What's a "Slick"?

[PowersiteProwler]

so they would likely not make good bait anyhow.

Hornyheadchub, looks like to me you said they didn't make good bait? In your later post you said you didn't say that?????

At any rate I applaud your research, I too have looked at the online wildlife code exert you posted. I don't believe you are interpreting it correctly, but I could be wrong? I do find it funny though that I have had been checked before by MDC agents when seining and had a bucket FULL of top waters and get a, "good luck and have fun," out of the agent. Never once have I been cited or warned that it was illegal?

I have asked an MDC agent stationed in the Branson/Forsyth area to interpret the code for me so we know what is legal and what is not. I'll share that information when he gets back to me.

[wildminnow]

I too have been checked by a warden in the texas county area with what I call a top water minnow the only thing they looked at were the numbers between the 2 of us we could legally have 300 so we were ok and recieved a comment on what a nice bunch of minnows we had gotten

[hornyheadchub]

I think the word "likely" implies that I lack experience with this fish as bait. Now, if I had said "they are a poor choice" that would be another thing.

Also, I have interpreted the Code correctly, as I stated, they are subject to the rules of non-gamefish (150).

[hornyheadchub]

We didn't know anything about the minnows scientifically, of course. The ones we called "topwater minnows" swam at the surface of the water, were about 2" long, and had a white spot on top of their heads. They weren't very good bait, as they'd die quickly on a hook. Are those the ones you're talking about?

Those are the ones. The Blackstripe and the N. Studfish both have the 'spot' on their head.

[PowersiteProwler]

I think the word "likely" implies that I lack experience with this fish as bait. Now, if I had said "they are a poor choice" that would be another thing.]

Whew...Semantics I guess...

Like I said earlier, I applaud your research, but for the others that do fish and do use top water minnows for bait I am still waiting for a response from the MDC agent on how they handle and enforce that code, (if it truly is a code?)

[Sam]

hornyheadchub - What species are the minnows now raised and sold legally at marinas and bait shops? Are they "shiners"? Are they naturally present in Missouri waters? They must be, or they wouldn't be allowed as bait.

They're often sold as "crappie minnows" and "bass minnows", but that refers to the size of the minnow and the target gamefish, not to the species. Are those two different species, or the same species half and fully grown? Thanks.

[PowersiteProwler]

Also, I have interpreted the Code correctly, as I stated, they are subject to the rules of non-gamefish (150).

I heard back from the MDC agent. He said, "Top water Minnows are considered a bait fish, and the limit is 150 per person."

[hornyheadchub]

hornyheadchub - What species are the minnows now raised and sold legally at marinas and bait shops? Are they "shiners"? Are they naturally present in Missouri waters? They must be, or they wouldn't be allowed as bait.

They're often sold as "crappie minnows" and "bass minnows", but that refers to the size of the minnow and the target gamefish, not to the species. Are those two different species, or the same species half and fully grown? Thanks.

Sam, you're correct about the minnows being sold as bait in shops also being found naturally in Missouri waters. Whether they have always been there or they became established as a result of their use as bait, it doen't matter much.

Perhaps the two most commonly found baitfish sold in bait shops (in MO) are:

Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Link #2

Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) Link #2

followed by goldfish.

Sometimes, if you're lucky, a marina will sell fish caught on the lake/river you fish, like shad during some parts of the year.

Here is a list of Commercial Fish Producers in Missouri

[wildminnow]

My goodness hornyhead how have you become such an expert in all things minnows?

[Go_Fish]

Back when I was teenager in the early 70's my grandpa and I fished Bull Shoals every spring around Easter. We fished out of the Bull Shoals, Lakeview area with a guide for a day, then would fish by ourselves the rest of the week. Best technique was to toss live shiners into flooded brush or drift along transitional banks. An unweighted shiner hooked trought the lips caught largemouths, spots, smallies, crappie, and the occasional walleye and trout.

Do the guides still use live bait or does everyone fish with lures nowadays?