That's sort of the answer I got, however that is just one persons interpretation of the reg. The regulation doesn't say commercially purchased minnows are exempt. What if someone else decides to enforce the letter of the law just as it is written? I also got an answer back that said I could have as many small sunfish in my possession for bait as I wanted when fishing in a river a long as I got them from a lake or pond. Now how can I prove where they came from. The answer I got back also stated that golden shiners and goldfish were exempt but should still have receipt. Nowhere does it say that in the regulation. I was also told that there was no definition for where a stream or river ended and a lake began except where specifically stated in the Regulation. Once again who makes the determination that I am fishing in the lake or in a creek or river when it feeds into a lake?