Michigan new expanded 3 rod limit

[big easy]

I copied this from another site.It's the response to fishermen from the MI. DNR.I thought it might be interesting,in light of the three rod limit being discussed here,for NY.

The new rules allow for three rods with single lines,or three single lines,and a total of six hooks.I'm wondering,is a slider considered a single line?

>>>>>>>From The MI DNR Thank you for taking time out of your valuable schedule to assist Fisheries Division and the Department of Natural Resources in our request for your opinions of changing Statewide regulations for the number of fishing lines from 2 to 3. Your opinions are highly valued and each response counted in our formulation of the proposal to request a change in the number of lines anglers can use. We heard from nearly 700 interested citizens and almost 80% of those responses were in favor of increasing the number of lines that an angler can use. Since 2000, anglers have been allowed to use three lines when fishing for salmon on the Great Lakes, but were restricted to two lines elsewhere and when pursuing other species in the Great Lakes. Just recently, the Michigan Legislature amended State Statute to provide the Director of the DNR the authority to allow for an increase in the number of fishing rods for all anglers on all public waters of Michigan. The intent of this change is to allow anglers to fish with three lines (rods) regardless of species, location or season. The Director would also have the authority to reduce the number of lines to no less than 2 if necessary. Fisheries Order 247.09 was signed recently by the Director and states that "on all of the public waters in Michigan, those persons in the act of fishing shall be restricted to using no more than 3 single lines or 3 single rods and lines, and shall not attach more than six hooks total on all lines." The order becomes effective April 1, 2009.<<<<<<

[LongLine]

Rules that apply on to “LINES†are carry overs from fishing methods that was popular in “olden times.†Trolling as far as Sportfishing goes is a much newer method of fishing than “Still†fishing or Fly fishing. (Practical marine engines and recreational fishing boats have only been around for a hundred years or so, but man has been sitting on the bank for a couple thousand years) The rule makers decided to add or modify a couple words of the old rules thinking that they’ll now apply to all modern fishing methods. They should have realized that the rules needed a complete overhaul with defined terminology that applies to the “older†and perhaps a set of rules applying to “modern†fishing methods that won’t lead to loopholes that might allow an unscrupulous fisherman to exploit the fishery with “modern†methods.

“Old time†trolling, i.e. before downriggers, dipseys, and planners involved 3 way swivels with or without a snap, attached to the main line in order to gain depth control. (Which BTW is still an effective method of trolling some bodies of water for some species) On one ring/snap went a leader to a lure and the other ring went to a leader and a sinker. Some guys replaced the sinker with a diving lure. This counted as a single line as there was only one “main line.†(Note: In the modern world of trolling, a single line may be comprised of a backing line attached to a lead core line, attached to a mono line and finally attached to a lure or baited hook, hence you could argue a modern main line may be comprised of 3 lines if you go by Webster’s definition of a line.)

The key to answering your question about interpretation is to look at the above and at the last few words of the quoted law. What I refer to is the hook restriction. Both NYS & Michigan have a line law PLUS a “Hook†law that are used in unison. NYS has an additional “Point†law per line.

In NYS, a “Hook†is that single unit with one or more “pointy†things that some anglers get caught in their fingers. In NYS a hook may have a single point, two points or have treble points. A small Rapala has two hooks in NYS. (6 points) In NYS “each line is limited to not more than five lures or baits or a combination of both, and in addition, each line shall not exceed fifteen hook points in any combination of single, double or treble hooks.â€

The NYS law applies to the “Still†fisherman as well as the troller in that on the line the Still fisherman is going to throw into the river while sitting on the bank, may have attached to it a sinker at the end, then a pre-snelled single hook above it, then another, then another and still have it all counted as a single line. All his hooks are attached to the main line hence legal up to the number of baits limit and the point limit per line. (Note: he doesn’t need a rod to cast nor retrieve his line. However we think it much more sporting to do so in our “modern experience.)

In NYS, the slider is just another lure/bait that is attached to a single main line. Where trollers can get into trouble with sliders is simply if their bottom line is a flatfish that has 4 trebles on it and their slider is that small Rapala with two trebles, they are over the point limit for that line, hence illegal.

In Michigan, a “Hook†is the equivalent of an individual artificial bait. I quote: “All hooks attached to an artificial bait or “night crawler harness†are counted as one hook.†What NYS calls a lure is called a Hook in Michigan. You can run 6 lures on those three lines and rods hence the slider which is a very popular way of running a second lure on a main line does not count as a second line.

What I find interesting with the Michigan law, as quoted, is the phrase “3 single lines or 3 single rods and lines.†This is an attempt to close a couple loopholes right off the bat. It means one and only one main line may be attached to one rod. I can think of a couple ways multiple main lines can be run with a single rod.

What you’ll see, if you read the 3 Rod Rule proposal for NYS discussed in previous threads and sent to the DEC is that there are suggested restrictions & definitions included to put everything above board, get rid of ambiguity and apply only to Trolling.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Erbyjoe]

Tom you are good at this stuff Your answers amaze me great job

[big easy]

Tom, Thanks for an outstanding explanation of my question.