Emerald shiners

[jimski2]

According to Darcy Reger, Cleveland Plain Dealer Ohio Outdoors column, the state of Ohio in order to comply with the Federal VHS requirements, changed its bait regulations to allow only Lake Erie Emerald shiners to be sold from dealers north of a line from US 6 to I 90 for use only in Lake Erie. If only New York would let us have similar regulations here. Our failure to harvest a proper amount of yellow perch will create a collapse of recruitment of other species such as walleye and bass.

[Shane Muckey]

What are the regulations on emerald shiners in lake Erie( NY.) right now? Thanks! Just wondering if I will be able to get them next year for ice fishing Oneida lake!

[jimski2]

You in New York State, cannot transport or use bait fish anywhere unless they are certified VHS free and you hold a 7 day receipt for them. Locally caught bait fish can be used in the same waters they originated but not transported in a motor vehicle. I am not a lawyer, so read the rulebooks yourself or call the DEC oor an explanation. Other states and provinces have better regulations but we are stuck with these rules from Albany. The point is a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and our regulations should restrict us the same as other jurisdictions. Certified bait from states like Arkansas or Wisconsin are expensive, hurt the local economy and are not as effective as these foreign invader baits being brought here from out of state.

[jimski2]

Meetings with the DEC in NYS resulted in no change in regulations. I can not understand their obstinacy in having the same regulations as the other jurisdictions on the great Lakes. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and New York's rules will fail if the other links fail. Anyway, it looks like New York fishermen will have to suffer with the regulations in pace as we have, the unharvested perch and other species will continue to feed on the fry and fingerlings of walleye and bass that depend on a balanced harvest to survive.

[Justin]

what is the percentage of bait that has tested positive for VHS. Local bait shop says that it is low, just checking their info.

[jimski2]

The problem is they claim there is VHS in the Great Lakes, so if it is there already, why penalize us by denying us the use of bait from the Lake and forcing us to import foreign bait from out of state. There could be a bigger prolbem from out of state bait. If the majority of jurisdictions on Lake Erie allow the transportation of emerald shiners within a defined zone, why can not the New York DEC go along. The other states and Ontario follow the Federal guidelines, why can not New York do so?

[HOVIE]

does any one know what it costs 2 get a pond certified. And how long does it last

[Sk8man]

Just an FYI but the receipt for the bait is good for 10 days.

[fishuntrapper]

You in New York State, cannot transport or use bait fish anywhere unless they are certified VHS free and you hold a 7 day receipt for them. Locally caught bait fish can be used in the same waters they originated but not transported in a motor vehicle....

This is not entirely true.  A few years ago the DEC came up with "overland transportation corridors". Three in fact. "Personally collected baitfish taken from a body of water within an overland transportation corridor may be transported within that corridor". NO receipt required. See baitfish regs for maps of the corridors.

[fishuntrapper]

You can catch bait at the foot of Ontario street and legally use them in Dunkirk as long as you travel within the corridor boundary.  

[rw6788]

Look at his post dat 2009. Yes it changed