live bait use in USA

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I dont like using any live fish or frogs as bait. Kinda feels like you already caught somthin if you did. But i dont really see how it would be unfair to people who cant, lures usually do the same thing but you can reuse them and those are legal arnt they?.
 
I use wounded bluegills sometimes for bait. If they're small, and they were hooked badly, I usually toss the out there and go for the monsters.
 
I believe the reason the ban was enforced here is that using live bait
1. could put foreign parasites bacteria etc. into the lake
2. catching fish then using that fish as bait impacts preservation a bit. i've seen many people catch a yellow perch say then hook it more and throw it back in attempts to catch other fish.

i dont really see the problem with worms because there is not much risk of the worm having a parasite etc that will affect the fish

our laws-
Fishing with Bait



  • earthworms or night crawlers may be imported and used as live bait. However, they must be shipped in a soil-free medium such as peat moss or shredded paper;
  • live fish or fish eggs, leeches, crayfish, aquatic invertebrates, frogs and salamanders (waterdogs) may not be imported into Saskatchewan;
  • live fish may not be used as bait. Only baitfish that have been commercially frozen or preserved may be used;
  • crayfish and leeches originating within Saskatchewan may be used as live bait; and
    frogs and salamanders may not be used as bait.
 
Ive used alot of different baits, and one of the main pushes right know is the ban of bait fishing on streams this is due to the flyfisherman wanting to keep the rivers, creeks streams or w.e. to them selves. Complete B.S.
 
Aw man live bait is the best for cat fishing. Catch your self a nice bluegill and slap him on a circle hook. You will be catching some nice blue cats in no time. I also like to make my own fish dough. Made with real fish. I prefer using gigs over minnows when crappie fishing. What people must understand is every thing eats some thing.
 
In Upper Michigan VHS has become prominant as of late, but minnows are still a staple live bait.


Small frogs, tadpoles, crickets, newts etc..... all make great bait. When the musky are slow in the summer a rock bass is a great "go-to" bait.
 
I fish strickly as sport, I don't eat any fish I catch. I would much rather fool a big bass on a top water bait or swimbait than catch one on a Bluegill. I've used live bait before and it's so easy to catch fish that i dont even enjoy it. Another thing I don't like about it is you tend to gut hook fish with live bait so catch and release is more difficult.
 
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