Thread: Where do you get your Minnows

Anglers Resort is probably the closest to you and a good launch site across the street.
Boat Rentals on Withlacoochee River, Fishing Boats, Pontoon Boats, Kayaks for Rent in Dunnellon Florida.
and the attached Blue Gator has some excellant eats too and live entertainment on weekends. Real nice place. We go every time we camp at the Rainbow.
Dunnellon Restaurant Tiki Bar Waterfront Dining on Withlacoochee River, Live Entertainment.

I know of no bait shops within 100 mi of your location
that would be rasing their own crappie minnows.

Most all minnows used around here are from Arkansas or Missouri trucked weekly
to various commercial retailers/distributors

Most are of the Missouri minnow strain
Some shops have the "bull nosed minnows" and / or Tuffies strain.
Some shops at various times of year will carry the Orange minnow - mini gold fish


Some shops will sell minnows by the wgt -ie: 1/4 - 1/2 & 1 pound
A lot sell by the dozen only.................
Do to life expectancy of minnow during summer months - most will be above average 1 1/2 inch size - as fall sets in - some shops will go to small - med & large crappie
minnows.

Size of minnow used is mostly based on what the fisherman feels comfortable with
and how it is going to be used - cork/bobbered - spider rigged - long-lined -etc

Most bait shops carry Live shiners - wild & domestic for Bass fishing - which are
way to large for spec fishing.

Mosquitofish (pot gut minnows) could probably be grown here. You can find them everywhere around here in the wild. They work good for specks if you can get enough of them. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...30&pcatid=1530 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitofish

Or net ya some grass shrimp.

Ron, are those the minnows that they catch in ditches on east coast thats
some call "Pogies" kinda short and squat with fat tummy.
Somewhat like a Bassin Assian electric chicken plastic.

Like you idea also Mike - Grass shrimp really can turn on Spec's at times -
Found a new way to handle them - put your grass in styrafoam bucket or
large cup - put in newspaper - put ice on newspaper - Shrimp will go into
suspended annimation mode. come to life after being put on hook.

Wet corn meal works good too. Never tried the newspaper. But yep keep cold and moist and they come right back quick.

The links posted sow pictures. We always called them pot gut minnows. They are every where there is water for very long. I get them in the ditches here when it rains a lot and water stad in the ditch.

i know a couple guys tried them last year ( Mark Irle & Rick Hartsock) but they
never offered any furtrher information as to pro's & con's of their usage.
Rick finished 2nd at Arbuckle tournament -but was unknown if he used them than
Thought he may as used them at West Toho..........

Ron, you continue to amaze me with your wealth of knowledge about our Florida
inviroment, and/or where to find answers to various questions.
You truly are an assest to our fishing world.
Mike - (Huntinslabs) also falls into needed and helpfuyl catagory on CdC.

Thank you gentlemen for your support.