Bait Regulation.

[Robert Haynes]

On September 26, 2017 at 4:52 PM, Quillback said:

I heard they are now getting them from the Arkansas river.  Can't (legally) take them from Grand lake anymore, OK passed a law that prohibits taking live shad out of Grand lake.

Most the guides were getting their shad below the dam at Grand so not really sure if they closed off the river below Grand for taking shad. I have been with them and in just a few throws, they are on their way back to Beaver with a weeks worth of bait. It would be almost impossible to get the number and size of shad out of Beaver to support their live bait needs, definitely could not get it quickly, they would always be searching and throwing for bait. This will put a burden on them but nothing stays the same and they will adjust, although I feel their pain. As far as the science behind the decision, I have not researched it so can't say if this is a good decision or not. 

[Stump bumper]

All I know is more people throwing cast nets on Beaver will not make my fishing any easier since it is hard enough to catch live bait now. There are tons of shad in Beaver but seems to be so few where you can get to them for some reason. Maybe this will spur a new bait source that will sell bigger bait near the lake?

[MoCarp]

since the asian carp showing up in grand..its way to easy to get them started with them being in batch of bait...worse if they net the baby jumpers for bait on purpose..I can see the concern...In the white river chain they are a direct competitor with paddlefish