Minnows

[sds888]

Heck I’m not sure what category to put this under but here it goes. I’m having trouble with a lot of fish just basically sucking the minors right off my hook. Using the same #2 eagle claw hooks been always using for years on other lakes with no problem. This is a new Lake. The bobber will jiggle a little bit or go under for a split second then the minnow is gone. Not even time to set my hook. Esp fishing several rods. Have hooked the minnow both through the lips and through the back behind the fin. Neither way make any difference. What ya got out there they may help me out? Thanks

[deathb4disco]

The bobber will jiggle a little bit or go under for a split second then the minnow is gone.

Use better floats. This is a good one:

https://www.fishusa.com/product/Thil...hy-Bite-Floats

[CrappiePappy]

Sounds to me like BLUEGILL are grabbing the minnow and diving, pulling the float under. I always hook my minners through the eye socket (behind the eyeballs) when using a regular hook. When using a jig, I hook them from under the "chin" and out between the nostrils. Actually "lip hooking" a minner is just asking for the slightest tap, of any sized fish, to knock it off the hook.

Now, don't get me wrong ... Bluegill can and do get minners off the hook, even when hooked thru the eye sockets. And if they don't get it off, they peck at it until they kill it ... usually at the eyes and side fins. When a float disappears in a flash, or is jerked under the surface and then starts to come right back up ... that's generally a sign of a Bluegill bite. Crappie bites are usually a gradual steady pulling down of the float. Even small Crappie can inhale a 2-3" minner, but a small Bluegill can't, so it tries to peck it to death, first, then it can nip & peck until it tears the minner apart & can get the pieces in its mouth. That's my observations, anyway.

[sds888]

Thanks Pappy that makes total sense. This Lake is not known for its crappie but they have been caught and I’m trying to dial in on them. It would be easier to just drive 15 miles to the lake I’m use to but I live on this one now so might as well as make the best of it.


Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Bassing_53]

try hooking minnow your normal way but take a short piece of light line and a small treble hook. hook the treble just in front of tail of minnow(stinger hook). Maybe this will get those short bites so you can find out what's taking bait

[thinkingredneck]

Use worms and smaller hooks and fry up some blue gill!

[Techno2000]

Heck I’m not sure what category to put this under but here it goes. I’m having trouble with a lot of fish just basically sucking the minors right off my hook. Using the same #2 eagle claw hooks been always using for years on other lakes with no problem. This is a new Lake. The bobber will jiggle a little bit or go under for a split second then the minnow is gone. Not even time to set my hook. Esp fishing several rods. Have hooked the minnow both through the lips and through the back behind the fin. Neither way make any difference. What ya got out there they may help me out? Thanks

Maybe you could use a small 1/64 popeye jig and try and catch both bluegill and crappies .

[footballcoach]

I'm with Pappy. Don't believe your getting crappie bites. Crappie open that big mouth flair those gills and get that minner. When they get it they don't want to let go

[sparkie51]

If I was in your situation I would go with a much smaller bait and hook. I know your from the south but there is no way that I would ever fish with a hook as big as your using. Get the smallest minnow you can get and match the hook to the bait size.

[GreenLine]

Sounds to me like BLUEGILL are grabbing the minnow and diving, pulling the float under. I always hook my minners through the eye socket.

X2 ^^