Two Rod proposal for trolling

[John]

Great Lakes salmon and trout anglers can use (2) rods throughout Canadian waters. Some U.S. areas allow (3) rods for trolling. Georgian Bay which is the only connected water solely within Canada is restricted to (1) rod per angler. Should this be changed to conform with other Great Lakes regulations?

[RobM]

Quinte has a one rod limit after the Glenora Ferry. Limitations are put in place for good reasoning, although maybe the down riggers should get the extra line for salmon but walleye with a 2 fish limit and Pike no arguable reason for the extra line.

[John]

The argument by many is that there are slots and very low limits for warm water species now. Would it make any difference if someone was trolling with two lines?

[buck]

damn they are better than i am ...downrigging with two rods....single handed is a chore no matter where you are

agree with the point that the limits are so low(salmon, trout and pickerel 2 fish) more than 1 rod seems of little value

[RobM]

The argument by many is that there are slots and very low limits for warm water species now. Would it make any difference if someone was trolling with two lines?

Unattended lines could lead to higher mortality rates when the species are being protected. Having your best chances of getting the Eye's in particular is jigging in an area smaller than an acre out 1,000,000,000 acres. Take some popular fall spots for example could you imagine 12 boats dragging 4 lines around there? (assuming 2 anglers per)
Quinte at Sherman's Point the crowd jigging after the glenora its a parade of planer boards, each boat occupies 100Meter wide

[RockandTroll]

How anyone could refer to a Downrigger rod as an unattended line confuses me. Most times the angler is tuned into the rods so completely that he is on the rods before it springs all the way up from a release.
We typically keep the drags light so any change results in a click from the clicker. Typical day with a single click
And am already 1/2 way across the sensoredpit before the second click
Tournament day a single click can cause a 4 man pile up in the middle of the sensoredpit. Everyone diving for the rod from a different corner.
Running 2 riggers solo is not that hard to do. Like everything it takes a bit of practice. An autopilot is your best friend
Especially if it is really rough. Without the pilot (me right now) I set the out down riggers so they are as far apart as possible. I also keep the leads short And try to fish water so that the depth below the deepest ball is greater than the lead length. That way if you need to you can simply stop the boat to fight a fish and the line on the second rigger will simply hang below it with no chance of snagging on the bottom until you start up again.
I also stagger the rigger depths so the difference is greater than lead length and the distance between the rigger cables. That way you can stop to fight a fish and the boat could spin in circles and the riggers will not tangle.
Yes, double headers will happen and then the fun starts.

[RobM]

Chances of hooking 2 fish down rigging for salmon is pretty slim. If you are alone and running 2 lines the chances are you could have to deal with 2 fish a one time flat lining for the warmer water species.

[Meegs]

There's a guy in collingwood that tells us he has a written letter authorized by the ministry that says he's allowed to run two lines and I think hes allowed double the daily limit. Always sounded off to me but enough guys know him and noone seems to make a fuss of it.

[John]

Meegs
I don't know who this guy is but I doubt anyone has such a letter. No one that I know of in the MNR can write that letter so it might be wishful thinking. Having said that I'm sure there are a few out there that use two lines. I would bet there are a few Great Lake trollers that don't even know about the one line regulation.

[IamNickEvans]

 Keep it at 1 rod per angler when you are inshore (protected areas). When you get out to the bluewater I could see two rods being used for salmon or trout. I think it could work but like I said it would have to be in designated areas and a proper survey would be needed to establish these areas and new possesion limits if needed.
 Can you imagine 15 muskie boats with three anglers in each boat in the Severn Sound area with 6 line spreads, you could kiss those muskie goodbye!
 I would also suggest designating this for Sportfishing License holders only ( more lines= more money)

[RockandTroll]

Pay per rod? I could get into that.
Sign me up for 6 as that is my preferred spread even when I can legally pull more. Sometimes too many lines in the water can be counter productive.

[John]

Our joint FMZ 13 & 14 meeting is this Saturday and one of the topics for discussion is the 2 line strategy  for Georgian Bay. If there any more opinions on how this can be accomplished please present them now or participate in the above poll.

Thank you for your contribution.