trot line bait

[slabmaster]

what your favorite. when i trot line i use big hooks"10/0" i like perch. i mostly use them live. specificaly the ones that come out of the rocks. we called them black perch where i was raised. we lived on the lake and during the summer it was my job to get bait for the trot line. i am a fair hand at catching perch between the cracks and under the edges of rocks. any how my second favorite bait is shad . i like to worm shad on when im trot lineing.

[Sinker]

Spect we're talkin about th same perch (MDC calls'em Green Sunfish). They are the best bait I've used live. They are the most numerous of the legal baitfish. They live on the line well. As for cutbait, shad are tops around here as far as I'm concerned. I been hearing a lot about skipjack. They must be good where ever they are naturally, but a lot of times you get somebody saying they are the only bait. In my opinion, if it ain't natural to yer area , try somethin that is. So as I was saying, before I so rudely interupted myself, shad are the best available cutbait for my area.

[slabmaster]

humm green sunfish. they do live well on the line for days as a matter of fact. i couldnt agree with you more when you said use bait native to your area. thanks for the info

[Sinker]

Just curious, do you guys feed'em or tease'm? That is do ya use inch anda half baits or do ya go fer 'bigger bait means bigger fish'? Punkin seeds or slab perch?

[slabmaster]

you know i really have paid close attention to my bait size and i really think a medium size 21/2" green sunfish is my favorite. know i know as far as legal goes your not supposed to use perch over 3 inches long but in the out law days i use to use bigger perch. it seams like i would ocasinaly catch fish on big perch but not consistant. i like big cut bait. oh and i have never caught a fish useing punkin seeds never. i have tried them when bait was tough to get but i have yet to catch any thing on them.

[slabmaster]

i want to throw one more in there on bait size. disclamer" i follow and obey all fish and game rules in my angling pursuites and i recomed every one do the same" with that being said if it were legal i would never bait a trot line with anything but 1/4 -1/2 lb. crappie. and if it were legal you boys would have to come help me haul the flatheads in the boat.

[Sinker]

I'm gonna hafta look that up in the book. I was of the opinion we could use perch up to 5 inches. To me a 3 inch perch is a punkinseed!

[Sinker]

Page 77 Missouri Code book sez all over 5 inches must be returned to the water unharmed.

[slabmaster]

what we called punkin seeds are aa fish that is bright orange with bright blue lines on it. it seems the fish im calling punkin seeds usually suspend around boat docks a foot or so deep. you are probably right about the 5 inch perch . the mo wildlife code intimadates me. i have considered hiering a lawyer to read it to me but id rather shark fish than be shark food.

[Whiskers]

They like to keep a guy confused on the rules if they can.I think there is no size limit on your bait depending on how you caught it(rod n reel fer instance)the 5" rule for bluegill,green sunfish and bullheads is for catching them in nets and seines,etc.12" for other non game fish.If you read the rules closely I think it's talking about the method to catch bait and not the size of the bait you use to fish.That keeps you from netting or trapping eatin' size gills and perch(sunfish) perch in missouri are only minnows our largest perch is only a inch and a half long or so.I grew up calling sunfish perch like most other people even though they're not even in the same family.

[Sinker]

I aways had thought you could use any size legal baitfish til just th other day I got ta readin th code

[Sinker]

I try ta stay legal, but I know some of them 'perchy things' mighta been questionable.

[Whiskers]

3 CSR 10-6.605 Live Bait
PURPOSE: This rule establishes seasons,
methods and limits for taking species defined
as live bait.
(1) Daily Limit: In the aggregate, one hundred
fifty (150) crayfish, freshwater shrimp,
frogs (except bullfrogs and green frogs), tiger
salamander larvae and those species of fish
not defined as game fish in 3 CSR 10-
11.805.
(2) Methods.
(A) Live bait may be taken by a minnow
trap with throat opening not to exceed one
and one-half inches (1 1/2") in any dimension,
dip net, throw net, pole and line, or a
seine not more than twenty feet (20') long
and four feet (4') deep, of a mesh not more
than one-half inch (1/2") bar measure
B) Live bait, except fish, may be taken by
hand.
(C) Crayfish may also be taken by trap
with an opening not to exceed one and onehalf
inches (1 1/2") by eighteen inches (18").
(3) Seasons: Throughout the year.
(4) Length Limits: All bluegill, green sunfish
and bullheads more than five inches (5") in
total length and other fish more than twelve
inches (12") in total length must be returned
to the water immediately after being caught
by the methods prescribed in this rule.
(5) Live bait, when purchased or obtained
from a source other than the waters of the
state or a licensed commercial fisherman,
must be species listed in the Approved
Aquatic Species List (3 CSR 10-9.110) and
may be possessed in any number.
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV,
Mo. Const. Original rule filed June 13,
1994, effective Jan. 1, 1995. Amended: Filed
May 30, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996.
Amended: Filed April 25, 1996, effective
March 1, 1997.

[Whiskers]

The length limits in #4 are referring to fish taken by the method in #2.It says all fish taken by method above which is nets and seines must be released if over 5 and 12".I don't see anywhere where it talks about bait taken by hook and line.
I hear people all the time saying bait must be under x amount of inches but it says nothing anywhere about bait taken by hook and line having a size limit.That's the way I read it anyway and I've read the book over and over looking.

[slabmaster]

wow missouri has a limit on crawdads