Printable View
Is there a preferred minnow for catching crappie ? One of our local bait shops sell minnows he catches locally'they are fairly dull colored.Im not sure what breed they are,but I'm thinking there may be better varieties ( eye appeal ) than the mud hole minnows he sells.
Most sell either Fathead minnows or Shiners ... but, sometimes Bluntnose or Rosey Red minnows can be had (depending on regional location).
Which variety your man is selling could depend on if he's getting them out of a creek or pond ... and if they're native to your waters or bought from a wholesaler (fish farm).
I "believe" that the Fathead minnow is probably the most used minnow sold through "baitshops" that are supplied by fish farms.
The baitshop here only sells Fatheads and 2 sizes of Shiners.I get the Fatheads,they are cheaper and seem to work pretty good.I saw a video on YouTube where they were putting this dye into a bucket and coloring their minnows.It didn't seem to harm the minnows at all and they were bright chartreuse and blue when they were done.I'm not sure how much of a difference the color makes on livebait but it was a interesting video.
We use shiners here in Mississippi.....they come from bait farms in Arkansas
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
I would be very interested to hear more about this minnow coloring idea. Has anyone else seen or heard of this??Quote:
Originally Posted by ad1974
Or have a link to the video?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I believe I've been purchasing fat head minnows,( I will trap my own from this day forth) I would like to try shiners,I'm checking another bait shop tomorrow to see if they sell them.I was curious if emerald shiners were better, same,or not as good as fat heads,it is opinions I know,but courious none the less.
Hey Jman5626 if you go to YouTube just type in bait dye in the search box and a bunch of videos will pop up.I would do a link thing but I don't know how.
Thanks. This looks awesome! I'm Gona try it at some pointQuote:
Originally Posted by ad1974
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Many years ago I did this. They came out looking like goldfish. I seem to remember it was just food coloring. :donoQuote:
Originally Posted by Jman5626
I haven't found Shiners to be "better" than Fathead minnows. They are, however, the only choice in some cases, like when the minnow "dealer" (usually a marina) doesn't carry anything else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaker
I've found them to be less hardy (die quicker/easier) on the hook or in the bucket. Also found them to be "softer" ... allowing for damage to them by simple handling, and/or dying or coming off the hook easier.
I think their biggest "draw" is that they are often present in the waters where they're being sold, and that makes them "subject" to the idea that fish recognize them as their natural food source.
They are usually higher in price than "other" minnow species, when/where those other minnow species are also available for sale.
This is just my experiences & opinion ... from a limited amount of experience with Shiners as bait. Others may disagree, in accordance with their own experiences.
Most of the places I go to here in North Alabama have Tuffies and Shiners and everybody that I know uses the Tuffies don't really know what the difference is.
"Tuffies" are actually Fathead minnows ... (probably called "tuffy" - as in "tough" - because they are more hardy than the Shiner minnow species) :twocentsQuote:
Originally Posted by Javelin 180
There is a certain lake I fish every now and again that at times, the crappie seem to turn their nose up to regular minnows and only want rosey reds. My FIL was outfishing me very badly one afternoon until I figured out he had rosey reds in his bucket and I didn't. It isn't always like that, but certain times of the year they definitely seem to prefer them.
I'm gonna have me some Chartreuse and Black shiners! That sounds like a great idea...
Shiners for me.:fish
Thanks for all the info,I'm on my way to check on other varieties this morning.We are in the middle of much rain,preventing me from minnow trapping my own ( fat heads ) I may purchase a few of each just to satisfy my couriosity,but I'm feeling fat heads my be the best all around pick.
I managed to keep some left over fat heads alive in a bait bucket for two weeks now by changing the water every other day and arriating,now that's tough minnows!,I will use them in the morning.