If you guys do use live waterdogs...look into using a circle hook. It may increase the chance for survival. And just because a fish swims away after you catch one on a water dog does not mean that it is for sure going to live. just my two pennies

I wasn't aware that waterdogs carry LMBV, you have any sites? I have heard it in passing but I have never seen any hard proof.



Flo O'Brian's (spelling) 16lber was caught on a waterdog on Fork-


Cameron

Ive been fishing for black bass for 16 years and this is only the second time ive really heard or read about fishing with these ive never liked using live bait myself. I was just wondering what exactly a water dog is and why the controversy whats the difference between using a water dog and a shad?

I have read several articles about LMBV that talk about the possibility of waterdogs carrying the virus. If you search google you can find lots of articles about it. It has never been proven that they are the primary host that passes it to bass, but many researchers think this is the most solid theory. So little is known about the virus and where it originated that it will probably never be attributed to waterdogs or any one host. What they do know is that waterdogs do carry the virus. Not 100% of waterdogs, but many do, especially juvenile waterdogs. The possibility of this being true should be enough to lead any serious and responsible angler to think about what they are using as bait. Dont get me wrong, hooking a fish and fighting it to the boat, then holding it out of water while you remove the hook is certainly not the best way to treat a fish, but it is sport. Bed fishing with waterdogs is not sport.

Well first off I believe water dogs reside in many of the waters around the great state of Texas. If water dogs live in the same waters as bass, then why don't all bass die from the LMBV. I'm sure when a bass comes across a water dog it will usually kill it, or eat it. I'm sure many of the water dogs living in the lakes also carry LMBV (not just the ones being raised in bait shops). Knowing this, I believe the only reason why people wouldn't fish with water dogs is because of the risk of hooking the bass in the throat. This can happen when fishing with any kind of live bait. This seems to run the same risk as fishing with a large perch or shad. I don't have much experience fishing with water dogs,(I've fished with them once in my life), so I don't know alot about the risks of fishing with them, but it seems to run the same risk as fishing with a large perch. Good luck to you and your fishing. Maybe we will cross paths on Lake Amistad (not likely because of how giant it is), and I will wave and wish you good luck with whatever you may be fishing with. Good Day!

AMEN TO THAT!

Question: Is what you are calling a Waterdog the same as a salamander?

a water dog is a baby salamander, so all of them are juveniles. ever kept one in a bucket of water during warmer weather? they will lose those gills on the side of their head and turn into a salamander and crawl out.

agdaave112
Thanks for the info. Every year we have a pond near a lake that the salamanders migrate from the pond to the lake. They cover the highway and cause a few accident. Not the most appropriate way to get rid of them.

Again thanks for the education.

I am not buying the Virus story. Over the last 15 years there have been tens of thousands of waterdogs fishing in Monticello and as far as I know Monticello has never had the virus. I used some waterdogs on Monticello with my son, and he had a blast and now I can't keep him out of the boat no matter what lake. I also took a friends son, who lives in Dallas and never gets to fish, fishing with them and he caught several 5 and 6 pounders. A day he will never forget. Not everyone that fishes with live bait is the devil's spawn. Are there those that abuse it and don't protect the resource? Yes. But let us not forget the bass tactic with the highest mortality rate is the Carolina Rig, even more than live bait. So Paul, we better not catch ya out there with a C-Rig!

I agree with Brett on the c-rigs and gut hooked fish. I have not fished with live bait in several years, but have absolutely no problem with it. It has certainly 'hooked' many children on fishing. For that reason alone, it serves a good purpose.

Also, by utilizing the pull through the gill method, even a gut hooked fish can be released with ease.

Ron

I primarily fish with artificial baits and have for many years. However, I have also fished with live waterdogs and can tell you it is some of the most fun I have ever had. I have used live waterdogs to help introduce quite a few friends to the sport of fishing. I always practice catch-and-release and consider myself a true sportsman. All that being said, I do not deep hook fish any more with live waterdogs (actually probably fewer) that I have with artificials, just doesn't happen folks. With regard to the LMB virus, I don't buy it either since these creatures occur naturally on just about every body of water and farm pond that exists.
As long as the State of Texas fishing laws permit fishing with live bait then so be it. Use them and enjoy yourself. While you are at it, take a kid fishing!

If you must use live bait use a circle hook. Its hard to learn how to use but you CAN'T hook one deep....

Hey bigjig44, i know where you can find some waterdogs. I believe the place is called west side shamrock. It's in Fayetteville Texas. They are $22 a dozen. Try these #'s.

979-378-2215 or 979-277-8519

I got a 100 of them from Aces bait and tackle on parmer lane in Austin but i think they are out. there # is 512-836-1788.

Hope this helps you.

How do you do this pull through the gill method?