There are exceptions to all rules, but for year round, day in day out, minnows will outfish jigs, spider rigging. I'd estimate minnows to outfish strait jigs 8-9 times out of ten throughout the year. I think I'd trap/catch my own before I went without.

Crankbaits, and long lining are a little different. That's more of a reaction bite a lot of the time, not a hungry bite.

$17.20/pound at Lakeway in Grenada. Minnows passed gas for the biggest expense this year... I still buy em every weekend.