Keeping Shad and Zebra Mussels

I have looked at the regs but can't tell if what I would like to do is legal or not. Maybe someone has some for certain answers. Can you keep shad from a lake with Zebra mussels (Belton) to use on another day at the same lake? I am really hit or miss in getting bait. Sometimes it is plentiful other times tough to get even a few. I don`t think you can transport them in lake water at all. But can you catch them and use tapwater in the bait tank? How would you ever prove it is tapwater and not lakewater if your checked?

I THINK the gw can test the water to tell the difference between tap and lake water. I’m not sure they will want to. Easier just to write a ticket. I would ask a local gw for their interpretation since they will be the one writing a ticket for you if they so choose.

You must use tap water for your shad. Add your chemicals to the tap water the night before and then you can keep the shad to use anywhere. Don't add lake water and your good to go. They do not want lake water transported away from the boat ramp at any lake any more.

I know for a fact Bob Maindelle of holding the line guides service catches shad from Belton and often keeps them for a few days in his baittank. The key and law breaking action would be to use lake water and not tap water. But that’s a great point that how can a gw really tell between the clear lake water and the clear tap water? Do they take your word for it or do they test it?? If I used lake water from phantom there is no question if it is muddy water or tap water. I imagine Belton looks clear like tap water.

It can only be done legally this way:

You must have a separate bait tank in your vehicle that has city water in it.

Once the boat is loaded on the trailer the bait must be moved from the boat tank to the truck tank.

Boat must be emptied of all water before leaving the lake.........except when moving from ramp to ramp on the same lake same day.
Example catching bait at Leona Park and than loading up and launching at Westcliff

I have a 50 gallon Grayline tank mounted to the bed of my truck for spring and fall when I use shad almost 100% of the time

So bait cannot be transported in the boat bait tank even in city water? Seems a silly distinction but I am not surprised that that would be the absolute letter of the law. A second tank certainly adds to the expense. You would also need to bolt it down or risk getting it stolen. I just bought a boat so there is not a lot of funds in the "fun budget" at the moment, I may just have to get better at catching shad for now.