What to do?

[crappiencali]

I am in a pickle here and I was wondering if any of you have any suggestions. Out here in the area of California I am in finding minnows is like trying to fine a glass of ice water down in well you get the point. I know for a fact if I could get hold of some I would knock the crappie dead. Thought about going to a pet store and getting some guppies or whatever. But at the same time I don't want to introduce something that isn't normally found in water system here. What should I do? Should I just stick to using wax worms and jigs or what? Any help would be appreciated.

[Speck]

Could you get a minnow trap and bait it with a piece of bread and set it for and hour or so in a local creek or lake. This usually works for me and your using local forage that the crappie are used to.

[Crazyhorse420]

Check your local laws. In louisiana you can use a cast net to catch baitfish. Works great for us. 2 or 3 casts and we usually have enough minnows for a few hours of fishing.

[crappiencali]

Most of the creeks are so small that they don't hold anything, and in this lovely (not) state you cannot use a cast net.

[MoSam]

I would try the minnow trap with 1/2 a slice of bread in it. Set minnow trap fish with jigs for about an hour -- check trap and start fishing with minnows. Are there no bait shops out there in cali? Not trying to be a smart *$$, I have never been there and don't know. Good luck

[crappiencali]

There are bait shops here but the don't carry minnows. Usually just nightcrawlers, meal worms, and crawfish.

[NIMROD]

I am in a pickle here and I was wondering if any of you have any suggestions. Out here in the area of California I am in finding minnows is like trying to fine a glass of ice water down in well you get the point. I know for a fact if I could get hold of some I would knock the crappie dead. Thought about going to a pet store and getting some guppies or whatever. But at the same time I don't want to introduce something that isn't normally found in water system here. What should I do? Should I just stick to using wax worms and jigs or what? Any help would be appreciated.

Better check the California regulations close. Some areas real specific on using live bait.

[wrwest]

Dave
Where in CAli are you located. The regs can change from lake to lake in Cali. One of the lake I fish Is Lopez, and the valley folks bring there own bait (minnows) with them. I don't know if it legal, will have to research it.

[fishdoc]

i fish with whatever it takes to catch'em(legally). ain't never been to cali. is the water super clear? if not you can catch them on jigs! if it is super clear you can catch'em on really small jigs. but we still have them "should'a brought minnows" days everywhere.

[lee s.]

The baitshop in Petaluma carries minnows. Several shops around Clearlake carry minnows.