Lost another St Croix catfish bait!

I was just looking at the 2006 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. New this year on page 70: “The use of live crayfish as bait on the St Croix National Scenic Riverway (north of the Boomsite boat launch) is prohibited.” I’ve been doing some reading and had noted the crayfish are a considered a good channel bait. I was thinking this might be a good bait this summer – to be legal you have to catch them and use them in the same body of water – but this kind of rules that out, at least when fishing north of Stillwater. I wonder how much longer before they make using hooks illegal?

Crayfish are a great bait for just about everything. I rarely use them because I dont spend the time to catch/trap them.

I know that crayfish(Rusty?) are to blame for causing serious damage to aquatic vegitation in many lakes in northern Minnesota… mainly the boundary waters that I am aware of. I know of several lakes up there your hard pressed to find any weeds. A local bait shop explained to me it was caused over time by the crayfish. If the info I got was accurate.. I guess if there is a potential for the future to cause damage to the ecosystem from fisherman introduction of non native species of crayfish.. I guess I dont have anything against the ruling?

I cant remember the last time I seen another angler using one for bait? I cant remember a crayfish ever living after being used for bait either.. they are usually consumed(by fish), or dead.

I guess I am not against it.. but I really dont see where it was neccessary?