Don't know if this has been discusssed recently or not, but thought I'd open up a thread. I'm not a avid minnow fisherman, but every now and then, I may go to the darkside (jig fisherman's term for fishing a minnow :))...just wondering how to hook them? Are there times when you hook them different? Are there times when fish will hit a dead minnow? Do you prefer large, or small minnows? etc.

vertical without movement.. behind the top fin along the spine.

if I think I will be movign the minnow. thru the lips...

Through the back, behind the dorsal, being careful to avoid the spine, in a vertical situation (from the bank or fishing brush from a boat), with a heavy split shot close to the hook (about 6" - this helps un-snag your bait). Yes, dead minnows work great. Think about it - a dead minnow is more lifelike than a jig! I used to throw out the dead ones - now I keep them and catch crappie on them regularly. A local guide told me that some of the biggest crappie come off of dead minnows. I prefer small minnows, but...

I use 3 places and through the lips is the worst for me as they come off easy. Tight lining I use 2 and one is as above mentioned through the back just under the dorsal and I like that because you feel the minnow much easier when you want to see if he's still on by just raising you rod a bit. The other I use for trolling and tight lining is through the eyes being careful to avoid the dark area or he dead. Through the eyes may be the best of all since they stay on well.

I prefer smaller minnows mostly because they still work and you get more when buying by the 1/4, 1/2 or 1 pound. However I still like a mix OK too. If all they have is large I will take them, but it is not my preference.

Absolutely hate buying them by the dozen!

I hook 100% of my minnows through the lips. Come up through the bottom lip, and out the top lip...not too far back or you will kill it.

I fish minnows on a drop-shot rig like this with no problems. I use the Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp #2 hook with this rig.

To me, the minnow swims as natural as possible in the water...that's why I do it this way

I use all the above methods as well...just depends if I'm moving or sitting still....plus I cahnge it up to see what works for the fish

Tightline trolling, through the lips. Under a slip bobber, through the eyes.

circle hook through the bottom lip

I usually hook 'em through the lips, sometimes under the dorsal fin. Haven't tried it through the eyes, good thinkin' . Thanks.

-Al

Great info guys....got another question now. I saw where one person mentioned a split shot weight about 6" above the hook. Anyone else use weights above/below the hook(s)? Any particular size(s) in certain conditions? Any particular length from the hook in special circumstances. You guys have been great with the information --- I've learned alot already.

thanks again...

I use the honor system. I don't actually stick the hook into the minnow. I wrap the minnow around the bend in the hook.

I hook them through the bottom lip and out the head right through the brain so it will kill the minnow fairly quick. That keeps the minnow from swimming away after you catch a fish. You can dip it up an use it again fairly easy. After the head tears up, we pull the head off and hook them through the bottom of the stomach and out through the back just back from where the head was. On the third and following fish we keep dropping back. The last hooking is usually through the harder part of the tail. The bigger trophy fish usually come after the head is torn off. Yesterday we had 60 big keeper crappie on 3 dozen minnows in 2 hours and 15 minutes. I can't believe how many people I meet that don't know to do this. Most seem to think that the minnow has to be alive and swimming. My reply is "does the person that told you that make a living catching crappie?"

I do the same as Duck_Jerky. The lips give the minnow a more natural swimming look. I use a 1/4 weight below the hook about 15" with about a 5" loop, run the loop through the eye and spread the loop go over the shank and twist and go back over the shank. After about 6 twist just cench it up tight. this works great and easy to do.

If I'm strictly tightlinin' with my minner' or underneath a cork, then I hook em' usually once through the back just below the dorsal fin (not too deep or you'll kill em'), then bring the hook back through. That way, if you get a hit and miss the fish, your minner doesn't always get stolen (caught several that way, even if the minner' is near dead after the first hit).

If i'm tipping a jig-head with a minner and flipping/jigging around, I do it through the eyes, because it looks more natural and doesn't come off as easy like going through the lips (I lose em' the fastest when it's through the lips).

My .02.

In addition to the many ways described, I will pinch off part of the tail (bottom or top). This makes the minnow swim somewhat erratic like it's wounded and therefore easy prey.