PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ (GFP) would like to remind anglers of the new rules regarding fish and bait transportation.
Bait can only be transported away from a water body in domestic water (tap water, well water, bottled water, ice). Boat anglers can wait until they reach an immediately adjacentfish cleaning station to put their bait in domestic water. They can dump out the lake water and fill their bait bucket up with water from the fish cleaning station or water they brought with them.
A shore angler can do the same if they are able to access the domestic water source at a fish cleaning station that is immediately adjacent or if they bring domestic water with them.
Unused minnows should be poured into the fish grinder at a cleaning station or drained and disposed of in the trash containers at the boat launch or cleaning areas. It is a violation of state statute to dump unused minnows into a water body in South Dakota.
The new regulations are featured online at sdleastwanted.com; here anglers can also learn more about transporting their bait through a three minute video tutorial. GFP staff and volunteers are also available to help answer any questions.
“As much information as we provided up front on the implementation of these new regulations, we know there are still going to be questions,” said Kelly Hepler, GFP Secretary. “I would encourage people to call our offices or ask a GFP employee if they are in any way uncertain of how to comply with these new regulations. We are trying to ensure everyone who wants to enjoy South Dakota’s waters can do so with the confidence that they know these new rules. These are big changes and our staff are a great resource and willing to help field customer concerns.”