So I found a honey hole full of crawdads and wondering what lakes I could use them at ? Without getting bashed lol
So I found a honey hole full of crawdads and wondering what lakes I could use them at ? Without getting bashed lol
In the late 80's and early 90's using live crawdads in lakes like Castaic to catch a DD LMB was a pretty common practice. That was long before the era of the swimbaits. My Bass friends scoff at the thought of using a live N/C or Crawdad to catch a Bass. (they say that would be too easy) In reality unless your trophy hunting for a DD, it's best to keep it on the down low to admit to anyone your using live bait to catch a Bass. Even I wouldn't consider doing it because you really don't need too. (they will eat a lure pretty easily) Bass aren't exactly the smartest fish in the pond!!! lol
Last edited by etucker1959; 05-11-2016 at 04:23 PM.
is it more acceptable to use live bait for catfish rather then bass or is that considered cheating lol I have seen some guys nailing bass on the crawdad it's almost to easy but this was at Vail lake where we where using shad we caught
not here to judge. But if need them, Any Asian market sgv area has them $5lb. My pet turtles chomp on em and stalk them down.
ARTICLE 3. BAIT REGULATIONS FOR
INLAND WATERS
4.00. BAIT-GENERAL.
Legally acquired and possessed invertebrates,
mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians (except
salamanders), fish eggs and treated and processed
foods may be used for bait, except:
(a) No species specified as endangered, threatened,
candidate, fully-protected, or otherwise protected
under state and federal law may be used as bait.
(b) No salamander may be used as bait. See section
5.05 for other amphibians that may be used as bait.
(c) See Section 5.35 for restrictions on crayfish;
(d) See Section 7.50(b)(74) for restriction on bait
collecting in Hat Creek;
(e) No trout may be maintained or possessed in
a live condition in any container on or attached
to any boat;
(f ) Except for restrictions listed under special
regulations, dead ocean fish may be used as bait
This section supersedes the provisions
of sections 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 4.25 and 4.30.
4.05. BAIT FISH CAPTURE METHODS.
(a) Approved bait fish may be taken only by hand,
with a dip net not exceeding 36 inches in greatest
dimension, excluding handle, or with traps not over
three feet in greatest dimension. Such bait fish may
not be purchased, bartered, sold, transferred or
traded; or transported alive from the location where
taken. Any other species taken shall be returned to
the water immediately. Traps need not be closely
attended. Dip net use: A dip net must be hand held,
and the motion of a dip net shall be caused only by
the physical effort of the operator. A dip net may
not be moved through the water by any mechanical
force or motorized device.
(b) Within the area bounded by Highway 111 on
the north and east and Highway 86 on the west
and south, approved bait fish may be taken only
with dip nets with diagonal mesh size one inch and
greater, or by traps in water greater than four feet in
depth. Traps may not exceed three feet in greatest
dimension. Approved bait fish may not be taken
by hand within this area.
4.10. BAIT FISH USE IN THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT.
Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall
not be used or possessed for use as bait in the
Southern District:
(a) Dead threadfin shad and live or dead longjaw
mudsucker may be used in all Southern District
waters.
(b) Live threadfin shad may be used only at the
location where taken.
(c) Golden shiner and red shiner may be used in
San Diego County.
4.15. BAIT FISH USE IN THE COLORADO RIVER
DISTRICT.
Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall
not be used or possessed for use as bait in the
Colorado River District:
(a) Live or dead golden shiner, fathead minnow, red
shiner, mosquitofish, longjaw mudsucker, threadfin
shad, goldfish, sunfish, molly, and dead carp may be
used in all Colorado River District waters.
(b) Live carp may be used only at the location
where taken.
(c) Tilapia may be used in the Salton Sea, and may
be taken for bait only within the area bounded by
Highway 111 on the north and east and Highway
86 on the west and south (except as in subsection
(d) below.
(d) Tilapia may be taken and used for bait in the
Colorado River and its associated backwaters only
within the area bounded by Palo Verde Diversion
Dam south to the Morelos Dam.
4.20. BAIT FISH USE IN THE VALLEY AND
SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICTS.
Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall
not be used or possessed for use as bait in the Valley
or South Central District:
(a) Live or dead golden shiner, fathead minnow,
mosquitofish, longjaw mudsucker, and staghorn
sculpin, and dead threadfin shad, Mi
ssissippi silverside and lamprey may be used in
all Valley and South Central District waters except
those listed in subsection (f ) below.
(b) Red shiner may be used only in the Valley District
north of Interstate 580 and Highway 132.
(c) Yellowfin gobies may be used in the Valley
District only in those areas described in subsections
(d)(1)-(3) below.
(d) In addition, except for trout and salmon, fin fish
lawfully taken in the following waters by angling or
with bait fish methods approved in Section 4.05
may be used, only in the waters where taken:
(1) Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay and their
tributaries and saltwater tributaries.
(2) Sacramento River and tidewater of tributaries
downstream from the Highway 32 bridge near
Hamilton City, Feather River downstream from the
Oroville Hatchery Fish Barrier Dam, and American
River downstream from Nimbus Dam.
(3) San Joaquin River and tidewater of tributaries
downstream from Interstate 5 bridge.
(e) Live threadfin shad, Mississippi silverside and
lamprey may be used only at the location where
taken.
(f ) Fin fish may not be used in Keller Lake (Glenn
Co.), Letts Lake (Colusa Co.), Merced Lake (San
Francisco Co.), Upper and Lower Plaskett Meadow
Ponds (Glenn Co.), Whale Rock Reservoir (San Luis
Obispo Co.).
4.25. BAIT FISH USE IN THE NORTH CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall
not be used or possessed for use as bait in the North
Central District:
(a) Golden shiner, fathead minnow, red shiner,
mosquitofish, longjaw mudsucker and staghorn
sculpin may be used in Napa and Sonoma counties,
in Marin County except for Stafford Lake, in Lake
County except for the Eel River and its tributaries,
and in Lake Mendocino (Mendocino Co.).
(b) Live threadfin shad, Mississippi silverside and
lamprey may be used only at the location where taken.
4.30. BAIT FISH USE IN THE SIERRA AND
NORTH COAST DISTRICTS.
Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall
not be used or possessed for use as bait in the Sierra
and North Coast Districts.
(a) In Donner, Fallen Leaf and Tahoe lakes Lahontan
redside, tui chub, Tahoe sucker, Lahontan speckled
18
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
dace, mountain sucker and Paiute sculpin may be
used only in the same lake where taken.
(b) In Shasta Lake only golden shiner, red shiner,
fathead minnows, mosquitofish and threadfin shad
may be used or possessed for use as bait.
(c) Crayfish shall not be used for bait in the Pit River
and all tributaries between Pit 3 Dam (Lake Britton)
and the Fall River-Cassel Road Bridge at Fall River
Mills, California (includes Hat Creek and Fall River
and their tributaries).
Thanks....another urban rumor bites the dust. I actually am amazed that more don't use crawdads as they are pretty much in most bodies of water.
I could never justify using a live trout to catch a big striper or bass but I know some people probably don't care about the rules or regulations.