Minnows

[BigEAZY]

What's the proper way to hook a minnow?banghead

[thunderstick]

try Aberdeen fishing hook the thin wire hooks and hook them through the lips from bottom to top lip just below the eye's. your trying to miss the brains. this will make them live a little longer.

[CrappiePappy]

What's the proper way to hook a minnow?banghead

There are several ways to hook a minnow, any one of which is "proper" depending on the way it's intended to be fished.

Thru the lips (actually from under the throat & up between the nostrils)
Thru the eye socket (behind the eyeball, not thru it)
Under the dorsal fin (between the top back fin & backbone)
In the tail (above the backbone)

... cp

[rnvinc]

For spider riggin or slow trolling.. Thru the eyes or the lips so as to not be dragging the minnow backwards thru the water..

Rickie

[Blackhawk19]

I hook them thru the lips as stated and then after catching a fish if he still alive but the lips torn bad I hook them under the dorsal and catch another. Makes my minnows last longer.

[superdave67]

I hook them thru the lips as stated and then after catching a fish if he still alive but the lips torn bad I hook them under the dorsal and catch another. Makes my minnows last longer.

Hmmm...good idea! I tossed a couple today cause they were to torn up to rehook.
I'll give that a try next time!

[BigEAZY]

Thanks guys

[mutedblade]

Try hooking them in front of the eyes. This has worked for me and the minnow will swim to its hearts desire all day long if something doesn't gobble it up first!

[shipahoy41]

I use a slip float a lot so I hook mine under the dorsal fin. Seems to me like the last longer. Be sure the exposed point of the hook is facing the head since most predator Crappies attack the head of the minnow. If I was trolling I'd hook them behind the eye socket. Most important thing is have confidence in what you are doing and then get them in the water where a Crappie can find them.

[Crappie Reaper]

I'll hook them in all the above ways. I also use my dead minnows to tip a jig to boot. There have been times that the Crappie will hit a dead minnow before they'll strike a live one. I guess those are the days your jig should remain as still as possible.