I was recently told that mussels were good bait for trout and steelhead. While discussing this with a fishing buddy, He said it was illegal to harvest mussels and therefore illegal to use them as bait. Can you please clarify this for me?
Answer:
Yes, freshwater mussels can be used for fish bait.
In Idaho, there are no limits or restrictions on harvesting mussels. Once mussels are removed from their shells, they cannot survive, so they are not considered "live" bait.
Answered on:
Monday, April 1, 2013 - 12:03 PM MDT