OutdoorNebraska

14 | Fishing Info: 402-471-0641 Bait Regulations Baitfish, listed amphibians and crayfish may not be sold, except by permit. For commercial purposes (bait dealers, private aquaculturists and nonresident fish dealers), refer to the regulations supplied with your permit. The following regulations apply only to bait obtained for personal use. • It is unlawful to take baitfish, listed amphibians or crayfish from any public lake, reservoir or bayou unless otherwise stated below. • Digging and trapping for bait or any other purpose is prohibited on all state-owned or controlled areas. • It shall be unlawful for any individual or bait dealer to transport away from the river any live fish to be used for bait which has been collected on the Missouri River downstream below Gavins Point Dam to the Kansas border and all other rivers and streams located east of U. S. Hwy. 81 from the South Dakota border to York, north of Interstate 80 from York to Lincoln, and east of U. S. Hwy. 77 from Lincoln to the Kansas border. The use of baitfish seined by anglers from these rivers and streams may only be used at the body of water from which they were captured. • Seining for baitfish, listed amphibians or crayfish is allowed on streams located on state recreation areas (SRA) and wildlife management areas (WMA) unless the stream is listed as closed. • It is illegal to possess while fishing or use for bait Red Swamp Crayfish, White River Crayfish or Rusty Crayfish. If you suspect that you have either collected or purchased one of these species, bring them to a Game and Parks office. • All non-baitfish taken while netting or seining for bait must be returned immediately to the waters from which taken. • The bag and possession limit of baitfish and listed amphibians for personal use is 100. NOTE: Anglers who seine their own baitfish must properly identify the fish species collected to avoid transfer of invasive species. It is illegal to dump baitfish or water from the seining location into a different water body as that could also transfer invasive species including fish diseases. Seined baitfish should be transported in domestic water to reduce the chance of transporting diseases or aquatic invasive species. Gizzard Shad and Alewife – May be taken for use as bait by legal dip nets from lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and below dams and other artificial obstructions for a distance of 200 yards below such obstructions. • Live shad and alewife may be used only in the body of water from which they were captured. • Shad and alewife may be taken by legal seine or dip net in streams, except those streams closed to the taking of baitfish or bait by such method, but cannot be transferred alive and used in other waters. Below Dams – The seining of baitfish, listed amphibians or crayfish is unlawful for a distance of 200 yards below any dam or spillway. In these waters, baitfish, listed amphibians and crayfish may be taken by legal baitfish dip nets for personal use only. Restricted Species – It is unlawful to sell, transport or offer for sale as bait, any live carp, carpsucker, bullhead, buffalo, gar, quillback, gizzard shad or alewife. Live fish of those species may be used for bait only in the same waters from which they are legally taken. Dead carp, carpsucker, bullhead, buffalo, gar, quillback, gizzard shad or alewife may be transported for use as bait. Sport fish may be used for bait if: • they can be purchased from a bait dealer that have been acquired legally from a licensed aquaculturist or a nonresident fish dealer. The angler must keep a legible receipt or invoice from the dealer listing the date, seller's name and address, and number and size of each species sold. • they are captured using hook and line and used at the body of water from which they were captured. Anglers must follow both the length and bag limits for that body of water. Importation – It is unlawful for individuals to import live baitfish from out of state for use in inland waters. This does not include the Missouri River. It is unlawful to import or transport live carp, carpsucker, buffalo, quillback, gar, gizzard shad or alewife into the state for use as bait. Special permits are required for a person to import and sell bait or baitfish.

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