’s resources cannot sustain commercial fishing methods.
Shall we save your opinion to show to your children and grandchildren?

[shotgun]

Theres a big difference between wiping out buffalo and wiping out catfish. Last time I checked catfish didnt stand in the middle of the prairie making themselves easy targets for anybody passing by

[mrfish/OH]

I don't see a problem if we have creel and a size limit in place. There is none now, except in smaller lakes (new this year). Indiana has recently disallowed jugs & trotline in their lakes I believe.
The problem is overharvesting. No regulations on numbers and sizes of catfish which is what most use jugs & trot/limblines for. Even if bass or muskys were targeted(which I believe would still be legal under present regulations), there are strict size & creel limits. Sure would make for an interesting article to open a fishing magazine to see methods for jugs and trotlining for trophy muskys ;)

[mrfish/OH]

Yes, you're right catfish didn't stand in the middle of the prairie making themselves easy targets for anybody passing by
In a smaller river and steam, the use of trotlines and limb lines over a period of a few weeks can destroy the fishery. Eventually , almost every fish in that stretch of water will come into contact with the lines. Note, I'm refering to small rivers and streams. They have limited holes and habitat, not a huge prarie, but in essense limited to a highway or driveway, they have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Again, used in conjuction with a size & creel limit, I think those methods could still be used and not decimate a population of fish.
One is permitted several l ines with a limit of 50 hooks(?) and several jugs too. I actually have no problem with jugs, you are required to have them in sight at all times, it's the trot lines & limb lines that worry me, the ones that never get attended too on a daily basis as required. Why are we restricted to two rods & 2 hooks per rod when we're also allowed multiple trot lines ( Is it still 4 lines with 50 hooks each ?)
Sensible harvest is fine and maybe even helps the population, overharvesting is not helping anyone.

[mrfish/OH]

Setlines, Banklines, Trotlines, and Floatlines

Regulations Governing the Use of Setlines, Banklines, Trotlines, and Floatlines in the Inland Fishing District Setlines or Banklines - Setlines or Banklines may be used to catch turtles and fish. The name and address of the user must be attached to each line. The maximum is 50 lines, each having a single hook. Treble hooks may not be used. The lines must be attached to the shore above water, but not to a boat, dam, dock, pier, pole, rod, or wall. No more than six set or banklines may be used in public waters of the state of Ohio less than 700 surface acres. All lines must be checked once every 24 hours. All lines must be removed after completion of use.

Trotlines - Trotlines must be marked with the name and address of the user. Trotlines must be anchored. Wire or cable may not be used. Not more than three trotlines are permitted in any one body of water in the Inland Fishing District. Not more than 50 hooks per trotline are permitted in any tributary of Lake Erie. Trotlines may not be used within 1,000 feet downstream of any dam. Trotlines may be used only in (1) streams; (2) Mosquito Lake north of the causeway and south of a line of buoys designating the wildlife refuge; (3) Charles Mill Lake north of St. Rt. 430; (4) Clendening Lake east of St. Rt. 799; (5) Seneca Lake south of St. Rt. 147; (6) Tappan Lake above the gas line causeway and St. Rt. 646; (7) Atwood Lake north and east of St. Rt. 542 north at Dellroy; (8) Piedmont Lake in sections 11 and 12 of Kirkwood Township; (9) Wills Creek Lake except in the area directly in front of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District boat landing; (10) that part of Berlin Lake lying south and west of St. Rt. 225; (11) the inland part of Sandusky Bay commonly called Mud Creek Bay; and (12) the area of Grand Lake St. Marys bounded on the west by Prairie Creek, on the east by Big Chickasaw Creek, and on the north by a line of buoys extending east to west between Big Chickasaw and Prairie creeks. Trotlines may not be set in channels or across the mouths of channels or streams in Grand Lake St. Marys. A special trotline license is required in the Lake Erie Fishing District. This license may be obtained at the Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit, 305 East Shoreline Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870 (Phone # 419-625-8062). All trotlines must be checked once every 24 hours.

Floatlines - Floatline or jug fishing is permitted in (1) all streams; (2) Sandusky Bay west of the New York Central Railroad bridge; (3) Berlin Lake south and west of St. Rt. 225; (4) Mosquito Lake north of the causeway and south of a line of buoys designating the waterfowl refuge; (5) Charles Mill Lake north of St. Rt. 430; (6) Clendening Lake east of St. Rt. 799; (7) Seneca Lake south of St. Rt. 147; (8) Tappan Lake above the gas line causeway and St. Rt. 646; (9) Atwood Lake north and east of St. Rt. 542 north at Dellroy; (10) Piedmont Lake in Sections 11 and 12 of Kirkwood Township; (11) Wills Creek Lake except in the area directly in front of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District boat landing; and (12) ALL PUBLIC WATERS EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY THE OWNER IN AUTHORITY. It is unlawful to set, use, or maintain more than six floatlines in all public waters of the state of Ohio less than 700 surface acres. Floats must be of nonshatterable material and bear the name and address of the user. Floats must be freely adrift and be attended by the user at all times. Treble hooks are unlawful.


Regulations (click) (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Fishing/fishregs/default.htm)

New catfish regulations.......Channel catfish in waters under 700 surface acres....6 fish (no size limit)

[KatManDEW]

Ban Them. There are no creel and size limits, and even if there were, they would not, could not, be enforced. So what we have is unrestricted harvesting of a reasouce that my tax dollars subsidize. And unrestricted harvesting of any resource has always proven to be unwise.

[katfish]

Shotgun

My analogy between buffalo and catfish was not literal.

At one time almost everyone thought that the amount of buffalo was limittless. That no amount of hunting would hurt the giant buffalo herds. They were wrong.

Wild turkeys were driven to the brink of extinction before people realized that they were a resource that had to be managed wisely.

To provide a good future for generations that follow us, we must realize how our actions will effect the resources we have at our disposal.

At a time when many think they must get what they can before it is all gone---I think we should preserve and manage wisely what is left and try to make things better for our children.

[shotgun]

To provide a good future for generations that follow us, we must realize how our actions will effect the resources we have at our disposal.

Couldnt agree more. I just dont agree that juggin and limblines are effecting it the way you all say. Nor do I believe me keeping all the one to five pounders I catch to eat will do it. I just think this whole 6 a day is kinda stupid. That means legally I can 2190 catfish a year. (2196 thanks to a leap year LOL) So what is the diff if I take 4 days to catch 20 or so fish for the freezer as opposed to catching them in one day.

[KatManDEW]

We have limits on just about every fish and game we can take. Why not catfish? I don't have to worry about crashing into a flathead and tearing up my car and injuring myself, but we have limits on the deer that I do have to avoid crashing into, and no limits on flatheads. How about unrestricted deer harvesting so my insurance rates can come down?

We stock channel cats, but not flatheads. If we're going to have unrestricted harvesting of a species it should at least be a species like channel cats which we are attempting to replenish.