Retired My Frabill Net A Few Years Ago

From using it to net bullheads once I found out that taking them from an “infested” body of water could transfer the AIS to another.

Well not exactly. For a couple years I helped a bait shop owner (that had a license) fill his tanks….then I retired it to the outdoor shed and the bait tank that’s in it.

Back in time it was fun and easy to head to your local low head dam to collect my bait that would take care of me for a few weeks. 250 to 300 bullheads would end up in my converted chest freezer for my FW and myself to keep smiling until they were used up.

In the warmer times of the year the bullies would school right up under the falling water. Using the Frabill bait net it only took a couple three scoops to fill up a 5 gallon pail and off I would go.

Normally my FW would come down with me to help or I would bring a friend. A few times I took Jesse down there too.

Now I buy my bait. Yeah, it’s more expensive but between the laws and the time it takes to catch the bait I think I’m ahead.

For personal use I still recommend catching your own and as Steve mentioned in another post legal to do now as long as it’s caught by hook and line and is used in the same water as caught. Heck one good size sucker will last all night as cut bait.

I’m using the Frabill 110v Aqua Life air pump. Then I attached the portable Frabill Aqua Life pump that runs off of 12v or 2 D size batteries. This comes in handy if I want to go completely portable or if I need more air in the water because of an over loaded bait tank. Works Swell!

But, if you find yourself short of time and want to go fishing, catfish bait can be picked up quickly in Red Wing at Four Seasons and Everts Resort.

Whatever helps you get out to fish!

I had around 250 or 300 bullheads in my garage tank earlier in the year BK, never heard from you….

They did not go to waste, don’t worry!

I was right here!

Where the heck have you been?

I don’t know how you can justify spending 20-30$ in bait for one night.. vs. collecting a few nightcrawlers or buying a tub for 4.25$ and then catching your own out of your favorite pond. With 2 people we can catch 2dz in about 15 minutes.

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I had around 250 or 300 bullheads in my garage tank earlier in the year BK, never heard from you….

They did not go to waste, don’t worry!

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Dude… indeed, where the heck HAVE you been? I been wondering what happened to you lately…

J

I agree with BK. Purchasing bait is all about piece of mind for me. If I catch it, I would be lying to a warden if I told him that it came from the same place I was fishing. If I buy it, it saves me some personal gripes, time, and I know that (however unlikely) I’m not spreading diseases.

Pretty easy when working 40 hours then have to be ready to go 3 nights per week.

I can’t justify the time spent catching quality bullhead and forget about white suckers.

But to each there own. I’m not forcing you.

Ps I forgot. I don’t like catching bait.

Retired the aerators too? Remember this one? http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/718852/fpart/1/frabill-warrenty-question

Oh yeah, I didn’t even have to follow that link.

I have one of those as a back up/portable and a 110v with a inverter for the main. Works swell without having to rely on the battery operated one.

The one in the photo is one of the replacements. Now I have to go back and check the date.

I thought that if as long as the body of water was not designated as being infested, you’re ok to take bait out of it. Am I wrong here?

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I agree with BK. Purchasing bait is all about piece of mind for me. If I catch it, I would be lying to a warden if I told him that it came from the same place I was fishing. If I buy it, it saves me some personal gripes, time, and I know that (however unlikely) I’m not spreading diseases.

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True but more and more body’s are being named each year. Red River last year…and I’m not sure why the Minnesota River hasn’t been named yet. Not that I’m trying to hurry things…

Even then, with a bait dealers license and a few hours of classroom, a person can take bait from an infested water.

Hey, I don’t make the rules.

I fish with a Wisconsin license which come with a little different set of rules. The way the law is written here, you can only use live bait from the water where it was taken up to the first impenetrable barrier.
Even though the Willow River flows into the St. Croix, I can’t catch my bait in the Willow and use it in the Croix because there are dams in the way. However, I can catch it in the Kinni up to the first dam.
If I were so inclined, I believe I can even use game fish as bait (as long as they fit minimum length requirements and daily bag allotments)…

They’re taking comments for an Iowa version now.

Illegal to take live fish (except baitfish list) to a lake (or reservoir). But not the river.

I wrote to the comment guy; hey comment guy, the reservoir IS the river. How does this make sense?

He responded to me once but they don’t seem to return a second email. It must be one of their rules.

I forgot to ask…

Do these pants make my butt look fat?

No, but that picture makes my leg instintively kick forward!

Nice shirt BK

Thats BK’s water camo shirt, look how it blends right in.

Wait, there’s a PERSON in that picture?

I wish I had one of those bait nets with the protector like that. If someone knows where to get one I’d appreciate a pm. I remember the night that net jumped out of your trailer

Stop by on your way through sometime St Croixer.

On his way thru where?

Do people actually go through Hager City, like… on purpose? Or to get from one place to the other?

I was once on my way to Everts when I sneezed at the wrong time and overshot Hager City entirely. Had to turn around in Red Wing.

I was referring to my house in Lakeland. Much smaller than Hager City.

I wondered about that, but I couldn’t remember the name of the town and it wasn’t on any of the maps I could find. Then again, it might have helped if I’d have bothered to look for one.