Bait: There's a Lot on the Line Keep fish healthy. Don't move
bait! The deadly fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS)
viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) has been found in all the
Great Lakes. As a result, states that border these water bodies
have imposed stringent requirements on bait shops and sales of
live bait to prevent VHS from expanding in distribution. Fish
infected with VHS and used as bait could introduce the disease
to new waters. Even dead or frozen fish can contain the active
virus. VHS has been found to live through at least two freeze-
thaw cycles. For that reason, bait dealers in the Great Lakes
States must certify that the fish they use as bait are disease
free. In addition, bait sellers must provide receipts showing
where the fish bait came from. VHS kills fish, but it isn’t a
known human pathogen. Regulations on how to use bait, dead or
alive, vary from state to state. However, in all Great Lakes
States, bait fish harvested locally can only be used in the
water from which it is take