wanted - live waterdogs ( salamanders )

datamax · 03-07-2005, 08:42 AM

Anybody know where I can legally get anywhere from 500-750 live waterdogs for spring big bass fishing ? I live in Arkansas - PM me or reply here - getting the itch to spring bass fish !

Champlain Islander · 03-07-2005, 03:35 PM

Are water dogs the same as a mud puppy? We have these things here and you catch them accidently in the rivers in summer. When you get them in shore they get up and try to walk away.

johnch · 03-07-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Anybody know where I can legally get anywhere from 500-750 live

Check your laws here in Ohio we would need a bait vendors license for that many ,I think its 50 in possien without the license

datamax · 03-08-2005, 08:59 AM

Yeah, I know theres rules and regs on live salamanders/waterdogs and those who sell them know what they are normally

Heres what they look like

Champlain Islander · 03-08-2005, 09:24 AM

Yup they look like what we call mud puppys. The ones around here have little leg like fins and they can breath air through some type of air bladder. I guess they must be good for bait huh?

datamax · 03-08-2005, 10:00 AM

they are THE best big bass bait around. i use a 6'6" rod, heavy baitcaster reel and either spider wire in 25# or monofilament in 30# with 6/0 hooks.

I've caught I don't know how many 8-10 pound bass on them, my best was 11lb 9oz

Champlain Islander · 03-08-2005, 10:10 AM

Wow real nice fish. Unfortunately we don't grow them that large here on Champlain. For some reason they seldom get bigger than 7 pounds for largies and 5 pounds for smallies. There are lots of them so I guess quantity counts for something. The only puppies that I have ever seen were in a slow moving large brackish water river. I wonder how the bait dealers catch them.

datamax · 03-08-2005, 11:47 AM

Top bass I used a deliar and it said 11 lb 6 ounces. Afterwards ........ she was over 12 pounds, I know she was. HUGE bass - like 25" long, full spawn .......... I turned her loose.

The second is my Dad's 11 lb 4 ounce fish

The bottom is my 11 lb 9 ounce bass - officially weighted

Champlain Islander · 03-08-2005, 12:32 PM

Boy those are real korkers. The girth on the top fish was pretty impressive. You must be from one of the southern states for them to grow so large. I guess I better russle up some water dogs for the spring.

datamax · 03-08-2005, 01:01 PM

top and bottom fish were from Lake Fork. The middle fish was from a little lake in Arkansas stocked with Florida strains. Thats the lake i'm wanting about 300 dawgs to fish on in the coming weeks. Theres a 16-18 pound bass in the Lake I just gotta go get him !