Live minnows

[TapDatBASS]

What is everyone favorite way to fish with live minnows. Where they have the hook placed and size hooks and type . Trying some new things with my 8 year old . Thanks in advance !

[Sam]

Suggestions to consider:

 

1. Purchase the larger medium or large size minnows. Easier to handle and place the hook in them.

2. You can hook them through their lips or under their backbone. Some hook them in front of their tail.

3.  Light line. 6 pound test is great but it twists so be ready to cut out the twists. Lower test will be a disaster for a child. 8-pound fluorocarbon on a spinning rig would be great!

4.  Use a small gold bream hook. You can have the type with a long shaft or a shorter shaft. I like the long shaft as they are easier to remove.

5.  Have a needle nose pliers to remove the hook from the fish.

6.  Use a light 5'-4" rod for the child.

7.  A Zebco may be the answer for the child. Once they get the hang of it they can cast away after you bait the hook.

8.  You don't need a weight for live minnows unless you want them to sink to the bottom. The hook and minnow weight should be enough weight.

9.  Remember, children have short attention spans so you want action. This is why you use live minnows. Plus the fact that they can watch them swim around and they can put their hands in the minnow bucket.

 

Post pics. Have fun.

[WRB]

Live bait fishing questions tend to get bass anglers going off on tangents.

Youngbkigs aren't attentive every second they are fishing, especially soaking live minnows. 

My suggestion is use size 6 light wire circle hooks to prevent gut hooking fish.

FC line isn't needed.

Dropper rig works good, basically a drop shot with the hook on a 3"-4" loop of line in lieu of tied direct to the line.

Tom

[NHBull]

My 2 yr old grandson want to fish and yes I know to young, so this weekend minors in one well and armed with a minnow net, the goal is to catch them and get them in the other well.

 

Think I am looking forward to it more than he......

 

edit, sorry to the OP for going off topic

[Mbirdsley]

I don’t know if your fishing a lake, river, or where about you are from. Anyway, a zebco style reel and ugly stick  is good idea.  8 lbs test and I’d put a leader on it because, a live minnow could be drawing in mr. Northern or other toothy fish as well . If your fishing a lake put the bobber right after the leader (2-3 foot leader), put a split shot on the leader.  For this I like trebles or octopus/circle hooks.  I wouldn’t put it to deep. I’ve had bass hit it that shallow in 8-10 foot of water

 

if fishing a river I’d use a egg sinker,swivel 2-3 foot of line and than trebles or octopus/circle hooks.

 

if available golden shiners are my favorite they are larger and very hardy.  If no Golden’s I guess match the hatch as best you can.  I have caught monster bass this way. 

[greentrout]

2 hours ago, TapDatBASS said:

What is everyone favorite way to fish with live minnows. Where they have the hook placed and size hooks and type . Trying some new things with my 8 year old . Thanks in advance !

i only use live minnows for crappie fishing...works great...good fishing...

[tcbass]

I fished a lake known for big bass only got 1 bite.

 

 

Spoke to a friend who's fished there before and he said you need a sucker minnow and big bobber just like your northern fishing. 

 

 

I never went back to try it but I believe him.

[Bluebasser86]

I use a #6 gamakatsu octopus hook through the lips under a bobber. I really only use them when the water is extremely cold. Sitting and staring at a bobber and waiting for a bite loses a young kids attention really quickly. I like to give my son something he can cast and reel so he can constantly be doing something, keeps his attention much longer. 

[jr231]

X3 on the bigger minnows for bass. If not you'll be catching all the gills and whatever else (maybe crappie ?) . 

 

Hooking them through the mouth allows the minnow to live longer, if you're on the fish though.... It shouldn't matter much. 

 

[tcbass]

18 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I use a #6 gamakatsu octopus hook through the lips under a bobber. I really only use them when the water is extremely cold. Sitting and staring at a bobber and waiting for a bite loses a young kids attention really quickly. I like to give my son something he can cast and reel so he can constantly be doing something, keeps his attention much longer. 

 

 

Ironically we did a lot of bobber fishing as a kid....taught us patience.....however, if they are really young, bobber fishing with active and aggressive fish like sunnies is a good idea.

[thinkingredneck]

Bringing back some fond memories of my kids'childhood.   Have fun.