Hit the bank in Minn waters saturday at 1pm with the air temp 43 degrees sunny and the water temp at 38 F. Wife and i all rigged up for crappie. She throws out a crappie jig with a berkley gulp alive 2 inch minnow and first cast catches a nice 3 lb bass. I throw out a crappie in line white spinner and first cast catch a 3 lb bass.

 

Hmmm, cast out a few more times and we both hook up bass again. I change my lure to a crappie jig with an underspin and a small grub green and white hoping for some crappie to bring home. Nope, get bit again by a bass while casually reeling in the underspin in 3 foot of water.

 

We were now catching bass every few casts and bass here doesnt open till May. I didnt want to get in any trouble so i put the rod down and did something i never did before while fishing. I went and sat in my car, relaxed and ate some lunch. Came back out to fish and again the bass hit, they were very frisky for this extremely cold water and bending my jig hooks out so i gave them lots of light drag.

 

I decided to stop fishing as the crappie were not around and felt bad catching the bass especially it being so easy so we left for home.

I don’t know whether to say sorry or congratulations. 

Just now, Bankbeater said:

I don’t know whether to say sorry or congratulations. 

Well, considering bass season is still closed in MN for 27 more days...

57 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Well, considering bass season is still closed in MN for 27 more days...

 

So you can get in trouble because a bass bit your lure while you were going after crappie?

2 minutes ago, cdlittle said:

 

So you can get in trouble because a bass bit your lure while you were going after crappie?

Occasional accidental catches are fine - but if it's like what Throttle was encountering, the DNR's EOs might assume he was actually targeting them...and that can result in a possible fine or even loss of license.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Occasional accidental catches are fine - but if it's like what Throttle was encountering, the DNR's EOs might assume he was actually targeting them...and that can result in a possible fine or even loss of license.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Never been anywhere with a bass season. 

That is crazy for sure. It makes sense for deer and such, but fishing....

Just now, NavyVet1204 said:

That is crazy for sure. It makes sense for deer and such, but fishing....

Bass, walleye, sauger, northern, and muskie all close the end of February. Muskie opens again June 5, bass opens for C&R on May 15 - keepers on May 29, rest open on May 15.

 

They say it's to protect the spawn, and up till a few years ago Bass was completely closed until the end of May. They finally opened it to C&R when the other species season opened.

We have closed walleye season on a few lakes close to me and I have seen a few times during closed season where somebody caught a nice eye while targeting pan fish in front of a DNR guy. They are cool about it because they know its accidental but I will say you better get it unhooked and back in the water with minimal fanfare or you may have a problem.

In NY I can catch bass and release them year round. Only sometimes you can keep them I think june through summer. I dont keep them anyway so I like this rule.

Fisherman's hell

A Bass Season! That's crazy. Get in trouble for catching them while throwing a crappie jig. I'd move. Not kidding. 

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

A Bass Season! That's crazy. Get in trouble for catching them while throwing a crappie jig. I'd move. Not kidding. 

Agreed. I understand a catch and release only season during the spawn for any kind of fish, but a closed season is ridiculous. 

 

@MN Fisher can't you guys even get in trouble for taking time to take pictures if you "accidentally" catch a big bass? I caught a 6lber on a 2" grub legit fishing for crappie once but by the game regulations up there you have to immediately release them correct? 

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

@MN Fisher can't you guys even get in trouble for taking time to take pictures if you "accidentally" catch a big bass? I caught a 6lber on a 2" grub legit fishing for crappie once but by the game regulations up there you have to immediately release them correct? 

Immediate release - you're not even suppose to weigh/measure it.

That is the law, but there is no DNR agent that would ever issue you something for a picture IF it were obvious that you only have crappie sticks/baits tied on with the exception if they see you boating them over and over.  Walleyes on the other hand perhaps...but that is because you can fish for crappies/sunnies the same way you fish walleyes bait wise.  They also care a lot more about protecting the non-indigenous walleye.

 

1 minute ago, Deephaven said:

They also care a lot more about protecting the highly praised walleye.

Fixed it - walleye are native to Minnesota...but being the state fish, much more attention is paid to them and they've been introduced to a lot more lakes - but are indigenous to a lot of water here.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/walleye/biology.html

That was tongue and cheek...guess it didn't come across right.  Yes they were here, but not as naturally spread as the goofballs who ruin our fishing season imply.

2 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Yes they were here, but not as naturally spread as the goofballs who ruin our fishing season imply.

Ya - just have to look at the stocking history to see it. Millions of walleye, northern and musky fry/fingerlings over the years - maybe a few dozen bass. It's nuts.

going to a different lake this thursday in Minn as its gonna be 60 F  but still only 45 degree water temp for some bank fishing for crappie.

I tied up some different lures and will also be using a bobber with gulp live minnows. Yes all these are tied up using spro barrel swivels #8. I use many different lures during the day and this makes it sooooo easy to switch.

 

On 4/19/2021 at 9:17 AM, MN Fisher said:

Millions of walleye, northern and musky fry/fingerlings over the years - maybe a few dozen bass.

They don’t stock northern pike. Walleye, Trout, and Muskies, yes.

 

If they stocked pike they would be in deep sh** because they’re now overpopulated and abundant.

On 4/18/2021 at 12:56 AM, throttleplate said:

I decided to stop fishing as the crappie were not around and felt bad catching the bass especially it being so easy so we left for home.

You did the right thing buddy. Although I’ve never encountered a specific situation like that, I catch fish out of season regularly. Just the other day I was crappie fishing like you were and caught a northern pike mixed in with the panfish. If I had continued to catch nothing but pike on panfish gear, I would leave too.

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

They don’t stock northern pike. Walleye, Trout, and Muskies, yes.

Lakes around the state have received Pike stocking as recently as 2017 - including a number in the metro area.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin/stocking.html

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Lakes around the state have received Pike stocking as recently as 2017 - including a number in the metro area.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin/stocking.html

Wow that is shocking. Thanks for clarifying.

 

I can’t believe it. That is idiotic considering the bag limit is now 10/day.

Wouldn't mind a pike dinner actually...but once the water warms I'll change my mind.  Opener is coming too late this year (always).