News On The New Bait Rule

[257bob]

A little off topic,but how would you deal with corp of engineers vs. department lands.....the way I interpet Bait on ans water is it has to die when it leaves department land. So say you were camped on corp ground, would bait have to die when it left the water. I know that state and federal
laws are probably similar.....but technically bait would leave dept. lands.

Again, IMO, don't look for loop holes or technicalities in the words. They won't stand up to a warden's ticket book. I know you were just throwing out a thought, but I think it will cause more problems then it's worth trying to out smart the system.

[BDC2]

I'm not looking for a loop hole...no disrespect intended. I'll use Kanopolis as an example...we camp on state ground, sometimes we fish the spillway(corp). My brother in law ,co. sheriff, weekend parks empoyee...would say do it. Another lake, another time .....you'd be ticketed.

More of a hypothetical question, and something for others to think about.I agree with....if it's written down ,obey it. Otherwise be ready to fight it in court.

[tn_5568]

I wasnt saying to go buy a baitshop owners words just stating that there seems to be alot of confusion on the law even by game wardens

[GaryF]

Might be helpful at this point to look at what the regs actually say:

"Wild-caught bait fish may be used as live bait only within the pool of a lake or impoundment where taken. If taken on a flowing stream or river, the wild-caught bait fish shall be used on that flowing stream or river and shall not be transported upstream across any dam or natural barrier."

"Livewells and bilges must be drained and drain plugs removed from all vessels prior to transport from any Kansas water onto a public highway. No person may possess any live fish upon departure from any designated aquatic nuisance body of water"

[BDC2]

Bill,
What the game warden told you is correct. If you want to verify it, do want I did. Call Pratt and ask to do a conference call with the chief of law enforcement. The law will be Amended (fine tuned) later this year. You can do a few thing to CYA, but you or anyone else needs to get that info from Pratt.

Is this what you are referring to? I will make the call , but you know what they say about curiosity!
Am I getting warm. LOL

Sources of Fish

Pond owners can purchase fish from commercial fish growers for stocking ponds. Purchased fish are considered to be the pond owner’s livestock. Such ponds are free of any restrictions, including license requirements and harvest methods. A partial list of commercial fish growers can be obtained from any Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Natural Resources Conservation Service or Extension Service office

[flathead50]

I spent 30 minutes on the phone with the director of law enforcement (the highest I could go) and what he said differed greatly from what I'd heard elsewhere. I"ll just list what he said in response to my questions. You cannot use bait from a private pond. You must have a receipt with you to prove you purchased bait from either a licensed bait dealer or a fish farm/hatchery. There is, at present, no time limit on how long you can keep leftover purchased bait, but they are looking at adding a time limit. This will not apply to waters containing invasive species because all fish must be dead before leaving lake property. Basically, he stated that lake property is all property pertaining specifically to that body of water, be it Army Corp, Bureau of Reclamation, City or State parks etc. If you catch your bait out of a body of water with invasive species, you cannot leave that property with the bait. As an example, you can't catch your bait on one side of a lake and drive to the other side to use it if it means traveling on a public road, but it is okay if you stay on the lake road. He said any bait shops caught selling bait that they collected in an illegal manner will loose their license. I asked specifically if I were fishing the Kansas River, but camping at Milford or Tuttle Creek, would I have to dispose of leftover bait or could I return to camp if it was bought at a bait shop. He said that I should only leave camp with enough bait for the day and leave the rest at camp because all would have to be killed before leaving the body of water. But remember (this is the ridiculous part) that you cannot legally release any bait into the river you just fished, so you must kill them and take them with you. All I know is this is really going to change things and they need to figure it out before we all go postal! This information is less than one week old.

[tn_5568]

"take out the bait that you will use for the day" I dont know about you guys but I havent yet mastered knowing how many bites I am going to get on a particular day

[rwg]

"dazed and confused" I was told that you could take perch from a pond if a stream or creek does not run into it by a GW at the Pratt hatchery, I get a differnt answer everytime I ask, they need to clear up the wording and what is being told to the public.

[Buff Place]

I verified it again this morning (in writing) , Yes, you can use "legal" bait fish from a""""private pond"""" on any Ks,lake. If anyone would like to read the "official"e-mail I received from Pratt this morning, PM me with your e-mail address and Iwill forward it to you.

[Fish'N'dark]

I also just got off the phone with Pratt and I was correct. You can use bait from a pond, but remember you can't leave the lake afterwards with live fish bait included. They happily sent me the email also on it. I'm planning on making copies for friends near that might want a copy. I am going to keep a copy in my truck, boat and may even laminate to put in fishing bucket (tackle box for those that bass fish lol). If your still doubtful just call Pratt and ask to speak to law enforcement, they will send you the email.