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Most of us know that one of the best baits at lake mead is live shad.
Why then are there are no Shad farms that sell live shad to bait shops?
Is there a regulation that prohibits it?
I know I would pay handsomely for live shad to avoid having to net it and so I think it could be a lucrative business.
What are our options for legally obtained live bait for lake mead other than netting it?
When I was younger my grandpa would buy water dogs but i don't think you can get them anymore.
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The bait situation is tricky. The thing about threadfin shad, is that they are extremely difficult to keep alive for more than a couple days. It requires big tanks with perfect water and temperatures, and the cost to obtain, care for, and sell them far exceeds the return.
I haven't seen a water dog here in a dozen years.
As far as laws-
The Capture, Transport and Use of Bait:
Any person possessing a fishing license or permit, or
otherwise exempted from such licenses, may capture,
transport and use bait for fishing or personal consumption except that the use of game fish or protected species of fish for bait is prohibited. Aquatic bait (such as live unprotected amphibians, crayfish, clams and snails) may be used only in the water from which it is taken. Aquatic bait and live bait fish (live unprotected species of freshwater fish) may be
transported from one river basin to another or from one area of this state to another only as provided in the appropriate regional regulation as noted below. Any bait obtained from a licensed dealer of live bait fish must be accompanied by a currently dated receipt issued by that dealer.
Southern Region Bait Regulations:
In Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and the Colorado River
located in Clark County, only golden shiner, fathead minnow, mosquitofish, red shiner, threadfin shad, carp and goldfish may be used as live bait fish. Other forms of aquatic and animal life, such as the waterdog, grasshopper, earthworm and crayfish may be used as bait. A person holding a fishing license may purchase fish authorized for use as bait from a licensed bait dealer in Arizona, California or Nevada, or he may, for his own use, take fish authorized for use as bait with a dipnet, a cast net with a radius not exceeding four feet from horn to leadline, a seine not exceeding 10 feet in length and four feet in width, or a minnow trap not exceeding 12 inches in width, 12 inches in depth or 24 inches in length. In all other waters of the Southern Region, the capture, possession while fishing or use of fish as bait, whether dead or alive, or parts thereof, other than preserved salmon eggs, is prohibited.
Note: They changed the allowable size of the cast nets we can use from a 3 foot radius to 4 feet. That helps a bit.
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Great Info, thank you Whizzle. So the cost is prohibitive for the Threadfin.
Is the same true for shiners, minnows etc? Are they any bait shops that stock shiners or minnows that are permissible on lake mead?
I just recalled that it was Sandy Cove baitshop over on Lake Mead Blvd in East Vegas where we bought the waterdogs.
Anybody know if they are still open?
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Yeah they are still open. I think they are open til 8 tonight. I am debating on whether or not to go tonight for a couple hours. I usually don't mind the wind, but there are limits to what I can take. The water temp jumped a few degrees today too. I bet the fishing will be good.
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i remember that bait shop on lake mead blvd i thought they closed down. me and my dad used to stop there every weekend for live shiners before heading out to las vegas bay (when there WAS water there lol mid 80's) i'm pretty sure its the same place just passed nellis on the right heading towards sunrise mountain?? great memories of fishin' wit dad....i got all nostalgic and stuff lol
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I don't know if they still deal with waterdogs, but I know they keep a supply of minnows there. Yes, they are legal on Mead.
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Yep, that's the one.
I met the owner's grandson quite a few years back. I think his name was Jason Walker, not sure. He was an awesome guitar player though. He played with the Dave Mason band.
Yeah, Las Vegas Bay was our main launch point as well. My Dad stored a couple of our boats there over the years. Too bad about the water [:/]
I live in South Vegas now so it's a bit of a trip to Sandy Cove baitshop. I wish I could find some live bait over my way.
Fish On!
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Hi giddyup,
Did you end up going out? how did you do?
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No I never did go. I did go last week before the winds at night on Thursday. I had been catching some big ones lately at night out of Gov't wash, but no such luck this time. I did hook into a big carp though. I thought I had 15 to 20lber on until I finally reeled it in and saw it in the light. The water level has dropped so much that most of the bushes that have been submerged are out of the water which was good because he cruised most the shoreline looking to hang me up on anything he could. I posted a pic of the carp and a pic of a nice 25incher I caught the week before around 9 pm that was a Thursday also at Gov't Wash. I was using a weighted 3/0 gamakatsu hook like I had read in the paper with almost a whole sardine on it. The hook got caught on the gills on the bottom of the mouth so I ended up keep him. The rig worked out pretty good for me. The striper put up a good fight, but nothing like that carp. Also when the sun came up last week shad were spawning all around me and caught a few more on a countdown rapala silver and black and a pointer78 ms shad color.
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Heading out to Gov't Wash Tonight.
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Nice pics. Thanks
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nice fish giddyup... How do I get to Govt wash and fish from shore? Do i need 4wd?
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If you come in from the Lake Mead dr. entrance after you pass the gaurd shack and come to the T in the road take left and the Gov't Wash turnoff is I think 2 mile down.
You should be able to find on any satelite map. You don't need a 4wd, but with the water being down there are a lot of dirt roads out there that will seem like a maze the first couple of times you go. Try to go out there when its light for your first time. I have been fishing as close as I can get to the main lake channel which would be your second right after you hit the dirt road. It is a bit of a hike from there not bad though. You can get closer to shore if head off to the left. I never made it to the lake the other night so it has been a little while since I have fished that spot and the water temp has risen a few degrees also.
Good Luck.
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