3 rods for Pa.

Folks

I'm one of the fellows who approached the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission last year about increasing the number of rods allowed per angler from two to three. Those of you who followed the effort know we were treated like poor relatives by the commissioners, castigated on Internet forums and held up to ridicule by the outdoor press. More importantly, our request was turned down unanimously by the commissioners.
However, there were - and still are - those within the agency who thought it was a good idea. An insider has asked me to prepare a thorough approach to the change with the idea of MAYBE re-submitting it at some point in the not-too-distant future. I have mixed feelings about that, but have decided to go ahead.
So, I am asking that any of you who can provide me with any good reasons for this change - and especially anyone who can offer any economic incentive for Pennsylvania businesses for residents - to let me know. I plan to compile them into a fact sheet that could be presented to the commissioners as a comprehensive argument in favor of three rods.
Also, bear in mind that this was cast as a carp vs. trout debate. Although I seldom fish for anything other than carp, I do know there was a lot of support for the idea among other segments of the angling public, including a lively discussion on this board. I need to know if those of you who fish Lake Erie would benefit from this change.
And yes, I am aware that Mark Twain said "If at first you don't succeed, quit. No use making a ****ed fool out of yourself." I fear I may only be proving Mark right, but I'm going to take a swing at it anyhow.

Thanks
Joe Gorden
joegorden@netzero.net

I would love to have that 3rd rod while trolling for eyes...
 
I like the idea of limiting rods to 2 on the trout stream till say Memorial Day...I really dislike  bucket brigade mentality of the first few weeks...
Mabee keep the approved trout waters at 2 only....

ORIGINAL: bingsbaits

I would love to have that 3rd rod while trolling for eyes...

I like the idea of limiting rods to 2 on the trout stream till say Memorial Day...I really dislike  bucket brigade mentality of the first few weeks...
Mabee keep the approved trout waters at 2 only....

Sounds great to me

Wow. Ive been using three rods for 2 years. Never been told nothing. Oops.

There's so many ways to look at this issue. I'd like to use 3 rods if trolling for eyes on any lake but if fishing from shore in a river, 3 would take up to much space and not let others get to the good spot too. I've spider rigged for panfish in KY, using 4 rods out the front of the boat. Wasn't a problem to handle them. From shore, it will be diffrent. Could cause a lot of problems with other fisherpersons there too. I know they wont approve a 3 rod rule for boats only so we're kind of stuck here with the two. I still wonder why we can use 5 on ice.

these are all excellent ideas you got my support especially the two rod trout idea 

They was a rather lengthy and heated discussion about a suggestion from the public meeting in Harrisburg where it was suggested from several anglers present to allow an angler to use THREE fishing rods.... the commissioners voted to NOT address this suggestion at this time....

That was from a report I wrote about the PFBC meeting in Brockway on April 18th, 2010.

The discussions on three rods lasted about a half hour with folks making comments from both sides.
Finally a commissioner asked those of us in the "general public section" for comments.


Those comments were basically about shoreline fishing and the amount of space that would be given to each angler for his or her three rods... 3 feet..5 feet.. 10 feet..15 feet ????

Opening day of trout was mentioned in the sense that it is elbow to elbow on many local streams..

A couple steelhead anglers mentioned the "anger" and "situations" that arise now on some of the steely streams and that's using one rod... can you image if each had three and the space allowed to fish them ???

Another commented on the number of "small" (illegal)fish that may die because of swallowing the hook before the angler could get to that third rod..

No one there that day in the public section thought it was a good idea... NO ONE !!!

and a commissioner stated that is how the "replies" to public comments to the PFBC were more against the idea than for it.... I do not have my notes anymore but if memory serves me correctly the replies to Harrisburg were four to one against the three rod rule change...



Today I could add one more comment after fishing a headboat in Erie... I have seen guys using two poles on the boat.. many watching one while the other drifted and tangled the guy next to them.. I can only imagine a third one...

To allow space for a third rod I would have to move over even more multiplied by 40 guys on the boat and that would mean some folks would not be able to even get on the boat.. more tangled lines and wasted time untangling them.

Instead of 40 passengers he may only be able to handle 30.. revenues lost for the owner.... less chance to get on the boat for the average guy.... and for what a greedy person wanting to fish 3 rods

So for the original quote on this topic of ---

Those of you who followed the effort know we were treated like poor relatives by the commissioners, castigated on Internet forums and held up to ridicule by the outdoor press. More importantly, our request was turned down unanimously by the commissioners.

IMHO ===

That certainly was not true at the meeting I attended...
The suggestion was talked about at length and several commissioners DID present comments in favor of the idea... ""For carp and cat-fishing at night it may work""

None of them were actually in favor of the rule change... other than that type fishing..

As for internet and outdoor press.. that's the "average joes" being heard and MANY did not and do not like the idea of allowing a person to use three rods.....

the commissioners stated that replies they were getting on the idea were not in favor of the three rod rule change... so they obviously voted accordingly at the meeting that followed the one I was at in Brockway....

just my 2 cents worth ...

Its funny, dozens of state's anglers in the US, especially southern states, seem to fish unlimited rods with ease.  Guess PA fisherman are just on the low end of the evolutionary scale when it comes to fishing abilities. 
 
As far as the head boats go, easy enough to institute a boat rule of max. 2 rods per angler, just like they do on ocean head boats and many piers. 
 
I'll lend my support in any way I can but it seems it will be a difficult row to hoe going against the fisherman that like to be regulated to death.
 

Bucket brigade has way to much financial clout with PFBC...Don't mess with their limit of trout from the bucket..
 
Just beacuse you are allowed to use 3 rods doesn't mean you have to...
 
Went fishing today and guess what only took one rod.....
 
I bet the headboats would cut back from 40 paying passengers to 30...NOT..
That's a very silly arguement..Captain of the ship would set the rules on his boat....

As Eyes said, southern crappie fisherman use the spider rod setups with 12 or more rods. Pa people are to stupid to know how to do things. We can't be trusted buying beer or wine in a store how can we be trusted with more than 2 lines? Bings got the idea, limit the time to after Memorial Day. Sometimes good ideas die because they are not proposed properly.I dont troll or own a boat but see no problem with multiple rods for boating. Maybe limit it to boats only? Or from 9 pm to daylite for the cat men? Got to be ways .....WF

I feel really bad for anyone that can't run three rods, it's not freaking rocket science...Maryland allows three rods I fish there sometimes and never had a problem night or day

Kinda like the crossbow debate Doc..As you blasted evryone against inclusion...
Why would you want to deny someone opportunity to enjoy their sport with their weapon/weapons of choice ??
 
How does a 3 rod limit on any of the lakes affect you???? Yet you still are against it...Denying opportunity...
 
You are against it why ????
 
 
 
 

Because I do not like a bunch of different rules and regulations...

Look at all the different seasons, size limits, regulations for Lake Erie.. inland, Rivers, streams, wild trout, stocked trout... special rules for special lakes.. fly projects,, catch and release, lures only, flies only..certain sizes at certain times of the year..etc,,,etc

now a bunch of different rules for when and if a person can use three rods....

too many rules now...

I can sort of see hanging 3 poles out of the back of your boatwhen fishing alone, or those wnating to string out poles at night for carp and cats when there is not others around.....

but in all truth the only reason I can see a person would want to do that is to increase the odds of catching fish... as if two poles instead of just one has not already increased the odds of success.. ??

which was basically the reason I wanted crossbows.. to increase my odds of "catching" (harvesting) a deer...

Why would you want to deny someone opportunity to enjoy their sport with their weapon/weapons of choice

Not wanting to denying anyone the opportunity just limiting the number of "weapons" to be used at one time....

just like I would not support automatic weapons for harvesting wildlife...

hope that helps explain my position/opinion

ORIGINAL: Mountian Man

I thought Dr. Trout was done with this forum awhile back....

 
http://forums.fishusa.com/m_314425/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#314425

Too many rules for fishing but I can't shoot a 4 pt buck...WF