Northwest Fishing Reports

As I recall it used to read,No gamefish or part of any gamefish may be used for bait.

I believe that the rule is "You may not possess or use live fish for game fish bait".

Cut bait from a game fish would be legal.

Tight lines
Curt

thats how the regs seem to say. but lets say that you had (5) 1" bass (dead) for bait, you use them to catch bass, bass limit is (5), i wouldn't want to explain to the worden. 1" bass would be counted if retained as part of your limit as would any other sized fish.

Wouldn't it be illegal to keep your 1 inch bass in the first place to use as bait since most lakes there is the slot limit rule?

I recall that same rule (can't use gamefish). Wonder if it is over in the saltwater area of the regs? As in you can't use salmon to catch halibut, or trout to catch crab.

Gee - I tried to help.

See page 27 in your new fishing regulation pamphlet - middle of the page, middle column.

Or if prefer the actual WAC see item # 6 of -

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=220-56-122


FYI regarding the bass question(s) - The slot limit on bass is that the fish between 12 and 17 inches are protected, it is legal to have fish below 12 inches up to 5/day. If you had 5 small dead bass to be used for bait your would have your limit and could not fish for any additional bass.

As it said it is OK to use game fish for cut bait -
A common and legal example would using chunks of say a4 inch yellow perch to tip your jigs during a fall perch jerk.

Tight lines
Curt

jbball50 wrote:Wouldn't it be illegal to keep your 1 inch bass in the first place to use as bait since most lakes there is the slot limit rule?

The slot limit rule allows you to keep 1 over 17" and only bass under 12" and nothing in between so a 1" bass is legal

I use perch all the time and know for a fact that it is legal, but is a perch a game fish?

Smalma wrote:If you had 5 small dead bass to be used for bait your would have your limit and could not fish for any additional bass.


Tight lines
Curt

However, the regs state that you may have 2 daily limits in your possession ( top of page 33 of current regs) , so if you caught the 5 small dead bass the day before, arguably you could use them the next day for bait for an additional 5 fish.

Hmmm, used to be that fishermen would never be lawyers. Now it seems you must be a lawyer to be a fisherman.

Noah wrote:Hmmm, used to be that fishermen would never be lawyers. Now it seems you must be a lawyer to be a fisherman.

Hey now...not all of us lawyers are bad[-x But, I do know what you mean. The rules do get more and more complex every year.

P. 27 You May Not:
"Take, fish for, or possess PACIFIC LAMPREY, WESTERN BROOK LAMPREY, or RIVER LAMPREY, or use any species of LAMPREY for bait."

"Use SALMON, HERRING, or HALIBUT for anything other than human consumption or fishing bait."

"Possess or use live fish for game fish bait."

So you may use deceased trout, kokanee, salmon, or most anything as bait except lamprey. However, I wouldn't use Bull Tout as bait nor any other closed fishery in an area.

talked to someone at the fish and wildlife yesterday about this said it was legal to use dead gamefish as bait. <')//<

panfisher wrote:talked to someone at the fish and wildlife yesterday about this said it was legal to use dead gamefish as bait. <')//<

do you have an email or was it a conversation?

In a semi-related topic... Are there any regulations against using live crawfish or frogs/tadpoles as bait? I am used to fishing in the midwest on private lakes and ponds where anything goes. I just got back into fishing again after a 10yr hiatus and find the rules out here mindbogglingly difficult to remember while out on the water. I am not in the habit of bringing a ruler or scale to determine whether or not to release my catch.

EastsideRedneck wrote:In a semi-related topic... Are there any regulations against using live crawfish or frogs/tadpoles as bait? I am used to fishing in the midwest on private lakes and ponds where anything goes. I just got back into fishing again after a 10yr hiatus and find the rules out here mindbogglingly difficult to remember while out on the water. I am not in the habit of bringing a ruler or scale to determine whether or not to release my catch.

Crawfish frogs and tadpoles are legal to use as bait, and are worth trying. And you might want to get in the habit of bringing a ruler with you when you go fishing. It seems like almost all the species have a size restriction on them. And to make matters worse different lakes have different size regulations, not all the lakes, just all the lakes a fisherman would be interested in fishing LOL. So a ruler, and a rules and regs book is a must. But the selective gear lakes, its illegal to use live bait, like frogs and crawfish, so make sure to get a rules and regs book it will save you.

i went down to the headquarters in yakima and ask the person behind the desk about using dead gamefish such as bass for bait. they said it was legal to do so, they walked off doing something else before i could ask any more questions. <')//<

Looks like I definitely need to head out and find a reg's book and a ruler. Any idea where to find the book? Is it safe to assume the varied regulations are posted on the bulletin board(s) near the boat launch/fishing areas or in the book? I don't want to be "that" guy who ends up causing intrusive enforcement from the WDFW... After years in the Navy it seems that it only takes one yahoo breaking enough rules to make it tougher for everyone else.

there was a question regarding if frogs and crawfish can be used as bait. its legal but some frogs are listed as endanged. i use to fish with frogs alot back in the midwest, caught bass, walleye, catfish, northern pike. there really is a problem with differnt frog species going into the decline. one of the main ones is the spotted/leopord frog variety.there are pamplets at the fish and wild life offices, and i believe at the forestery offices as well if any of you are interested.