Northeast baitfish management unit

[bam7mm]

Looks like no emerald shiners in this unit ,this year coming from lake simcoe.There are lakes with emerald shiners in unit 8 . Can I freeze them and use them ice fishing?

[Species8472]

Looks like no emerald shiners in this unit ,this year coming from lake simcoe.There are lakes with emerald shiners in unit 8 . Can I freeze them and use them ice fishing?

As long as you reside in unit 8 you are allowed to catch your own bait for use in that unit and emerald shiners are on the the approved list as long as they are local so to speak. Believe there is a possession limit of 120 minnows. Check with Bite me Bait. Was talking them a few days ago and she said they may be getting some emerald shiners in the next week or two but that it was likely going to be the only time for forseeable future.

There is a two week possession rule that requires the bait to used within 2 weeks of obtaining it but not sure if that only applies to purchased bait or if it is general rule and applies even to bait trapped by yourself within your unit. If it applies it would make freezing for later use impractical.

Edit to add:

See you are from Iroquois Falls. Any idea on the what the conditions on Abitibi are like. Thinking of heading in for few days.

[bam7mm]

Not sure about Big Ab but local lakes have 8-10 inches of ice