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Live Baitfish

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Does anyone know how to catch live bait that is not perch?  I've tried using worms but the only thing I could catch is perch. 

  • Super User

Nets and traps.

Tom

  • Super User

When we're in the mood for something different, we find a small creek, use very tiny hooks, and tiny pieces of night crawler to catch some bait. A creek may have the minnows you might be looking for.

Bread balls and tiny trout hooks.

Does anyone know how to catch live bait that is not perch?  I've tried using worms but the only thing I could catch is perch. 

 

it would help to know where you are located.

  • Super User

Yea , what type of baitfish?

Creeks? Lakes? Rivers?

Cast net & chum.. ( ground dog food or chicken feed works in some places.. Bait balls for shrimp..

More info gets a better answer for you..

Try an umbrella net throwing bread balls in it. A lot of places you are not allowed to use cast nets like here in PA.

A long bait net can catch you all the shad you need.

  • Global Moderator

I use a cast net to get most of my bait that I can't catch on a hook. 

I use a cast net to get most of my bait that I can't catch on a hook.

Just check your regs to make sure that is a legal opuion; it's not in just about everywhere in Nebraska.

Seining net is how we always did it. We would head to a creek or feeder channel and cast a net. Seemed to work well for us, just check your local regulations to insure you're not violating any local laws.

We'll it depends on what your trying to catch. If it is minnows you can cut the top off a 2 liter and put it on backwards. Put some tasty treats in there for them along with some rocks or somethng to hold it down. I only tried it once with the kids and it worked but it didn't catch a lot.

Just check your regs to make sure that is a legal opuion; it's not in just about everywhere in Nebraska.

Its legal in Kansas just cant transport from one Lake to another including minnows you have purchased

  • Author

it would help to know where you are located

Seattle Washington

I live in Seattle too. What baitfish are you looking for? Perch make up most of the fishes diet, followed by crawfish and bluegill and sculpin. Perch are by far the number 1 baitfish. 

  • Global Moderator

Its legal in Kansas just cant transport from one Lake to another including minnows you have purchased

That's actually changed to my understanding. Now it's okay from non ANS bodies of water except you can't move them upstream past a dam on a river or stream. I could be interpreting completely wrong but I know it's changed. 

That's actually changed to my understanding. Now it's okay from non ANS bodies of water except you can't move them upstream past a dam on a river or stream. I could be interpreting completely wrong but I know it's changed. 

  • Wild-caught baitfish may be used as live bait only within the common drainage where caught and shall not be transported upstream across any dam or barrier that prohibits the normal passage of fish. Bluegill and green sunfish collected from non-designated aquatic nuisance waters may be possessed or used as live bait anywhere in the state. No person may possess any live fish upon departure from any designated aquatic nuisance species water
  • http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Bait-Fish 

I only use crawlers at Hillsdale for Mr Eye so no worry on my part :) 

Does anyone know how to catch live bait that is not perch?  I've tried using worms but the only thing I could catch is perch. 

 

Perch make up most of the fishes diet, followed by crawfish and bluegill and sculpin. Perch are by far the number 1 baitfish. 

 

Yeah, don't look past perch: they're great bait. In fact, 90% of the time when I am using minnows, I have a perch hooked with a big 'ol circle hook. I caught my biggest bass on a perch. Out here, we use them from 1-3 inches for trout and salmon (especially for ice fishing), and 4-8 inches for bass. Bigger is better, to an extent.

  • Global Moderator

 

  • Wild-caught baitfish may be used as live bait only within the common drainage where caught and shall not be transported upstream across any dam or barrier that prohibits the normal passage of fish. Bluegill and green sunfish collected from non-designated aquatic nuisance waters may be possessed or used as live bait anywhere in the state. No person may possess any live fish upon departure from any designated aquatic nuisance species water
  • http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Bait-Fish 

I only use crawlers at Hillsdale for Mr Eye so no worry on my part :)

 

That's the only part I care about since they're the only live bait I really ever use. When I use them it's almost always taking them from a lake to the river for catfish anyways. Not anything in the lakes that aren't already in the rivers. 

  • Super User

What's wrong with perch as bait? They're a great bait. Easy to catch and usually the perfect size.

I like using a cork, split shot, and small hook catch some bream.

and a cricket

  • Global Moderator

What's wrong with perch as bait? They're a great bait. Easy to catch and usually the perfect size.

If you're talking about yellow perch, they're illegal to use for bait anywhere I've ever been that has them. Bluegills and green sunfish (also commonly called "perch" even though they're not related) are legal to use in some areas and not in others.

  • Super User

If you're talking about yellow perch, they're illegal to use for bait anywhere I've ever been that has them. Bluegills and green sunfish (also commonly called "perch" even though they're not related) are legal to use in some areas and not in others.

I was referring to yellow perch. I believe in NY they are legal to use as long as it's the same body of water they were caught from and you don't go over the daily limit which I think is 50.

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