I to have been useing them all my life and here in Ks. and Ar. you are allowed to use them as long as they have been caught as said earlier from the same water AND they must be legaly hooked, no snagging or netting.
The only thing I can think of that works better are small 10 or 12 inch Bull head catfish if you are tageting Mud Cats, if you really want to get into the Bull Cat action try useing a big long strip of cut carp fillet.
Good luck to you from Ks. hope you can find a beautiful day to spend fishing?!!
Rusty