I'm sure they were quite serious about it, but when I went to Lake of the Pines a few months back, they told me that I needed to keep my receipt with me, as long as I had the minnows I purchased in my possession. They told me the game wardens always ask for them, and it's a pretty hefty fine, like 150 or 200 bucks. I've never kept my receipt, and have never been asked to provide one by any game warden I've ever talked with. As long as you have your license, they usually, either say thanks and leave, or stick around and shoot the breeze.

I'm sure it's probably actually a law, but I've just never heard of it.

yep,....

You can thank the zebra mussels for that law. It is for real. Keep that receipt. Also if you are transporting fish in a full live well there are policies for that as well.

Plus #1.

Yes sir. I have told several crappie guides about this law. They said they have never heard of this before.

If purchased a receipt is required. If caught they cannot be transported.

Yeah, they passed that a few years ago.

Yep, I believe it came about around the same time as the no water in hull or live well law.

I believe the reason for Game Wardens wanting to see the receipt is to keep people from catching bait below the dam and bringing it onto LOP to to prevent the spread of Asian Carp.

Rule to Prevent Spread of Bighead and Silver Carp

It is unlawful to transport live, non-game fishes from Big Cypress Bayou downstream of Ferrell’s Bridge Dam on Lake O’ the Pines (including the Texas waters of Caddo Lake), Nongame fishes collected from these waters may be used as live bait on the water bodies where they were collected. The link below is from TP&W.
Possession and Transport of Exotic Aquatic Species

Fish with jigs. Problem solved.

^^This^^
And like David said, it was related to the spread of zebra mussels

It's some thing they make all these law but stop printing the books to let you know what they are.

Thanks for the heads up. If I do want to use minnows again sometime I’ll be sure to ask for a receipt.

And if your bait tank will hold.more.than 30 gallons you have to have a bait license.