Suckers as legal bait again

[Vollmer]

Suckers will be legal bait, on the big waters, again. I think they said Sak, Oahe, Missouri River, DL and Stump.

I am happy to see this change, personally. It was always a bummer, throwing those big suckers back, when chubbing.

 

[Jiffy]

At least baby perch are still legal.

 

[Allen]

This is awesome news! I love using suckers for bait, and I have a place to trap them for when I fish Sak.

 

[bowcarp]

how long were they illegal ? Dad and I used them the time back in the day 70's and I believe into the 80's

 

[Vollmer]

how long were they illegal ? Dad and I used them the time back in the day 70's and I believe into the 80's

Did they sell them at bait sellers back then?

 

[bowcarp]

Did they sell them at bait sellers back then?

yes

 

[tikkalover]

Did they sell them at bait sellers back then?

Yes, my dad used to buy them for shore fishing northerns, just like you buy minnows now. They would have a couple separate tanks for different sizes

 

[Vollmer]

Yes, my dad used to buy them for shore fishing northerns, just like you buy minnows now. They would have a couple separate tanks for different sizes

I hope that comes back.

 

[Allen]

Did they sell them at bait sellers back then?

Yes. My best friend's family ran the bait shop on the west side of New Town back then. We trapped and seined them out of our pasture. They were about 3-5 times more expensive than minnows, but nothing like the creek chub costs of today.

Other bait vendors that had to get their bait from wholesalers didn't often have them on hand.

 

[bowcarp]

have a friend that has a small honor system bait shop, I believe his a buck apiece

 

[rodcontrol]

Many of the reservoirs have natural sucker populations, why would they not make them legal where they are already present? Hopefully thats coming down the pipe in the future.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Many of the reservoirs have natural sucker populations, why would they not make them legal where they are already present? Hopefully thats coming down the pipe in the future.

why arent smelt legal live baitfish in the whole state? There is no shortage of them and they wont survive in any but a few lakes anyway...