Fishing for Bass with Minnows

[MJack]

I fish for bass mainly with artificial lures. But I do occasionally use minnows with a bobber. I’m curious, if you do as well, what kind and size of rod and hook do you use? How do you approach hook setting with minnows on? Just reel, hard hook set, or just raise your rod to set the hook? Thanks!!

[flyfisher]

I use a baitcaster that is usually a 7' MHF with whatever line is on there at the time.  Slip bobber and bobber stop to adjust depth and a circle hook of the right size for the size of the minnow.  With circle hooks there is no need to set hard just a reel and pull in the slack and a gentle sweep does the job as a hard hook set will pull it right out of their mouth.  The circle hook also prevents deep hooks on the live bait.  This is for largemouth and i have never done it for smallies.

[TnRiver46]

6 lb line I use a jig head or a split shot and small hook. I never bobber 

 

Size of rod is just tie it onto to the lightest rod I’ve got with me 

[PressuredFishing]

If 2-3 inch minnows, expecially crappie minnows seem to swim best on lighter smaller hooks and line. Using heavier line and or big hooks seems to handicap their swimming

[throttleplate]

Yes to minnows as i just started using them again the past 2 months. I also use gulp live minnows.

I use ballhead jigs so the hook is exposed and i also catch alot of walleye on the same jig and walleye have bony mouths so i would say i give it a good whiplash.

Also catch muskie on the same jig fishing for smallies. Check out the muskie i caught on the ballhead jig fishin for bass.

I set the hook pretty hard on it and looks to have caught a soft spot in her mouth. The rod i use is a 7 ft berkley cherrywood med slow tip. I use it because i can cast thoses light jigs and bobbers out pretty far with 30lb braid 832 and snelled 20 lb abrasix leader.

 

[bowhunter63]

I use minnows to, Sometimes i use a lindy rig with a floating jig head. Smallies crush them on the river in the fall. 

 

[Bankbeater]

I use either a mh/f or a h/f.  Catfish will hit a minnow under a bobber also.