When do I use minnows under a float rather than a jig only for fishing laydown trees or underwater brush?
Or for casting and retrieving?
Are minnows are a "go to" if there's no bite without them?
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When do I use minnows under a float rather than a jig only for fishing laydown trees or underwater brush?
Or for casting and retrieving?
Are minnows are a "go to" if there's no bite without them?
For me it's the water temp. Right now where I'm fishing the water is in the 30's so bait is the ticket for bites. Once the fish start spawning movements than it will be jigs no bait. If the fish are chasing the jigs than no minnows but when they get tight lipped I'll use minnows. I prefer just a minnow and hook no jig. Sometimes the jig will spook the fish. Nothing like a minnow allowed to swim free to insight a bite from a nutral fish.
Personally, I very rarely use minnows. If I do its usually when I am fishing with a buddy and he bought the minnows and the bite is really light/ slow.
Also its usually cold water, fishing just outside or over the top of cover using floats.
The lakes and rivers I fish have a lot of cover so once the water warms up and they bit more aggressive I prefer to use only a jig with no float and a 11 or 12 ft pole so I can run my rod tip down to the jig ( when shallow enough ) to unhook it when I get hung up.
I have not used minnows in forty years. Long live the jig!
Try the jig first. If no luck , for sure crappie will take a live bait over a jig.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
Remember minnows cost alot these days or you can catch your own with a TOP OF THE LINE trap.
Just have fun and ask lots of questions from us old guys.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan petrie
Not worth it, IMO. See more here:
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/live...ml#post3740731
I kinda enjoy trying different baits and techniques.I would never claim one bait would out fish another,but I did out fish two fellows using minnow's,I was using a beetle spin with a non beetle,but then again,I have been on the other end also.
Best to always have both. When they won't bite the jigs then try the minnows. Even the pro's use minnows in tournaments(wonder why!) they are natural food. I will be looking forward to seeing your reports and fish pictures in the near future.:twocents
Like Deathb4disco said- I am a jig man, 40years here also! With the new look alike minnow bodies and other real life looking jig bodies, I catch all I want. P.S- I do not hate minnows, just prefer the jigs.
Set you up a minnow tank for unused minnows. I started with about 4 dozen a year ago and there are better than 9-10 dozen. I just used a coy pond pump and a stock tank. I have the middle divided with minnows on one side and perch and Creek chubs on the other.
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There is a poll on what people prefer to use here on the forums.
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/main...ve-techniques/
Would be nice to expand it a bit to include things like weather, water temperature, water clarity, type of water body, depth of thermocline, etc.
I have fished all my life and prefer artificial to live bait. Even
though few times of the year the edge will be live baits,I still prefer
artificial. I can fish all day with jigs etc and at end of day I personally
am satisfied that I gave it my best. And sometimes the fish challenges
us and it just makes fishing more fun
I’ve bought minnows once in 5 years, and they didn’t do well that day. Just sayin......
Some times yes minnow. There are times on Docks in deep cold water in winter a minnow is the ticket.
Minnows will put fish on the table. Jigs will to
My plan each year . Jan deer hunt . Feb, rabbit hunt . March /April jig fish . May/ June , spider rig and catfish river . July/August/ Sept. Pull cranks . Nov. squirrel hunt . Dec. deer hunt . Rest of the time I loaf . lol This is pretty much true if weather is not messing it up .