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I recently have been fishing with minnows. I have a question about size. Smaller better or larger better. Talking about small = 1 1\2" Big being 3" or more. Also how do you hook them? I have been trying thru lips and behing dorsal fin. Dont seem to last long. Jig head or slip lead weight? Palamar knot or Loop knot? I usually fish Conway, Brewer, and Maumelle. Ussing 4lb test. Still a vert novice fisherman looking for help.
If I am using under a float, I hook them just behind the dorsal fin. If no float, through the lips if the bite is fast. If the bite is slow, I will hook through into mouth and out the front corner of the eyesocket. They will live good and are harder to pull off. I always use a big bait, but I ain't always the best fisherman.
+2
Probably depends on the size of fish where you are at. If the minnows are to big you might have a hard time hooking a fish. I could be wrong though
I have been told" the bigger the bait the bigger the fish"...
I have found it to be true bass fishing and trot lining big flatheads. Could only assume its true for crappie as well.
I caught a HUGE crappie on my trot line one day on a shad and an 8/0 hook.
However, I have found in the heat of the summer a small jig seems to work better.
The only time I buy minnows is yoyoing and I buy the smallest available. We catch many 2+ pounders.
I still lean towards Bigger the Bait, Bigger the Fish!
As for hooking them, yoyoing I hook right below the dorsal fin avoiding the spine. Stay well above the black line!
I have a buddy that religiously fishes with minnows tipping his jig, he hooks through the lips.
Either way the seem to live.
The yoyo miners will live for days.
I quit minnows years ago, but my dad used to favor Bass Minnows try'n to keep some of the dinks off his hook. Your fishing method should dictate hooking location IMO. If it is stationary the dorsal fin is good, but if trolling or moving lip or eye hook location. Best thing would be for you to buy a few of each size and see what suits your fishing.
I like big baits (jigs or minnows) about 10 months of the year. I've caught enough 8 in crappie for a lifetime I think...
WHY NOT ALL YEAR ?:scratchheadQuote:
Originally Posted by Splitshot82
Minnow size for me varies according to where I'm fishing. As a standard, I will use 3" minnows, but if I can find a bait shop that sells ungraded minnows, I will go for that. With ungraded minnows you will have from 2.5" to some that look like you should filet them and everything in between. With those I can try different sizes and let the fish tell me what to use. Ungraded minnows sell a little cheaper too
As far as hooking them, I strictly hook them through the eyes. They generally last a while that way
Big minnows equal big fish!!!!!
thanx guys. I learned something about hooking thru the eye. Will try next time. I will keep trying to become a crappie fisherman.
Late spring/early summer. Post spawn fish can be a little picky and there is a ton of small fry around from the completed spawns. I grew up fishing trees and pads that time of year with 1/32 or smaller jigs. Catch a mixed bag of bluegill and crappie most days.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
Do you guys that fish with jigs only, use a jig that is as big as the minnow that you'd use (if you fished minnows)??? Hope that makes sense.
I never thought of this.........but I wonder why a 'big' minnow is preferred, but you use a 1/32 or 1/16 jig??? Clearly, the jig fishermen outfish me and my minnows (but I enjoy minnow fishing), but there does seem to be a disparity in size of each.
And........I generally get #6 minnows....but #8's are ok. I have caught a lot of bigger fish on #6's.........those are usually the two sizes that are available at most bait stores that carry two sizes.
Oh, and I always hook through both lips. I have no good reason for that......just how I do it. It works when it works, and it doesn't when it doesn't. :fish
I have a fairly large "minnow vat" I got from Cabela's years ago, made by Weston. They are obsolete now. I had a big aerator on top, but it burnt out, and they are obsolete too. So I just use a regular aerator with tubes down into the vat. I keep minnows 99% alive any time of year except when it's above 93 degrees or so, for most of the day. Then nothing seems to work, short of ice every two hours, which I can't do. Even if it's hot, I can keep them mostly alive for a day or so. Put ONE aspirin in the minnows, and they'll be heartier. (Probably have fewer heart attacks too!!! :biggrin
I seldom use anything smaller than 1/8 jighead. I use MEATGETTER's Spanky and Southern Pro Umbrella Tubes on a 1/8 jighead about 90% of the time . I use a 1/4 oz when needed over 25' deep in winter fishing. Here it is common to find Shad in Crappie's belly that are 3 to 4'' and longer . I can't see them refusing 2'' jigs because they are too big. Like that #2 hook for swinging the slabs in the boat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckrub
OK, thanks. Was just something this post made me think of.