A Point for Darkhouse Spearing

Mack Glasby

 

 

To many, dark house spearing for northern pike has earned a barbaric stigma, considered a brutal and primitive form of fish harvest. In states where it is legal winter hook and line anglers often associate the outdoor activity with declining pike populations and the disappearance of “trophy” pike. I believe this accusation to be false. In contrast to hook and line harvests of pike, spearing has a minimal effect on population dynamics with 85 percent of pike being caught by anglers using the hook and line method (Pierce 2000), the common myth of darkhouse spearing taking out pike populations just can’t be true. Darkhouse spearing, is however a more selective type of fish harvest, aimed towards catching larger fish with no intention of release. This has lead to the other myth commonly associated with spearing pike; darkhouse spearing is the culprit of the disappearance of large pike in trophy northern pike fisheries that fail. This however is also a false accusation. States that do allow for anglers to spear pike through the ice heavily regulate spearing and in return numerous laws both state wide and lake specific are formulated to help regulate the size and distribution of northern pike throughout their states fisheries. I believe darkhouse spearing for northern pike should be legal on Wisconsin lakes and the implementation of a winter spearing season could offer many benefits to both the public and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This dying form of outdoor recreation has been and still is a favorite activity for many families of people residing in Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota. So why doesn’t Wisconsin allow it’s anglers to utilize this artistic form of fishing? I couldn’t really find a solid answer. It could be because pressure from catch and release minded anglers has swayed the DNR’s opinion, or it could be that management for both spearing and angling of northern pike is just too time consuming and stressful for fisheries biologists? I guess we can’t be certain because there is no good documentation as to why this ancient tradition is prohibited in a state almost perfect for it. Darkhouse spearing not only provides a long lived traditional outdoor recreation opportunity to the public, but a source of revenue for local businesses and the Department of Natural Resources. License fees and darkhouse permits could provide revenue to the WIDNR and the sale of houses, house building supplies, spears, decoys, and other spearing equipment offer a market for the many sporting goods stores of Wisconsin. It provides for a more personal relationship with the outdoors as well, spear fishermen and women must strategically place their house on lakes where clarity is good and spots where they can see the bottom and have some vegetation present, so keen observation and knowledge of the lakes is essential and creates an educational opportunity connecting people closer to the outdoors. It’s also much more selective than hook and line angling and teaches people to use good judgment when taking fish from our lakes. Darkhouse spear fishing for northern pike is a long lived tradition that connects people to the outdoors and provides jobs and revenue to the state and its’ communities, I believe Wisconsin should consider implementing a regulated season because the numerous benefits clearly outweigh the few, if any, negative effects of  this historical outdoor activity.

Sources:  R.B. Pierce and M.F. Cook, Recreational Darkhouse Spearing for Northern Pike in Minnesota: Historical Changes in Effort and Harvest and Comparisons with Angling, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, Vol. 20:1, 2000.