Anyone every used goldfish to catch crappie?

My grandpa used them on trot lines when I stayed the summers with him on Lake LBJ. I will tell you we had some of the largest crappie I've ever seen on there. And no we didn't keep them.

I use to use them, they didn't work any better than minnows, sometimes I think worse. Goldfish have ick don't know if that has anything to do with it. But don't know ...

They are illegal in New Mexico. Use to be OK for bait, in some trout lakes like Bluewater they took over, I guess the trout made friends with them and didn't eat them. I doubt that would happen in bass lakes.

But the good thing is that tiger muskies are now in those lakes, and they like goldfish and trout. LOL

Thanks Guy's for your responses. I was just reading some stuff and saw someone mentioned goldfish as bait. I also checked and saw that they can be cheaper than the cost of minnows in the area I fish. Thanks again.

Put a dozen gold fish in a jar with lid that has holes
Tie a string an lower to depth you wish.

Two things happen
1. that many gold fish in a jar will bounce off the sides
and create a noise that game fish will be attrated too.


2. The flashes of the gold fish with that many is hard to resist
called attention getter.

That is an interesting idea. I have gold fish in my pond that are not doing much of anything. Hmmm.

feeder goldfish from the petsmart might work , they are pretty small and cheap

Id just get the feeder rosy reds at petsmart if thats where the goldfish are comin from.

i have no idea it was just a thought .....i
never used a goldfish in my entire 50 years of fishing

You are likely to attract the attention of that big flathead who is lurking near your brushpile if you do. Not that it is a bad thing. loosen your drag a bit tho.

hahaha yep and hope and pray the light line dont give .....

Another trick
Save fish scales, and freeze them in ice cubes (dont tell wife)

Throw out 1 ice cub and as it melts the scales will flutter
down shimmering in the sun or night light and the smell will
attract crappie.

Wait about 15 minutes before throwing out another ice cube

I have and have caught some big fish with them also.
Take a look:



This was from last winter,deep water.

Those feeder gold fish work great. Petco has them for .13 ea.