Waterdogs! As BASS BAIT?!?!

[nickjwes]

Waddell's Live Waterdogs

This website offers "Waterdogs" (not actual Waterdogs/Hellbenders/Mudpuppies, but simply larval stage salamanders/newts) for purchase as fishing bait

Not to mention that they are all wild caught most likely. Not that this had anything to do with anything but I thought it was apalling that people would do that. It could be a good source if anyone was looking to raise tons of salamanders from larval stage (not to be used as bait of course).

Not to mention they offer "tiger water dogs" as bait for "trophy bass"... as in larval tiger salamanders.

 

[Coastal Groovin]

I saw this site yesterday. It was really hard to not buy a bunch at that price!!! I should buy stock in Tupperware!!!!!!

 

[John]

Nick, this has gone on for decades. Have you only just found out about it or something?

 

[nickjwes]

Honestly, I guess I knew it went on (we've used tadpoles and crayfish we would catch as kids), but its still pretty appalling. Just the fact that they go out an collect tons of them, and sell them as bait, I guess it may be a little different if they were captive bred specifically for bait? But I still wouldn't like it.

 

[John]

Honestly, I guess I knew it went on (we've used tadpoles and crayfish we would catch as kids), but its still pretty appalling. Just the fact that they go out an collect tons of them, and sell them as bait, I guess it may be a little different if they were captive bred specifically for bait? But I still wouldn't like it.

We may not be a million miles away from legislation that might help stop this (oooooh big government does it again.... sorry, thinking of another thread). However right now there's not much that can be done. For what it's worth, it's unlikely that the collection seriously damages populations but the escape of tigers into new habitats beyond their range is having serious effects the the genetics of many tiger populations including the California Tiger Salamander.