While planning for my upcoming ice fishing Xtravaganza to the Bdubs I was surprised to learn that treble hooks are not allowed to be fished "alone" in Minnesota; they are acceptable as part of an artificial lure, but you can't rig a tipup with a naked treble. However, if a spinner blade is attached to a line within 3 inches of a treble, that rig IS legal on a tipup.

Wondering if any of you have additional terminal tackle insight in to this. I've begun rigging my tip ups with a couple of beads above the treble, then attaching a small baitfish blade to a clevis above the beads. It's a small blade. Hoping if I get checked (not likely) my tiny blade will pass muster.

I am also rigging some tipups for pike that have a much larger blade and more beads.

Thanks,

The Beaver

When I lived in Wisconsin I always used treble hooks with my tip-ups & was surprised when I moved to Minnesota that it wasn't legal... but I tell you what, I have caught more fish up here with a one hook setup than I ever did in Wisconsin.... so I don't think its worth the risk of a ticket & who knows what effect the beads & small spinner will have on the fishing....

I would just use a single hook setup.

You can use it beneath a single hook as what we call a "stinger" on your tip-up as long as it has a piece of bait attached to it.  My understanding of this law is that it is meant to deter "snagging" fish.  But this is Minnesota.  Cant buy beer or a car on Sunday either.  Man I love this state.

Woods_Walker wrote on Feb 18^th, 2010 at 12:37am:

who knows what effect the beads & small spinner will have on the fishing....I would just use a single hook setup.

I hear you...but I fish really light for walleyes...#14 treble. See the attached photo. I've had good luck with this rig. The extra little wobble and flash of the small blade entices strikes, and I don't think the extra hardware bothers even light biting 'eyes.  In any event, I will also rig with single hooks, too. Thanks for the input.

The Beaver

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Even though I wouldn't trade the fishin down here for all the heated shantys in Minnesota it's still torture hearing about ice fishing. Oh, how I loved it so!

We recently caught some walleye in the Ely area using tip-ups and single hooks. They were very sharp & worked just fine. It was also easier to release the small ones that were thrown back.
The fishin was great but the catchin was slow.

"Snowshoe Shadow-man"
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The Catch
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Yes it is very clear.

"Anglers may only use one hook. An artificial lure is considered one hook. A treble hook, when not part of an artificial lure, is considered three hooks and is not legal."

I understand this law is in place to prevent snagging. But it also limits the use of quick strike rigs. Multi hook quick strike rigs for live or dead bait allow you to set the hook immediately--less likely for fish to swallow bait. Used to use them under a big bobber with a gigantic smelt or ciscoe for big nortens growing up. The Beavers is right How you get around the rule in MN is you have to add a small spinner above the hooks now it is considered a lure. Snagging is already illegal so I don't think the rule is necessary.

If you are fishing walleyes on a tip up you can add a stinger hook or second hook if you are using a small jig head or once again you have to add a spinner if you are just using a plain minnow to stay legal.

T

It sounds like the only way it's legal (in MN) is if you have it attached to an artificial lure. There is no grey area. Sounds like one of those laws that exists to get newbies in trouble, or people who just didn't read or read that reg and thought maybe it was a joke because it's so stupid.