Cut Bait Questions

[-Marc V-]

I was thinking of doing a little channel cat fishing this weekend, but am not quite clear on the size of suckers that are legal to use for cut bait. Are any sized sucker legal, or do they have to be 7" and below?

Also, I thought I had heard that if you catch a bullie from the body of water you are planning to fish with it in, you can use it up to 12" or 13" instead of the 7" minnow limit. Is this correct, or can someone set me straight?

Thanks for the help.

[Ralph Wiggum]

As I understand it, suckers of any size are legal. I've certainly bought bigger than 7 inchers. And I also interpret the bullhead law as you do (if they stay in the same body of water, any length is legal).

I have not heard of people having much luck with bullies as cut bait. There are certainly better options out there.

[-Marc V-]

Thanks for the reply Ralph.

I didn't mean to imply bullies as cut bait, but just thought about the bullie question when writing up the sucker question.

Thanks for the help.

[Dennis Steele]

Legal length limit on suckers is 12".

And as I understand the law, you can use any size bullhead IF its from the water you are fishing. (meaning you have not transported it over land).

[Guest]

I didnt know suckers grew over 12"

Either way.. I didnt know there was a law limiting the size of a sucker one can use on a hook.

I'm getting kind of tired of learning of more laws even though they probably already existed. I know I have used suckers way larger than 12" in the past.

I was approached by a C.O. a while back when I was fishing flats and I had my bait cooler open at the time. He was very respectful to me, and asked a few questions on the area. He made the direct comment to me that my bullheads looked *a bit small for flathead fishing*.. there were some pretty fat 7" bully's in there. I guess I should have had bigger for proper bait by his standards?