Are these legal to use?

[Guest RedHead]

Hi,

Are these legal to use?

[Guest MNR]

I have received several inquiries regarding the legality (use and

possession) of several ice fishing tip ups.

One is called the automatic ice fisherman and can be found at:

http://www.automaticicefisherman.com/index.html

If you view the video on the web site you will see that the Tip up holds

the rod in such a way that the rod is tensioned similar to a downrigger

rod, when the fish takes the bait a release mechanism is activated and

the rod is released indicating a bite, the angler can then grab the rod

and set the hook. This type of set up does not meet the definition of a

spring gaff - "spring gaff means a spring-operated device for impaling

or hooking a fish and includes sping-loaded hooks that are triggered

when a fish bites the bait" and therefore is legal for use and

possession within 30 meters of any water.

A second piece of ice fishing equipment is called the Hook Set Tip Up

and can be viewed at http://hooksettipup.com/

If you view the video on this site you will see that this tip up

contains a spring that is "loaded" when set. When the fish hits the

bait and triggers the release the spring mechanism sets the hook, and a

flag is released. This set up falls within the definition of a spring

gaff as noted above, and is therefore not legal for use or possesion

within 30 meters of any waters.