Grano Crossing - Sunday, December 12, 2010

Jim A Said:
Are you sure spearing is legal on Darling I checked into it a few years ago and was told that you can't spear there because it is a refuge???

Darkhouse spearfishing is open only in the waters listed below. Note - some of these listed water bodies are prone to low lake levels and fish kills, thus they may not contain a fishable population of pike. Refer to the list of fishing waters on the Department's website (gf.nd.gov) for currently managed fisheries.  See Map of Darkhouse Spearfishing Waters (607Kb PDF - Note: Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ to view. Download it free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/).

Darkhouse spearfishing is legal for all residents having a valid fishing license and for residents who are under age 16. Nonresidents (see Licenses) may darkhouse spearfish in North Dakota if the nonresident's state provides the same privilege for residents of North Dakota. All individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must first Register Online or through any Game and Fish Department office, prior to participating.

Possession of a spear is counted as a hook-and-line fishing pole while darkhouse spearfishing. Legal dark house spear equipment shall be any manually powered shaft with barbed points. The spear head shall not exceed 12 inches in width. Pneumatic or rubber band powered spear guns may not be used. Artificials and all legal bait with the exception of live white sucker and rainbow smelt may be used as decoys. Any line used for a decoy will be considered a hook-and-line fishing pole if a hook is attached to the line.

There is no restriction on the size of the ice hole while actively engaged in darkhouse spearfishing. When a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is left in the ice when a darkhouse is moved, the area in the immediate vicinity of the hole must be adequately marked with a natural object or a brightly painted or colored wooden lath. Markers must be visible from a minimum of 150 feet.