The worm setup.

[rich_ace_G]

Ok, pike finally closed yesterday. Had a good time. Started out really good. 2nd cast of the day. Had a 3lb pike on my now most productive plug. The Daiwa DB Minnow suspending (sounds like an ad I know). The action is just so good everytime I look at it underwater I'd like to strike it too (if I was a fish). It did slowed down noon time. still had some followers. and landed a few more small ones. Some pike cruised on shallow water with out any reaction to my lure. I'm guessing they're now on spawning mode so I left them alone and just cast far out and still get the takers. Total 7 for the day. MY arm was so tired of casting so I changed to worms and cast under a bobber maybe 15 feet from me. PIke were swimming back and forth without taking a whiff. Finally got one taker. It was a trout. probably 1lb. Rainbow. 2013 is strictly Catch n' release for me.

My question is this. I know worm is such a versatile bait. If you use it on a water with multiple species in it and some are close for the season (bass, pike right now). How would MNR deal with this? I'm relocating to a spot that has perch, bass & pike.

 

[hamiltonangler94]

I'm guessing as long as you put the OOS fish back right away I don't think there is a big issue with it since an earthworm is such a versatile bait and can catch virtually anything on it.

 

[Larry1990]

I actually posed that exact question to an MNR officer last summer when he stopped by to do a license check. He told me that as long as you do everything in your power to release the fish as quickly and safely as possible, its not an issue, however they said they have had people (obviously not too bright) trying to tell them that they were going after panfish with something like a topwater frog in a bass spawning bay. obviously this wouldnt play out too well, but if your intentions are honest, no harm = no foul.

 

[BackwoodsBassr]

Yup like the above members I spoke to the mnr because and they said the same thing. In a lake its a no brainer to use your discretion and avooid OOS spawning grounds but if you're shore fishing on a river you have much less control over that sort of thing.