October 16th - Night Walleye

Post by **Markus** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:08 pm

I'd guess that seeing them in clear water and on a camera isn't altering their enviornment and perception of it.

Post by **wolfe** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:08 pm

Isn't light an attractant for walleye?

W.

Post by **BBRich** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:10 pm

I doubt it wolfe, because everytime I did see one in the light, it almost immediately moved away. And like I said, all the ones I saw in the light would not bite.

In fact, the only bites I got were when my headlamp was dim and I was looking at my fishing reel to make sure it didnt get tangled

Post by **ontariodreaming** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:16 pm

Some fish are definately attracted to lights. If fact people install lights on their transom. Guess it is legal down here. As for walleye, I have seen alot of glow baits on market.

Post by **BBRich** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:19 pm

Okay here is what I gather..

Walleye are night feeders because they see better at night. So blaring a spotlight in their eyes would only blind them wouldn't it?

A glow in the dark lure however would stand out like a sore thumb in the dark... especially if their eyes are adjusted for night time viewing. It would look like a heavenly treat

Man I gotta get some glo-jigs. Unless there's a law against it.

Post by **bottom feeder** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:38 am

Thhe only light I have ever used was a coleman lantern on the bank or in a tree, or on the ice, and only to light the ground area

Post by **saskie** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:49 am

Using a headlamp to light your way along the beach or tie on hooks is fine...you said though that you were using it to spot walleye cruising in the shallows. In your orginal post you flat out said you were using it to spot the eyes and then cast to them. That's illegal. Proving it in court...well, that might be tough...and whether or not the CO would even lay a charge would probably depend on his mood that day...but that's not supposed to be the point for us.

Navigation lights serve a recognized and legally neccesary navigation safety purpose. They are fixed, omni-directional, relatively low power and gain and designed to radiate up and out so that they can be seen from a distance. A headlamp or spot-light is a directional light designed to illuminate an area. Deliberately shining it into the water to attract or spot fish is flat out illegal.

Post by **BBRich** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:59 am

saskie wrote:Using a headlamp to light your way along the beach or tie on hooks is fine...you said though that you were using it to spot walleye cruising in the shallows. In your orginal post you flat out said you were using it to spot the eyes and then cast to them. That's illegal. Proving it in court...well, that might be tough...and whether or not the CO would even lay a charge would probably depend on his mood that day...but that's not supposed to be the point for us.

Navigation lights serve a recognized and legally neccesary navigation safety purpose. They are fixed, omni-directional, relatively low power and gain and designed to radiate up and out so that they can be seen from a distance. A headlamp or spot-light is a directional light designed to illuminate an area. Deliberately shining it into the water to attract or spot fish is flat out illegal.

Like I said earlier I was just trying to see my lure. It is relatively shallow and rocky and if the current gets it over the wrong spot, its snag city. Not to mention the bikes people have thrown in the water there

I couldnt help but see the glowing eyes everywhere. It's not like I put the spotlight on the water, THEN casted at it! If I happen to notice a walleye sitting in front of me then I'm not going to just walk away though!

Post by **Cancatchbass** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:04 am

This discussion is interesting, to say the least.

During bullhead season (which overlaps the crappie runs), this whole section of the St. Lawrence is lit up by lanterns and bonfires, used both to provide light to the anglers AND to attract fish. The CO's have never given anyone a hard time about this traditional practice.

Now, on a related subject- What about the lighted bobbers that are often used by crappie and other anglers? According to the MNR excerpts quoted, these might be illegal?

Methinks BBR has nothing to fear from the CO's for using his little headlamp. If anything, it could possibly turn the walleye off.

CCB

Post by **Canadian Bacon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:02 am

Hey guys...
Using any kind of light for the purpose of enhancing your opportunity to catch fish is against the regs..PERIOD! It's in the regs. Navigation, obvilusly you need the lights for that.

I am not sure that is what BBR was doing or that was his intent but now we all know it is wrong, and that is a good thing. Guys don't get defensive. This is the way we find things out and help each other do the right thing ongoing. It is something I have known since I was a kid as my stepfather is a huge walley fisherman. Said folks used to do it in the old days and apparently it worked...

Post by **Bobber** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:04 am

Ok, I've cleaned this thread up.

Let's keep the discussion to the topic and see if we can't find out whether or not using a headlamp for the purpose of seeing where you are casting is illegal or not.

I think we are all in agreement that using a light while fishing at night by intentionally pointing it in the water is not legal. I'm sure you are allowed to use a headlamp to light your way down a rocky path so as not to trip, but let's see if we can find out "for sure" without the speculation or assumptions, whether or not you are allowed to "cast" into the water wearing a lite headlamp.

Post by **BASSSTALKER** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:25 am

So if your fishing at night and your following the rules, your bow and stern lights would be on, right? so if you were jigging of the side of the boat where the rear light is that's illegal

crazy!

Post by **joco** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:01 pm

HEY

ONE thing is sher,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on quebec side,,,its LEGAL,,,,like (someone said before)

thats IT PERIOD....................

its legal on the quebec side,,,,,,

the number off the mnr and the person to contact,,,,for quebec,is,,,,

MICHEL BERGERON,,,,,,,,,819-772-3434...post 250,,,,

he will gladly responde any question,,( great guy)

joco

Post by **DaveH** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:04 pm

I've just put a call into the Kemptville MNR...just waiting to hear back from an enforcement officer.

Once I know...you'll know!!!

The receptionist "thought" that wearing a headlamp and having it turned on WHILE fishing would be against regs...but she wasn't sure so she passed me to the enforcement officer, but I had to leave a message.

Hopefully she'll get back to me soon.

Post by **Canadian Bacon** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:06 pm

Dave..we have done this already bud and got our answer...lets see if this is a different answer but really guys just pic up your regs or go to the site MNR Quebec or Ontario...it says in black and white...it's illegal.

Fish-Hawk.Net

October 16th - Night Walleye

Hmmmm...