Dead baiting...

[ProP-Junkie]

When I was in England we used to live and dead bait for monster pike... (man I miss that!!!) I was just checking out the
08-09 rules and I see that it says you can't use fish to live bait for other fish, but nothing about dead bait. Am I just blind or can you use dead bait fish to catch pike, muskie and other toothy critters? Any thought?



"You May Not:
Possess fish or shellfish that do not meet the
minimum and maximum size limits, weight limits,
or sex restrictions, or that are in excess of the
daily or possession limit.
Possess SALMON or STURGEON eggs in the
field without having retained the intact carcass of
the fish from which the eggs were removed.
Possess another person’s game fish unless it is
accompanied by a statement showing the name,
address, license number, date, county, and area
where it was taken, and the signature of the
angler who harvested it.
Possess or use live fish for game fish bait.
Possess DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT in the
field in such condition that the species and total
length cannot be determined.
Hold recreationally-caught fish or shellfish in
storage by a custom canner, hotel or restaurant,
or a cold storage plant without tags listing the
name and address of its owner"



PJ

[beerman1981]

As long as the bait is dead, you are fine. Also, make sure the lake you are fishing does not have special requirements (i.e. no use of bait). I cut up perch and use that for catfish bait. I do the same with shrimp for cats, but like the rules say, it cannot be remotely alive. Give it a shot and good luck!

Beerman

[ProP-Junkie]

cool, I was told that it was a no no and never researched it. Ol' Essox better watch out.... FISH ON!!!!!


pj

[ProP-Junkie]

Ok, that question being answered, are there any written or unwritten fishing etiquette rules on what can be considered "bait fish"? Cause I'm sure if I caught a bow, whacked him on the nugget, slit his belly alittle, slid him on a 12" steel leader with a couple of trebles, and slung him back out for ol' Essox to nibble on someone would be a little butt-hurt over it.

Are we talking shad and panfish, or is it fair game as long as minimums are maintained?

PJ

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

When I was in England we used to live and dead bait for monster pike... (man I miss that!!!) I was just checking out the
08-09 rules and I see that it says you can't use fish to live bait for other fish, but nothing about dead bait. Am I just blind or can you use dead bait fish to catch pike, muskie and other toothy critters? Any thought?



"You May Not:
Possess fish or shellfish that do not meet the
minimum and maximum size limits, weight limits,
or sex restrictions, or that are in excess of the
daily or possession limit.
Possess SALMON or STURGEON eggs in the
field without having retained the intact carcass of
the fish from which the eggs were removed.
Possess another person’s game fish unless it is
accompanied by a statement showing the name,
address, license number, date, county, and area
where it was taken, and the signature of the
angler who harvested it.
Possess or use live fish for game fish bait.
Possess DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT in the
field in such condition that the species and total
length cannot be determined.
Hold recreationally-caught fish or shellfish in
storage by a custom canner, hotel or restaurant,
or a cold storage plant without tags listing the
name and address of its owner"



PJ

The other thing a person needs to be aware of is that the live bait restriction is when you are fishing for "gamefish". Gamefish are defined in the regs, and includes most of the freshwater species. "Foodfish" are also defined in the regs and include most of the fish found in saltwater, where it is LEGAL to use live fish for bait

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Ok, that question being answered, are there any written or unwritten fishing etiquette rules on what can be considered "bait fish"? Cause I'm sure if I caught a bow, whacked him on the nugget, slit his belly alittle, slid him on a 12" steel leader with a couple of trebles, and slung him back out for ol' Essox to nibble on someone would be a little butt-hurt over it.

Are we talking shad and panfish, or is it fair game as long as minimums are maintained?

PJ

all legally caught fish (gamefish or foodfish) or parts thereof can be used for bait. Salmon bellies, salmon eggs, fish heads, chopped perch like mentioned above, etc. Just don't use any live fish for bait for GAMEFISH

[gpc]

Yep your good to go Prop Junkie. One thing you have to check is regs for a specific lake. Alot of lakes have a 9" min. size limit on crappie. You dont want to get caught using a 6" crappie for catfish bait on one of these lakes. And so on. But if you are out in the salt you can use live bait.

[ruthven78]

I had always though you could not use sport fish as bait but after looking through the regs I cannot find such a rule.......

There is this rule I found that only applies to salmon, herring, and halibut

(you may not)
"Use SALMON, HERRING, or HALIBUT for
anything other than human consumption or
fishing bait."