Missouri conservation officials are warning fishermen to be cautious when catching minnows this fall to avoid bringing Asian carp into Missouri's lakes.
The Conservation Department says young carp like to congregate below dams and levee outlets where people often cast nets to catch minnows for later use as bait.
If those young carp get used as bait, they could escape off hooks into lakes. And conservation agents don't want carp in Missouri's lakes because they compete with young bass and crappie for food.
The Conservation Department says it is illegal in Missouri to use Asian carp as live bait.