I know it is illegal to use "game fish" as bait in Missouri.  My question is are bluegill considered a game fish?  Is it legal to use bluegill as bait for bass in Missouri?

I was told by a friend that it was legal if the bluegill was under 5" and was taken by a legal fishing method.  Sounds right, but I'd like to know for sure. MO Dept of Conservation doesn't have any online resource for specific regulations.  So I guess if no one here knows I'll have to spend a couple of hours looking through that annoyingly little wildlife code book they print every year to find the answer.

You can find out at mdc.mo.gov/, they are legal to use but its either 5 or 6 in. I need to look it up again myself.

http://mdc.mo.gov/

NAFC Life Member 2001 NAHC Life Member 2005

Thanks catmandu, I didn't know MO had online access to the regulations.  I looked it up and it is 5 inches.

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/2115.pdf

Try this one too.

NAFC Life Member 2001 NAHC Life Member 2005

According to the info on the last link catmandu posted, you can use any size bluegill for bait if it is caught on pole and line.  The 5 inch limit only applies to bluegill taken by net or seign or other methods.