shad

[KYbass1276]

I was looking thought the new reg's for 2006 here in ky and noticed that the posesion and use of shad for bait on alot of smaller lakes has been banned I don't use shad for bait but always thought having shad in a lake was good forage for bass. Anybody have any idea's why shad is a bad thing for smaller lakes I email the ky dept of fish and wildlife but the answer they gave me was using limb lines and jug's produce a higher mortality rate for channel catfish. Haven't figured that one out yet ask about shad and they answer me back about catfish maybe they got the email confused.

[cfruel]

I'm not from KY but I saw a show on jug fishing for catfish once and they were using shad for bait.  Maybe it's a way to curb jug fishing  with out banning jug fishing.

For Example here in Michigan we have a long history in snagging salmon.  It was legal once but no longer is.  In order to stop "accidental" snagging it is illegal to have your weight below the hook unless you have a 3" tag line between your main line and the hook.  I don't know if you have ever seen a snagging setup but the weight is either molded to the hook or below it.  So basically we are not allowed to drop shot.  They are looking at changing that law for 2006 on non-salmon waters.

But really I am just guessing.  

Cfruel

[Will]

I was looking thought the new reg's for 2006 here in ky and noticed that the posesion and use of shad for bait on alot of smaller lakes has been banned I don't use shad for bait but always thought having shad in a lake was good forage for bass. Anybody have any idea's why shad is a bad thing for smaller lakes I email the ky dept of fish and wildlife but the answer they gave me was using limb lines and jug's produce a higher mortality rate for channel catfish. Haven't figured that one out yet ask about shad and they answer me back about catfish maybe they got the email confused.

Maybe it has something to do with parasites? :-/

[roadwarrior]

Shad will overpopulate small bodies of water. Striper were introduced to reserviors throughout the country primarily to control the gizzard shad population. No fresh water fish will eat a mature gizzard shad, except stripers which are actually saltwater fish than are able to survive in freshwater. I suspect the restriction on fishing with shad is intended to prevent them from being introduced into those particular waters. Once established, shad are very difficult to control.

[Guest avid]

As usual RoadWarrior's wisdom is impressive.  My experience with "bait bans" is the same.  The State Fish & Wildlife dept. is trying to keep non native species out of a particular body of water.

Snakehead anyone?  ;D

[Triton21]

I agree with Road Warrior and Avid.  I fished Yatesville Lake in Eastern Kentucky for several years and that Lake was about 8 or ten years old before the DNR introduced shad into it.

Kelley

[DDbasser]

I read an article in Bassmasters magazine about the huge spotted bass in some of Georgia's and South Carolina's lakes.

The DNR is attributing their size to a non-native bait fish the Blue back Herring.

It is unlawful in most states for an individual to introduce non-native species to a body of water. That could be the reason behind the new regulations. In order to prevent accidental release of a non-native species into a body of water.  

Or it could be a plot by animal rights activist to reduce fisherman numbers!!!

[Guest avid]

Or it could be a plot by animal rights activist to reduce fisherman numbers

If your into conspiracies than I would think the plotters would be bass sport fisherman keeping live bait anglers off the water.  :-/

P.S.  Oswald was a "patsy"