Dear Trotliners

[riverrat09]

If the lines are visible people will cut them out of spite, as well as run them. And remember guys even if you dont agree with it,it is illegal to tamper with someones lines.

And yes I agree some of the guys with lines out there are just idiots.

[denjac]

If the lines are visible people will cut them out of spite, as well as run them. And remember guys even if you dont agree with it,it is illegal to tamper with someones lines.

And yes I agree some of the guys with lines out there are just idiots.

Valid points by you and Jason. You have to hide em so they dont get run and cut. Rod and reel fisherman hang into em cause we cant see them. Another case in point, lowlifes,crooks and bums ruin it for the rest of us.

[Outside Bend]

I've cut unmarked lines in the past, I've also set lines which were clearly marked with large day-glo orange buoys on both ends, only to find someone had methodically straightened or cut every hook at the bend the next morning.

Respect goes both ways- legal trotlines ought to be left alone, even if it's an inconvenience- being frustrated isn't an excuse to steal or destroy someone else's gear or take someone else's fish. And trotliners ought to have the courtesy to clearly mark sets which may pose a hazard to boaters and anglers. There will always be some issues, but if more folks were cognizant of their actions those instances could be greatly reduced.

[Jason Essary]

Im with Den, small percentage ruins it for the rest of us.

[mclothier1]

I snagged one around the Kimberling area this summer, Anchored up in a cove to cool off and swim... Pulled up the anchor and it had a trotline wrapped around it. It was abvious it had been there for a long time so I pulled it. One less abandoned trotline to worry about!

Sorta makes me wonder how many are out there???

Im not really into trotlining, I have set a couple but never had any decent luck. Mine are marked with gallon jugs and an engraved aluminum tag. Never had em messed with, but I always tend them in the morning and evening. and of course they get pulled when Im done.

[Stoneroller]

http://mdc.mo.gov/contact-us/operation-game-thief

Unmarked limb/trot/jug lines are a clear violation of the wildlife code and are subject to summary removal when discovered. Any complaints/issues/problems with this policy can be discussed with the local conservation agent, whom I will gladly call. =)

[Stump bumper]

I cut and remove any I find that are unmarked, but I know on the Arkansas side it is only legal to have unattended lines out between sunset and sunrise so if I find fish on a line at noon they become free fish.

There a rules for fishings jugs and lines just like any other fishing and wish the Fish and Game would get off their boat seats and do some work on clearing these out and if that is not in thier job descebtion then that needs to be addressed also. They seem to worry alot the size of spots in my live well and there is never more than 5 fish there, but they seem not to care how many are dieing on a troutline with 200 hooks, but pulling a trout line is a lot harder than opening a live well.

I can't count the number of turtles I have cut loose from limb lines that have not been used in weeks, that is a crime not only in my book but in the fish and game book also but seems to be left up to fishermen to police each other.

So IMO if you are cutting illegal lines and carring them back to shore and discarding them properly, keep it up, because I don't think anybody else is and if you don't want your lines cut and thrown away, run them at sunrise then take them with you.

[glennL]

I cut and remove any I find that are unmarked, but I know on the Arkansas side it is only legal to have unattended lines out between sunset and sunrise so if I find fish on a line at noon they become free fish.

There a rules for fishings jugs and lines just like any other fishing and wish the Fish and Game would get off their boat seats and do some work on clearing these out and if that is not in thier job descebtion then that needs to be addressed also. They seem to worry alot the size of spots in my live well and there is never more than 5 fish there, but they seem not to care how many are dieing on a troutline with 200 hooks, but pulling a trout line is a lot harder than opening a live well.

I can't count the number of turtles I have cut loose from limb lines that have not been used in weeks, that is a crime not only in my book but in the fish and game book also but seems to be left up to fishermen to police each other.

So IMO if you are cutting illegal lines and carring them back to shore and discarding them properly, keep it up, because I don't think anybody else is and if you don't want your lines cut and thrown away, run them at sunrise then take them with you.

[glennL]

Here's an idea. Try fishing with a pole. No sport trotlining. Fishermen should respect nature and this trotlining seems to do more damage than good . Doesn't seem right for fisherman to support this way of fishing, just because they can. No sport in that.

[Stump bumper]

Here's an idea. Try fishing with a pole. No sport trotlining. Fishermen should respect nature and this trotlining seems to do more damage than good . Doesn't seem right for fisherman to support this way of fishing, just because they can. No sport in that.

IMO that it is not intended to be a sport but an effective way to harvest a natural resourse for food and is a right for people to be able to feed themselves from the land were as sport fishing (what I do) is a way for people to amuse themselves.Growing up I had serveral relatives that depended heavely on meat from troutlines and hunting to stay off food stamps and there was very little sport in traping for food but it in no way made it wrong.

I can't stand people who build million dollar homes in the country, then complain about geese and ducks in thier yards but pass local regulations that hungry people cannot kill them for food. That just rubs an old country boy wrong, even though I no longer hunt, but I believe that there is a reason to harvest game other than the "sport of kings."

But there are rules made so we can all get along and IMO we should follow them.

(If you do have too many of those pesky geese in your back yard, I can send gradma's reciept for goose with orange sauce.)