Thread: I'm going to start using a new bait

Minners!!

I found a used 55 aquarium with all the fixings for a reasonable price. I figure I can go out of my way every once in a while and get a gross or so. When I want to go fishing, I can scoop up a few dozen and I'm on my way. I hope this solves the minnow availability dilemma in my area.

I used to breed and raise tropical fish. I hope that experience will enable me to keep minnows alive for at least a few weeks until they are used and it is time to go buy more. If not, I have a nice tank in my garage to keep a couple of bluegill or crappie for fun.

I've been meaning to do the same for a while. We use minnows a lot and I waste a bunch. That should work out great.

Hey Pan I do the same thing. I found that keeping the tank directly on the cold basement floor works well for maintaining cool temps. I also discovered it's a good matter of who you get those minners from. I have a dealer in Winchester who puts some blue stuff in the water and they last indefintely, and the ones I get from the county marinas don't last 3 days. Just get that amonia under control and you'll do fine.

My 2 cents, I'll be quiet now.

I have not done it yet, but I'm prepared to add ammonia absorbing crystals in with the charcoal if it becomes a problem. There are two filters on the tank; a Whisper 40 and a Magnum 350 canister filter. I figure that is enough to keep the water clean.

I use to dump leftover minnows in the wife's fish pond, and put wild caught misquito fish in there. They would get nice and fat from the koi food, and were adapted to the weather. The wild minnows seemes to work better as bait they have a nice wiggle.

hey Keith I use the crystals in my tropical tank and I find I still need to test and adjust the ammonia levels. With them minners its gonna be ammonia on steroids.

I got the tank online Tuesday and did the initial water treatment. Tonight, I checked pH, ammonia, and nitrites. Here are the results:

pH 7.6 :D

ammonia 0 ppm :D

nitrites 0 ppm :D

While I was at the pet store picking up the supplies to check water quality, I also bought two dozen rosy red feeder minnows and two large feeder goldfish (total cost for the fish - $2.50). The minnows are an experiment to see if I can keep them alive and see how fast the pH does down - ammonia/nitrites go up. The goldfish are to eat the food the minnows leave behind. I also want to see how fast these minnows grow. They are presently too small to use for fishing and they were under fed at the pet store. I gave them their fill and they are as happy as they can be (clean and well balanced water, food, and plenty of oxygen). The next step is to fatten them up so they can go and catch some crappie for me. I'm still looking for books on how to train minnows to go out and do that. One thing is certain; they will be able to accomplish their task with ease as they will be in great shape from swimming in the current.

It looks like I can keep a hundred minnows or so ready to go fishing with me at a moments notice. Time will tell.

I'm still looking for books on how to train minnows to go out and do that

Don't joke. I've had trained minnows. Shiners that actually knew what the jar of tetra flakes looked like from their side of the glass. And just like my tropicals they started swarming and weaving getting all crazy waiting on the big moment. It only took 3 weeks to condition them like Pavlovs dogs.

Originally Posted by backtocrappie

Don't joke. I've had trained minnows. Shiners that actually knew what the jar of tetra flakes looked like from their side of the glass. And just like my tropicals they started swarming and weaving getting all crazy waiting on the big moment. It only took 3 weeks to condition them like Pavlovs dogs.

The ones I have in the tank are like a pack of wolves when I raise the cover to feed them. They eat very well.