Cast netting for minnows???

I was out in a creek today killing some time with some bedding bream. Bait was everywhere. I grabbed a small 5 ft 1/4 mesh cast net my son keeps on the boat and tried my best.

I threw right on at least two large schools and zero minnows in the net.

I cast net for bait at the coast all the time without any issue.

2 questions:

1. What type of minnows do we have in Wylie? Didnt appear to be shad. Looked more like a crappie minnow from the store or a glass minnow(if we have those)?

2. What nets size do you use? I can only think the net was to small and slow and the bait ran out from underneath. Even if the mesh was two big( doubt it by the looks of the bait) I would have caught a large slow fat minnow or two.

So does anyone bet minnows with any luck? What size net, mesh size, weight?

Thanks




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Never thought about throwing a net for minnows in the lake. My cast net is 8' 1/2" mesh so it would be a waste of time.
You might try throwing the net then jerking it up fast. I cast for Shad in 90" of water I had to throw an jerk to keep the bait from going deep. 1-15' Of water I just let it go to the bottom and pull it up
Not much help but my 2 cents

Thinking about it more last night, I am not sure my net is not 1/2 inch which may be the issue. I am still trying to find a good site with a listing of minnow species in NC waters. With that much bait around and IF:

* they can be caught
*they can be kept alive

no reason to buy over priced minnows when you can fill a livewell in 5 min and then keep the leftovers in a bait bucket at the dock.

See if this helps : Lake Wylie, North Carolina, US Fish Identification Chart (fish ID)

Cast nets in stores (like Walmart) are usually 3/8" mesh. But, you can purchase 1/4" mesh cast nets, which would be more likely to catch a "minnow" shaped fish. They're even available in 3/16" mesh & 1.5lb/ft (The GS-1500 Ultra Spreaderâ„¢ Series Cast Net).

When I used to throw my 3/8" mesh net for 3-4" Shad (Hybrid Striped Bass bait) ... many of the Shad caught were halfway thru the mesh opening when the net was retrieved. Bought a 1/4" mesh net & can bring in 2-3" Shad with few, if any, stuck in the mesh openings.

Threadfin. Fry of the year most likely.

Appreciate the replies. I assume there is no really good “crappie minnows” that can be readily netted. I know Shad are a pain to Lee alive and probably not worth it. Crappie stir minnows would be found in creek and trapped?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jnbwolf

Appreciate the replies. I assume there is no really good “crappie minnows” that can be readily netted. I know Shad are a pain to Lee alive and probably not worth it. Crappie stir minnows would be found in creek and trapped?


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Shad is one of the Best if not the BEST crappie minnow to fish with when you can catch them dead of alive !!!! never seen a crappie that won't eat one when it had a chance !!!!!

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Originally Posted by strmwalker

Shad is one of the Best if not the BEST crappie minnow to fish with when you can catch them dead of alive !!!! never seen a crappie that won't eat one when it had a chance !!!!!

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This is the type of info I pay the big bucks for!

I have never fished with them mostly to them dying instantly when caught. How do you keep them alive? When I say die on me, almost Instantly once netted.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jnbwolf

This is the type of info I pay the big bucks for!

I have never fished with them mostly to them dying instantly when caught. How do you keep them alive? When I say die on me, almost Instantly once netted.


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you don't put them in a square type cooler , put them a round or oval style bait tank/cooler you have to furnish them oxygen and keep the water cool when using lake water try not to drop the temperature more then 5° !!! also you need keep alive and use a 1/2 tablespoon of rock salt in the tank to help them keep their scales so the don't choke and die !!! in square cooler they will go to a corner and stop and die !!!!

Just like he said! I've been night fishing with store bought minnows (typically common shiner) and had the threadfin come to the lights so thick it was no problem to grab a few. I immediately started catching bigger crappie, which really isn't a surprise, as I was "matching the hatch". But with them that thick, there's no reason to catch and keep more than a dozen or two. You can go back and get fresh ones when those get eaten!