Best way to hook minnow

[crappieseeker]

anchorpuller, I've done the same thing with a minnow before and also have caught them when they are feeding on my dead minnows.

[Tommy]

I generally hook them through the eyes, but move the hook around. Try hooking them in the lips, which i do anyway when tipping a jig, or below the dorsal. I have seen hook position make a difference in the past and more than on one or two ocassions.

[King Crappie]

lip hook here been doing that for a long time and still call myself a crappie fishermen... lol My partner always hooks his in the dorsil fin and does fine too

[BANDIT]

I have tried them all, but usually hook them through the lips.

[boat49]

I hook em first thru the lips, then thru the eyes, then behind the eyes,then under the dorsal fin. Several times this has allowed 5 to be caught with 6 holding at the record. I do this using a #2 circle hook which I have been using almost exclusively for 2 yrs now. Virtually eliminated swallowed hooks and they practically set themselves.

[rango]

I hook them through the eye sockets most of the time.
If I'm drifting, I'll hook up the "v" and out the lips.
If they are hitting like crazy (like in the spring) I'll hook em the first time in the eyes, then behind the dorsal fin through the back and the third time through the tail. Now about the third time, there is no head to speak of left, but the crappie don't care! My personal record is 5 crappie on one minnow. :p

you sound like my wife. she will use a minnow over and over till they aint nothing left but the head hangin on the hook. and she keeps catching fish....

[Bushrod]

Here's what I've learned from Grandpaw and Dad: if you hook a minnow behind the dorsal fin, it will swim towards the surface...if you hook it in front of the dorsal fin, it will swim towards the bottom...whichever way you hook 'em near the dorsal fin, do not set the hook too deep, or you risk paralyzing the minnow..... if you hook it thru the eyes, it will stay on the hook better, but dies quicker...just CAREFULLY hook the minnow thru the bottom jaw just behind the lip, then run the point out thru the upper jaw just behind the lip...I find they stay lively longer this way, and present a more realistic approach to the predator....have caught most of my fish with this method...hope it helps....

Bushrod

[crappieken]

Steve Wunderle in his book "Advanced Crappie Secrets" has discussed this subject in great detail. Briefly, he states that a lip hooked minnow is the best way to keep a minnow on the hook. Also, he found they are more active when lip hooked. In his research he compared activity level and how well the minnow stayed on the hook when hooked through the lips, through the eyes, and behind the dorsal fin.