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Using Trout as Bait #13852130 01/19/21 04:57 PM
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Holzer Offline OP
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1 - Yes, it is illegal per TPWD.
2 - Stay focused to the question.
I was asked this today and I wasn't sure of the correct answer.

*** If you bought trout at the local grocery store, would that fish be exempt to the rule if you were using the purchased trout as bait? ***

Of course, I think it would be a good idea to keep your receipt. But with the trout stockings that the TPWD does at this time of the year, would it fly with the wardens if you bought from a grocer store?
Or, are trout (game fish) illegal to use as bait, period?


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Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852189 01/19/21 05:49 PM
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It is illegal trout is classified as a game fish and TP&W states No game fish or parts of gamefish can be used for bait!

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852190 01/19/21 05:51 PM
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Those giant stripers love the stocking size. The whole fish. Grocery store fish I have seen are all dressed. I guess if you had the receipt, it would be interesting to explain to GW you just needed some cut bait.

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852191 01/19/21 05:52 PM
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Osbornfishing Online Content
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Illegal, since it is still the same species whether it comes from a waterbody or a store.

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852255 01/19/21 06:33 PM
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Could a person use bought trout in private waters?

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852292 01/19/21 06:57 PM
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In private waters you could use any bait you like just lock the gate and keep it to yourself!

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852324 01/19/21 07:23 PM
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Holzer Offline OP
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Sounds like everyone is voting for still illegal - even if they come from the store. Even on private waters wink


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Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Osbornfishing] #13852381 01/19/21 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Osbornfishing
Illegal, since it is still the same species whether it comes from a waterbody or a store.





Yep! thumb


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Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852385 01/19/21 08:22 PM
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I had a "friend" back in the 90's that caught some HUGE striper below the Canyon Lake dam using stock trout for bait. This was back before we really had swim baits that looked like trout.

Same friend caught the state record striper out in the same spot until it was confirmed the fish was caught using live trout and stripped the record.

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13852431 01/19/21 08:49 PM
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Big ones below the dam at Lake Hamilton. Been issues in the past of using as bait.

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Osbornfishing] #13852435 01/19/21 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Osbornfishing
Illegal, since it is still the same species whether it comes from a waterbody or a store.

Yeah, even if you have a receipt it won't matter. There's no way to prove you didn't catch some trout and use those in addition to the ones you bought so they can't allow that.


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Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Chambers Creek] #13852471 01/19/21 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Chambers Creek
In private waters you could use any bait you like just lock the gate and keep it to yourself!


Private pond on private land you would be ok.

Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Holzer] #13853169 01/20/21 01:09 PM
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If your fishing a private lake or pond there are no state regulations in Texas. Now if your fishing on private property on a public lake, that's a different story.

Last edited by JStokley; 01/20/21 01:10 PM.
Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: JJ4MEL] #13853202 01/20/21 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by JJ4MEL
I had a "friend" back in the 90's that caught some HUGE striper below the Canyon Lake dam using stock trout for bait. This was back before we really had swim baits that looked like trout.

Same friend caught the state record striper out in the same spot until it was confirmed the fish was caught using live trout and stripped the record.



back in about 1980 or so I used trout below canyon, horseshoe falls was a guaranteed big striper hole. gw told me back then that the trout were legal since they were not native.
best day I had was 5 striper over 20# and 2 of those were over 30#. we had one heck of a fish fry at whitewater sports


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Re: Using Trout as Bait [Re: Chambers Creek] #13853379 01/20/21 03:38 PM
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I had a guide up in Arkansas tell me that he would catch some trout in the white river then go down where the Buffalo runs into the white and use the trout to catch double digit LM Bass. Big fine if you are caught but stripers and LM Bass eat lots of them. There are some big stripers below PK along with huge gar and flatheads so any trout they stock are going to get reduced by those predators.

I had a game and fish warden in Arkansas tell me they sometimes have to remove big stripers from below beaver if they come up river and start eating the trout.

Last edited by PKfishin; 01/20/21 03:38 PM.

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