If you have an aquaculture permit, you can probably recoup your costs by keeping a few easy-to-breed species (snails, cherry shrimp, guppies, etc.) and selling the young to local fish stores or online. It wouldn't be much more work than just maintaining the tanks you want (since you may well want to breed these species for feeders anyways). Just something to consider.

Well, minners are a good start!

It does appear that it's all just a money grab.

Now for private bait use consist of.
The only fish species allowed to be taken and used for consumption or personal use as bait (either alive or dead) by fishing, seining, netting, trapping, or dipping are minnows, bluegill, hybrid bluegill, carp, sunfish, gizzard shad, sculpin, white and longnose suckers, yellow perch and rainbow smelt. Statewide bag limits apply to sunfish, bluegill, hybrid bluegills and yellow perch.

Now to me it sounds as if I can take these fish alive to be used a a later date for bait. thoughts or opinions on that?

This is what a lot of people operate under IF they are allowed to move bait away from the waters they were caught in. Basically, you maintain a tank of baitfish at home for future use. I actually do this with mummichogs on occasion. They are pretty enough to go in a tank, and I can catch them when it's convenient, not just right before I go fishing.

What I would do is call the fish and game people in your state, NOT the general DOW folks. (I'm assuming it is a sub-department, or maybe separate all together). Ask them if you can move baitfish away from the waters you catch them in for later use.

This is what a lot of people operate under IF they are allowed to move bait away from the waters they were caught in. Basically, you maintain a tank of baitfish at home for future use. I actually do this with mummichogs on occasion. They are pretty enough to go in a tank, and I can catch them when it's convenient, not just right before I go fishing.

What I would do is call the fish and game people in your state, NOT the general DOW folks. (I'm assuming it is a sub-department, or maybe separate all together). Ask them if you can move baitfish away from the waters you catch them in for later use.

DOW is the highest managing authority for all wildlife, i got a reply from dept. of ag. I can not get a permit of any kind and the permits are approved distributed and maintained by DOW, and my house would have to be inpected by DOW for any kind or permit as well, I will check into the bait fish regulations when I get back into town in 2 weeks.

Seems to me the "personal use" clause that allows "minnows" and "sunfish" is pretty wide open.
Next step would be to determine what, if any, minnow or sunfish species is specifically protected and go from there. Get a field guide or fish atlas, determine what minnows and sunfish are found in your state that are not specifically protected and plan your tanks around those species.

Seems to me the "personal use" clause that allows "minnows" and "sunfish" is pretty wide open.
Next step would be to determine what, if any, minnow or sunfish species is specifically protected and go from there. Get a field guide or fish atlas, determine what minnows and sunfish are found in your state that are not specifically protected and plan your tanks around those species.

Ok DOW responded and again the response is no permit available but I can purchase these fish from licensed aquaculturists. So this is a step in the right direction.

I don't get it. You can catch 'em for bait, so it's OK to kill 'em. You can buy 'em legally, so captive release isn't the issue. What exactly IS the problem they are so worried about?

I don't get it. You can catch 'em for bait, so it's OK to kill 'em. You can buy 'em legally, so captive release isn't the issue. What exactly IS the problem they are so worried about?

I think they believe someone will be more apt to release one they caught themselves, makes no sense to me either but atleast the ability to purchase them is a start.

Ok I have been without internet access due to being out of town. I got home yesterday and another reply from DOW was in my email. I am definately able to purchase native fish, they dont specify that I have to buy them from local vendors, so I will be gone for another 2 weeks but when i get home i will be looking to make a few purchases.

I don't get it. You can catch 'em for bait, so it's OK to kill 'em. You can buy 'em legally, so captive release isn't the issue. What exactly IS the problem they are so worried about?

Someone that pays for something, like a pet, is less likely to dump it than unused bait. Do people still release pets, yes, but the general thought is likely there is an investment and attachment to something purchased versus something likely collected as bait. Does it make sense to many of us, here no, but you've got to put yourself in a different mind set rather than the user/advocator/conserver of the resource.

I am definately able to purchase native fish, they dont specify that I have to buy them from local vendors, so I will be gone for another 2 weeks but when i get home i will be looking to make a few purchases.

This is great news. Your persistance definitely paid off! I hope you really enjoy your new native fish!

ok heres a bump..i still need advice on where to go to start the process to get these fish legalized. It is nice I can purchase but alot of the enjoyment is catching plus thats the only real way to teach my children about the fish in thier own backyard.

Well I am from CO and have been looking into licensing, sorry about how long it took me to reply! If you are under 16 you don't need a fishing license. I am not sure on all the regulations and such, but have your kids come out with you to catch fish and then you have a pretty little loop hole.

As far as getting the law changed, call politicians, govener, and the people that represent your state district in the Colorado legislature.

Well taking baitfish is illegal in almost every county, so it doesn't help.

"Taking bait fish is prohibited statewide in natural streams, springs and waters in Adams,
Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Elbert, Jefferson and Park
counties and standing public waters in Rio Grande, Saguache, Conejos, Costilla, Alamosa, Mineral
and Hinsdale counties in the Rio Grande drainage. This does not apply to fish handled or produced
at commercial aquaculture facilities."

6. NONGAME SPECIES: It is illegal to have or harvest bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker,
mountain sucker, roundtail chub, Rio Grande chub, plains topminnow, stoneroller, stonecat, plains
orangethroat darter, Iowa darter, flathead chub, mollusks, wood frog, plains leopard frog and northern
leopard frog.

I am pretty sure as long as your kids collect the fish that are not endangered, threatened or on another legal list you should be okay.

Edited by blaze88, 14 July 2008 - 02:19 AM.

Well I am from CO and have been looking into licensing, sorry about how long it took me to reply! If you are under 16 you don't need a fishing license. I am not sure on all the regulations and such, but have your kids come out with you to catch fish and then you have a pretty little loop hole.

As far as getting the law changed, call politicians, govener, and the people that represent your state district in the Colorado legislature.

Well taking baitfish is illegal in almost every county, so it doesn't help.

"Taking bait fish is prohibited statewide in natural streams, springs and waters in Adams,
Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Elbert, Jefferson and Park
counties and standing public waters in Rio Grande, Saguache, Conejos, Costilla, Alamosa, Mineral
and Hinsdale counties in the Rio Grande drainage. This does not apply to fish handled or produced
at commercial aquaculture facilities."

6. NONGAME SPECIES: It is illegal to have or harvest bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker,
mountain sucker, roundtail chub, Rio Grande chub, plains topminnow, stoneroller, stonecat, plains
orangethroat darter, Iowa darter, flathead chub, mollusks, wood frog, plains leopard frog and northern
leopard frog.

I am pretty sure as long as your kids collect the fish that are not endangered, threatened or on another legal list you should be okay.

NO Children even though they do not need a license still need to abide by the laws. In most states children under 16 do not need a license, but their parents must possess one. The parent will be accountable for their childs actions. This is not a good loophole.