Johnson Siver Minnow a lost lure??????/

[eyedabassman]

I would like to know if anyone still fish this lure? With all the high tech lures out there is this a lost lure in our tackle boxes? I still use it but not as much as I did in the past. I still put a pork trailer on or a grub.

If you still use it, where do you fish it and what trailers do you use? Maybe I will learn something new and fish it more this year!

[Raul]

I would like to know if anyone still fish this lure? With all the high tech lures out there is this a lost lure in our tackle boxes?

Most people don 't even have it in their boxes.

HEAVY METAL -----> !!!!!!!

[Davis]

Have it in my box. Didn't catch anything with it this past year. But I was experimenting with ways to use it. Tipping mine off with a mister twister grub.

[Rob G.]

I still use the Silver Minnow or sometimes the Miller Wobbler, they are very similar baits.  A lot of days when the fish are only slapping at a frog fished across pads or mats, they will inhale a metal spoon.  You can tip them with anything you like.  A Speed Craw displaces a lot of water.  You are right, metal spoons are largely forgotten lures, but still very effective.  I tie one on for novice fishermen that accompany me in the boat occassionally because they can be fished on top, or retrieved under the surface.  They are also pretty darned snag resistent, and strike to hook ratio is high.

[32251]

Just replaced one I lost.  Also picked up a BPS model with an eye and a design on it. Don't know if it will attract any more or not but it was interesting looking.  Classic lures are not that just for no reason.

[Avalonjohn44]

I keep 3 in my 'Panic Box' a silver, a gold, and a nickel colored one.  I wind up throwing them quite a bit.  They are excellent lures, and I don't even put a trailer on them.  

[.dsaavedra.]

i just picked up a nickel one at BPS a few days ago. they are pretty effective. most times i just swim em. sometimes i will let em fall to the bottom and rip em up like a dying shad.

[Guest avid]

I've lost count on how many bass I caught on a johnsons silver minnow with a #11 pork frog as a trailer.

But your right.  I own a number of these in silver, gold, and black and haven't thrown one in about 2 years.

Last time I used it I caught a nice bass on it.   It seems like they would be ideal for florida's shallow weedy lakes.   I dunno why I ain't throwd em.....guess I'm too purty to be smart  

[dale]

I use them alot over matted grass with pockets that I can let it flutter down in. My go to bait on the Hudson river in the chestnuts.

[Tokyo Tony]

I've always had several in my tacklebox beginning back when I was younger and used to go for redfish with a gold johnson's minnow.

This year I plan on using this bait a lot (in silver) in the slop, so we'll see how it goes.  I caught two bass on it last year and only used it once for about a half hour.  They were dinks though.

[Guest muddy]

This was on here not long ago, I had a few stashed and put them back in my tackle bag. There were good questions about simialr spoons and the issue about the large sized crappy hooks. Anyone find a good way of dealing with the hooks, short of sharpening them each outing?

[dave]

I have them and every year I say I'm going to fish them more.  I usually don't as much as I should.  Always liked to pull them off the edge of matted grass and flutter down.  I'll have to try to fish them more this year. (I've heard that some where before)

[.ghoti.]

This was on here not long ago, I had a few stashed and put them back in my tackle bag. There were good questions about simialr spoons and the issue about the large sized crappy hooks. Anyone find a good way of dealing with the hooks, short of sharpening them each outing?

I use Silver Minnows in weeds as often as I think about using them, which is not often enough. These are one bait I just can't seem to keep in mind. I used to use a pork frog; I think a #11, but now use a grub or part of a power worm most.

I've never really had a problem with the hooks. They do get dull, but a couple of swipes with a diamond sharpener will take care of that. I've never broken a hook on a silver minnow, so I don't know where the crappy reports come from.

I addition to weedbeds, I've found these to be good when fishing places like Table Rock, that have a lot of rock bottoms. With a 4" grub on the back for a little extra bouyancy, these baits will not get hung up in the rocks often. They are a good option for stair-stepping down a rock embankment. I got more smallies with this approach on one trip to the Rock, than with any other bait.

I wish the Rapala version was still available. I did very well with that bait.

Cheers,

GK

[Tokyo Tony]

Here's the other recent thread on this lure:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1198685745/0

[osbornj2]

I've never really used them much for bass (although I don't really know why not!), but we use them nearly exclusively on our annual Canadian trip, and the Northerns absolutely love to inhale them! We'll either cast them into the thickest weeds you can find, and sometimes we'll even troll them very slowly, and BAM !

I usually use something like a Zoom Horny Toad or a Sizmic Toad, or even any kind of 6" lizard as my trailer.  They have a lot of buoyancy so they come through the nastiest surface stuff like it's nothing!

Of course, you have to occasionally sharpen the hooks w/a diamond hone, but I've actually had much better hook-ups with the big single hook than other lures with large trebles.

Every year when we come home from Canada, I always say that I am going to try these bigger spoons (i.e. 1oz and 1 1/4 oz) for bass, but I never seem to do it...this year will be different

[Gone_Phishin]

I've never really used them much for bass (although I don't really know why not!), but we use them nearly exclusively on our annual Canadian trip, and the Northerns absolutely love to inhale them!

Couldn't agree more. I wouldn't go to Canada without several of these in my box.

Mepps makes a longer split double tail plastic trailer for the Timber Doodle. One of these in black/blue on a Silver Minnow really rings the dinner bell for pike and bass in these northern waters.

The chartreuse is dynomite for smallies.

[.dsaavedra.]

seems to me like this thing wouldnt go so smoothly over matted grass? seems like alot of weeds would still get caught on the hook. i must be wrong, seems like the most popular way of fishing them. i will have to try that sometime.

all of the silver minnows i've had have very dull hooks. i use a dremel tool to sharpen them.

[moby bass]

I agree about the hooks.  I bought one last season and it had the dullest hook I've ever seen.  I've tried sharpening it but its its still not satisfactory. A long, long way from sticky sharp. I've looked at other packages but can't tell if all the hooks are that way or if I just got a bad one.  Probably should have taken it back.

[dale]

in reguards to the hook issue... try a trailer hook just like on your spinner baits  

[Catt]

Since the last article I've done a little research and found the best hook to be on the Heddon Moss Boss & Nemire Red Ripper.

A trailer hook would kill the weedless bait theory  

[Tucson]

I have a couple in my box, always fish them with a trailer.  Used them a  lot when I was fishing in Florida but hardly every here in AZ, just not any lilypads to use them in.  

[eyedabassman]

I have a couple in my box, always fish them with a trailer. Used them a lot when I was fishing in Florida but hardly every here in AZ, just not any lilypads to use them in.

Tucson, I don't think this lure is just for Pads or weeds. I know on lakes like Table Rock Lake in MO. there are no weeds in at all, just rock and wood and they do real well fishing spoons so I would think that the silver minnow would work in your waters too. Don't give up on a great lure!!!!!!!!! :-?

[dale]

if you say so hope you can still keep your spinner and buzz baits weed free with a trailer hook... ;D