Collecting and commercial musseling are a bit different though. If there is a commercial mussel season that likely means there are commercial mussel permits necessary to take shells. There can be in some states, like PA I still believe allows it, the takeing of X number of non listed mussels as use for bait, but that isn't for 'commercial' purposes and therefore falls under sport fish regulations.

Im still looking further but the Kansas fishing regulations only lists this about native mussels

Kansas recommends not eating
fish or aquatic life from the
following locations for the reasons stated:

3) The Spring River from the confluence of Center Creek to the
Kansas/Oklahoma border (Cherokee County) for shellfish (mussels,
clams, and crayfish) because of lead and cadmium levels; and
(4) Shoal Creek from the Missouri/Kansas border to Empire Lake
(Cherokee County) for shellfish because of lead and cadmium levels.

It sounds like there must be some kind of legal mussel harvest.

Perhaps it is listed under something besides fishing.

European settlers adopted many Indian customs such as growing corn. But they never really adopted the Indians' custom of eating freshwater mussels for whatever reason. The truth is that they don't taste as good as marine species. But many early settlers were so poor and desperate that it's surprising that mussels were usually not eaten. And nowadays the filter-feeding mechanism of mussels makes them very good concentrators of any pollutants such as heavy metals, certainly not an appealing thought.

Ok, I couldnt find anything else except the basic- No species listed as threatened, endangered, or in need of conservation may be used as bait.

And here is the list for Kansas

Endangered
Ellipse Mussel, Venustaconcha ellipsiformis
Elktoe Mussel, Alasmidonta marginata
Flat Floater Mussel, Anodonta suborbiculata
Mucket Mussel, Actinonaias ligamentina
Neosho Mucket Mussel, Lampsilis rafinesqueana
Rabbitsfoot Mussel, Quadrula cylindrica
Western Fanshell Mussel, Cyprogenia aberti

Threatened
Butterfly Mussel, Ellipsaria lineolata
Flutedshell Mussel, Lasmigona costata
Ouachita Kidneyshell Mussel, Ptychobranchus occidentalis
Rock Pocketbook Mussel, Arcidens confragosus

SINC
Creeper Mussel, Strophitus undulatus
Cylindrical Papershell Mussel, Anodontoides ferusscianus
Deertoe Mussel, Truncilla truncata
Fatmucket Mussel, Lampsilis siliquoidea
Fawnsfoot Mussel, Truncilla donaciformis
Round Pigtoe Mussel, Pleurobema sintoxia
Snuffbox Mussel, Epioblasma triquetra
Spike Mussel, Elliptio dilatata
Wabash Pigtoe Mussel, Fusconaia flava
Wartyback Mussel, Quadrula nodulata
Washboard Mussel, Megalonaias nervosa
Yellow Sandshell Mussel, Lampsilis teres

Looks like the 3 I listed earlier might still be legal.

Now that I think about it, Im not too worried. My scientific collecting permit allows me to collect 10 specimens of each Threatened, Endangered, and SINC species of invertebrates, although I have no intention of collecting mussels at this time.

I understand and respect where you are coming from, Uland; I don't want to see them wiped out either. But punishing innocent people who have done no harm, just because they or others MIGHT do harm in some other time and/or place, I have a real problem with.

"I don't want to see them wiped out either. But..." I still want to do what I want to do???

It's great to see Manifest Destiny alive and kicking, rebounding from the Pacific, and now coming back for the scraps.

Yes, you can do harm, with the best of intentions, with the most innocent of purposes, and not because others "MIGHT" do harm someplace else.

You saw it for yourself in the field Ed. Remember why we didn't get any brindled madtom on the Blanchard? No "useless", abandoned mussels, no miurus. (which btw I think there should be a moratorium put on Blanchard brindled until this gets looked at a little better)

This isn't the only time I've seen this. I've seen entire mussel populations removed by innocent, curious people. The Harpersfield Bridge on the Grand River in NE Ohio is perhaps the most graphic scenario I've witnessed.

And even if the valve is laying there out in the open air when you see it, it may be critical habitat for some critter during high water.

These also serve as sediment traps, bed stabilization, and a host of other ecosystem services, just by being there.

Two pages of discourse, and none of this has come up. As much as it makes everyone's internal Libertarian jump up and down screaming, sometimes Government NEEDS to think for us.

This is why there is a PERMIT process, and if you want to take valves, you should follow it. It's like Beauracratical Brakes for your Inner Gollum ™. I need it too. They are so totally cool, and it's too easy to get carried away

Todd

What's the big deal? Throw a bunch of SOBE bottles and beer cans in there, and Hey Presto! Miurus.

You saw it for yourself in the field Ed. Remember why we didn't get any brindled madtom on the Blanchard? No "useless", abandoned mussels, no miurus. (which btw I think there should be a moratorium put on Blanchard brindled until this gets looked at a little better)

You do have a point, Todd. You're right though, I do sometimes have trouble suppressing the Libertarian in me. Sorry.

I'm glad to see you're back. I was noticing we hadn't heard from you in a while, and I rather missed your insight.

I'm glad to see you're back. I was noticing we hadn't heard from you in a while, and I rather missed your insight.

Thanks. Yeah, I've been on the road hard core since the NANFA Convention. I've logged over 8000 miles since the start of that trip and the majority of that was NOT doing anything fun That's not to say I haven't seen anything great during. But it sure doesn't leave a lot of time for messing around on the computer.

todd

Here is a good fact sheet published by USGS Great Lakes Science Center

http://www.glsc.usgs.....0-5 Clams.pdf