I use fatheads mostly but have used small Shinners and chubs.
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I use fatheads mostly but have used small Shinners and chubs.
I use small Crappie minnows. I do trap my own often so sometimes I throw in some creek chubs.
Fatheads/Tuffies or whatever the local outlet calls them. If I'm using a jig, I'll run the hook from under the "chin" and out between the nostrils for live ones, and in the mouth and out behind the head for recently dead ones. If I'm using a regular hook, I'll run the hook behind the eyeballs, making sure not to puncture the eyeballs.
I was taught to run the hook just under the dorsal fin, back when I was a kid fishing with my Grandparents. I later on learned about tail hooking, and even hooking them in the back & clipping off their tail fin to make them wiggle but not be able to move very far. Then I learned that you could hook one thru the eye socket on a jig and make the minnow struggle more trying to get upright. But, for most of the last 40yrs or so I've just been hooking them as first mentioned. But, I've never "lip hooked" a minnow, thinking that fish seemed to be able to knock the minnow off easily enough hooked the other ways mentioned, so why make it even easier ?? :dono :Rofl
anyone use branch minnows, I have a small branch that runs through my property that has minnows in it
I use small minnows, creek chubs etc. I use minnow baskets with a cheap hod dog or a cheap small container of dog or cat food secured inside. I use the dollar packs of hot dogs form the dollar store. I zip tie the container to the basket and poke holes in the foil.
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Shiners for me!
I use rosie reds which are a color phase of a fathead
Top of the morning to you !
I thought I was going to jump in and say, find out what is in the local waters naturally and use those. Before writing I like to do a little research, I found a whole lot more than I bargained for?
For fun I googled my local area, north Florida and here is what I got.................... I had no idea there were so many different kinds ...... Salt water fishing was a bit easier with shrimp and mullet ........ This could be a real challenge :)
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That is a large list of minnows.
I use whatever the bad shop has. If we keep this up I might want to start trapping some.
Rosy red minnows if I can get them......
I have only gotten a few of them. Certainly doesn't take long for them to get bit
Man what a minnow list, hard to keep up with all those types.
I buy and stock #4 Emerald Shiners. They seem to do well on their own or on the end of a jig hook. They need a insulated minnow bucket, quality air stone and air pump upgrade if your in the heat to keep them alive. The Sure-Life tablets work wonders too.
I prefer the larger #8 grade shiners but I have a few friends that want the larger "bass" minnows. They consistently catch larger than average crappie with them.
For open water Fishing it's medium sized Shiners if the Bait store doesn't have Herring. Herring is my first choice. Fatheads and small Shiners thru the ice. I use a #1 Nickel or Bronze Aberdeen Hook and one or two medium sized split shot. The light wire pulls it through snags well. The gap opens up and I get the Rig back. My brother and I tie up Spinner Rigs with small Beads and size 0 or 1 Colorado Blades that sometimes make a huge difference in catch rate. Attraction to the big eye Crappie.