Trolling!

[ackermannsacre]

I sent an inquiry to the MDC asking for clarification pertaining to the number of rods that can be used per person. Here is the answer I recieved today.

"You can use up to 33 (of course, that number would be pretty
impractical) as long as you label those you have above the number of
three.

Thanks for your interest in conservation."

Ken Drenon
Ken.Drenon@mdc.mo.gov
573/522-4115, ext. 3848

Now the Spiderman can use all 11 rod holders on the Bite Me Tracker!

[powerdivehome]

That is one of the best functional oxymorons I've ever seen!!!

1. You can use "33 rods"
2. Thank you for your "interest in conservation"

Oh baby, that's priceless!

[coyotewhacker]

On the other hand, if you somehow could have 33 rods out and you had a fish on only one, think of all the good exercise you would get reeling in the other 32 to avoid a big tangle.If you figure the average cost of a good rod and reel combo for trolling would be $125, rod holder $15, planer boards about $30 a pair, crankbait $5 each, and line is ten bucks to fill with mono...or 13 to top it off with Fireline, you're looking at six grand or more in just the trolling gear. I discovered yesterday that the Express will troll....not like a boat designed to do that, but it will pull a couple of crankbaits. Like any other skill there is a series of motions that has to be learned, and right now CW is about at 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 10...but persistence will pay off in the long run....and maybe on a real good day I could run two rods per side. With one person in the boat who really has his act together that would be about the maximum that could be done. And that would be one board off to the side and one longline with no board to worry about. First lesson learned yesterday was "start well outside the area where you want to troll".....maybe I can get Hausfrau to go with me one of these days and watch the counter on one reel while I watch the counter on the other.

[Tablerock]

Ack... You'd better print that letter and carry a copy in your boat because the next game warden you see is going to try to give you a ticket if he see's more then 3 rods per person. This is mis-information from the highest source.
Unbelievable.....

[reelxtc]

TR,

I don't think this is misinformation.

If you notice I have a mailing label with my name and address on my rods. The crappie fisherman take advantage of this bigtime.

[Tablerock]

Well cool.... if it works, great...!! Two summers ago I was being checked at Tablerock we got into a quick discussion about trotlines. This ole boy (I'd know his name if I heard it) said the gray area, or "loophole" concerning maximum number of hooks / rods had been shut and that the number 33 was meant to be the max number of hooks on one trotline. He said the max number of rods, per licensed fisherman, would be 3. Of course, he is just an on the water game warden and Ackermann's response came from a higher office. As I said before, if it works...great !!!
Now I can get crazy and try 4 or 5 rigs out. I'd better go sell one of my cars so I can buy more crankbaits...

[trackerteam6]

Be careful, I have been pursuing this item for over three years now and I have several different anwsers all from HIGHER HQS. The law says three unlabled poles, another section says 33 hooks in aggregate. Technically you could use 33 rods, if, 1. they were labeled and 2. each had no more than one hook on it. Even then does that mean a manufactures lable or my information the law is not clear on that point. Even during trolling I seldom use more than three because of tangles and I don't want the hassel of arguing with an MDC Official. The real anwser is JUST BE CAREFUL.

[coyotewhacker]

You guys go ahead and put out 66 trolling rigs per boat. CW and Table Rock will continue our simple ways with two rigs on my side of the boat and up to 33 on his side of Ol' Leaky. Betcha you end up with the ultimate braided superline.....let's see...66 times ten lbs...oh yeah...660 lb test Wonderline made up from 66 smaller filaments.

[bullitt]

What's so funny PD? You can not catch any with 33 rods as easy as you can not catch any with 3!
At least it gives a feller something to do while he's trying to plow one up.

[Tablerock]

TrackerTeam6.... You're right. The MDC guy that was checking me that particular day even got into how many "lures per rod" and how many "hooks on each lure". Unfortunately, my memory is not near good enough to remember all what he was saying, but it does seem to still be a gray area.

[trackerteam6]

TR that's what makes it so risky for we fisherman. Much of it is the MDC official on the graound at that time making their interpratation foa the law. I don't have the time, patince or money to go to court and argue with them, so I just use three or four poles labled with my information.

[coyotewhacker]

After my initial experience with long line trolling, I don't think I will be having any problems with MDC field agents over how many lines I have out.If I am in another boat (Ol' Leaky, for instance) and I can concentrate on nothing but rods, there might be three out, but fishing solo, I think two is going to be the max for a while to come. And still have not hooked up the boards to spread the lures....(sigh)......

[Ozark]

I've wondered what the rule was on multiple rods. It sounds like it's three, maybe?

About a month ago, I saw something that really tickled me. I was crappie fishing in flooded trees below Bridgeport, near Virgin Bluff on Tablerock. A guy, by himself, was going back and forth out in the deep channel, apparently trolling for white bass. I've never seen such a rig - it was a small open pontoon boat with a wheelhouse, and he had rod holders all over that thing. I tried to count rods, and he was trolling maybe 12 or 15! I couldn't help wonder what would happen if he actually hooked something.

Sure enough - he eventually trolled into a school of white bass and got fish on 3 or 4 rods at the same time. Apparently they were big sows, the kind that take you around the boat a couple of times. I've never seen such a fire drill. He was running around the deck fighting fish with a rod in each hand, while trying to hold other rods down with his knees. The hooked white bass were going 'round and 'round all his other lines. I saw him finally drag some fish in, but he had to drop all the poles and hand-line them. He had the worst tangle you ever saw, and I know he never got it straightened out. Funny thing, he left right after that, no more trolling.

I bet he changed his "technique" after that trip.

[trackerteam6]

Ozark, please do not post those types of stories, my boss came over to see what i was laughing about. HA HA HA
That was a great story I wish I could have been there. I could just imagine chasing three or four poles with fish on.

[coyotewhacker]

When I fished with Johnnie Candle, he had out four lines per side...two planer boards way out there, one longline on a long rod, and a second long line on a real short custom rod. It got real exciting when a walleye or big smallie hit a lure....and that was with three people bringing in outrigger gear.