yattes here in oklahoma if the game fish is caught legally and is of legal length you can do what ever you want with it.as for the bait question i have caught flatheads on shad,perch,drum,crappie,sand bass,water dogs if anyone knows what they are( sure wish i could find some place to buy them again) chicken liver,cut up carp and also gar strips. alot of people use gold fish i have never caught anything but turtles on them. you can also use hotdog chunks soaked in garlick powder. a buddy of mine uses cheese.