Posted: 6/9/04

All about minnows

Steve Carney
Guest Writer

Every angler knows the importance of minnows as bait during the first couple of weeks of the inland season. There is no bait better during this cold water period than a minnow adorned on a jig or on a livebait rig. Here are the basics on the use of the different varieties of minnows available to todayís angler and some tactics that will work when applied properly.

Shine minnows

Although these minnows are quite expensive, nothing puts walleyes in the boat faster than a jig N shiner. Most of the walleyes I catch in the spring are usually coughing up shiners as these minnows are very common roaming the shallows in spring. At $7 a dozen, most anglers avoid this choice. I firmly believe in shiners so much that I always have at least a dozen or so on every outing just in case. Keep in mind you can reuse your leftover shiners by freezing them in a ziplock bag and save them for another day on the water.Look for the midsize shiner, whether you prefer the golden or the silver variety. My favorite size is about two to three inches long.

Chubs

This minnow is the hardiest of the larger minnows and dynamite all season long. These minnows keep well in an oxygenized container or plastic bag and work great from the opener to the end of the season. Because these minnows are normally quite large, a livebait rig and long leader make the chub deadly on walleyes and northerns regardless of depths. I have dropped large chubs into water as deep as 54 feet and they behave normally and can take the stress much than shiners. Chubs are the best overall minnow when you weigh price and longevity.

Fatheads

These are the most common minnow day in and day out. At $1.50 a dozen, these are the mainstay of most anglers. I like fatheads when the walleyes are on a ìtearî and they arenít particular that day. There are days like that. When fish are fussy always start with a shiner or chub and then move to fatheads when you have located active fish. It is always a good idea to spice up your dull fatheads with a piece of plastic if you use a jig, this little tidbit can trigger walleyes when a plain fathead fails. Donít forget to mix up your fatheads and get a variety of body sizes when you scoop your dozens. Sometimes walleyes will show a preference for a crappie sized fathead instead of the typical three incher. It is best to give them a few different looks and let the walleyes decide.

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