Mn or wisc spearfishing Help me

[popolarbear]

good day to all. im new to this fantastic sport. i am direly trying to obey the mn laws but am having difficulty finding a suitable spot. i dont have a ton of gas money to spend driving far. i live on the west side of twin cities close to lake minneotonka. i would like to freedive shoot carp or other fair sized rough fish, but would honestly setle for anything shootable. i had some nice small non-boated lakes picked out. trouble is i already had run ins with the local park police for refusing to pay $5 entry fee to swim at the beach. at the beach they said snorkling is not allowed. so i informed them that this non-boating lake is perfect and i am not swiming(im free snorkling)...im prety sure they dont want me dragging a spear gun in if im allready having problems with just the swiming aspect. this was a small couple acre minnetonka lake. that has beach gards on. idealy i would like a small nonboated lake that is slightly rural that should allow for bow fishing. that would probably allow spearfishing also. anyone help me please. private message is fine, i will not repost any tip spots thanks.

[Shooter]

I have never heard of someone not "allowing" snorkeling. It has been my experience that it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission. :o As far as the spearing goes you can spear anywhere legal fishing is allowed.  need Dive flag. According to the dnr's "book of suggestions" they strongly recomend that you spear only roughfish. You may also be required to have a fishing license.

I have done it a couple of times , I prefer blue water hunting....

[DiverQueen]

That sounds like the "Shady Oaks, Libbs Lake" patrol.  Sorry to hear you had a run-in with "Nice" people like that!~  You may want to look at West Medicine Lake park (Hwy 55 and West medicne Lake road) or Plymouth Park on Medicine Lake (off Medicine Lake road and 169)

Christmas Lake is good too, if you can find a space to park in the public access and don't mind swimming through the weeds!

Wirth Lake, off Glenwood and Wirth Parkway.  Try the Public Access area opposite from the swimming beach (Penn ave. and 55, south on Penn and go west on Glenwood.  Turn into the park just after the big green chair and gardens.) 

Good Luck!

[scubadog76]

A few thoughts for you:  Having had previous problems with the Minneapolis Park Police, the thing that the legal ordinances all "SEEM" to have is regarding scuba is "breathing aparatus".  One would have a tough time arguing a snorkel is not a breathing apparatus.  That is the point I would maintain, but at the same time it would not afford you the right to snorkel without a flag like a swimmer.  Spearfishing in MN:  The Dnr has little on their site about this.  I called them a couple years ago and they told me the only legal scuba/ spearing species was rough fish.  Also, you need to stay 1000 feet from a designated beach.  To make matters worse, some cities have ordinances against archary which may invite more hassel for you beyond the DNR troubles.  Finally, I have seen many bow fisherman poppin carp on Prior Lake but the boats are crazy on the weekends.  Go a few miles south to Cedar Lake in Fairbault and you will find soooo many carp, it won't be hunting, it will be self defense!  Just try to not look like a carp yourself, because there a bowfisherman there too :

[popolarbear]

good tips and points. thanks. question for DiveQueen.: firstly thanks for recomending some pottential snorkeling spots. would you think i can get away with spearfishing at those spots. that is my ultimate goal. also to the general board i ask does it seem reasonable that i be required a dive flag to snorkel in a non-motorized lake???... oh and yes that was the minnetonka park patrol harrassment. ..... yes they were boarderline offensive/ and impolite. im there with my kids and am not purposely trying to cause any harm or trouble.

[popolarbear]

oh, my other thought was more extreame. ive got a relative that lives up northwestish. towards st.cloud on a fairsized river that is clear enough. hes got no neighbors within eyesight. and the property is surounded by other large farm lots. it seems nearly perfect place to play. my paranoia is that this is soo rural that it is commonly traped. im afraid of freediving and spearfishing myself into a leg trap. is this common or has anyone heard of this as a potential danger. otherwise i my other potential rural candidate would be the upper missisisippi river.

[Shooter]

no worries. trapping is in the winter when the fur is prime. evn then the traps are in very shallow water next to shore. Your main concern should be entanglement hazards. In farm country watch out for barbed wire. Have a cutting device that can cut wire, quick!

[arcFlash]

I don't free dive very well so when I do, I choose sites I know from scuba. It loses some first find fun but then I'm not spooked about running into wire or mono line.  My free diving is limited to about 25 feet so it's almost all near shore stuff and much of the time I'm in 10 looking for stuff tossed from shore.

Good luck.

[DiverQueen]

Let me go double check the fishing rule book....But as long as you come up with rough fish (Carp and such) and are not near the beach when shooting 'em.  Reduction of rough fish should improve the water clarity and make everyone happy!!!  ;D

I would reccommend you use a dive flag so boaters don't run you over...you can also attach a stringer to the bottom of your float. 

Come on out to Coffee at Osseo Perkins and we can chat more!