I want to throw my minnow bucket away!!!!!!!

[Retired2Fish]

The guy that runs the bait shop here guarantees his minnows to catch crappie or die trying.

[DockShootinJack]

The guy that runs the bait shop here guarantees his minnows to catch crappie or die trying.

I have seen that sign. Certainly catchy

[Grainraiser]

I switched over to jigs around 10 years ago but I almost always have minnow bucket in the boat. Sometimes live bait is all they want.

[deathb4disco]

The guy that runs the bait shop here guarantees his minnows to catch crappie or die trying.

Jigs are immortal.

[DockShootinJack]

I switched over to jigs around 10 years ago but I almost always have minnow bucket in the boat. Sometimes live bait is all they want.

I will shoot jigs under docks and boats all day long just hoping to find some willing participants willing to take a jig. If I am going to set up on a brush pile or a tree top I am having minnows out. Especially at night. I will use jig in combination with the minnows. If I wish to use jigs

[Slab]

Jigs are immortal.

Not really. Stick one on wood 10 ft down, and he gone!

[shipahoy41]

Not really. Stick one on wood 10 ft down, and he gone!

That is what happened to Bubba 20 years ago. Last time I used a minnow. Bubba was a cool minnow. I would put him on a line and he always came back to me until that day, It was cool and overcast in Ohio that day. I took Bubba for a swim in a stake bed on Wingfoot Lake. A big Crappie was also swimming at Wingfoot Lake that day. Bubba was having fun when suddenly my rod bent. Old Sam the Crappie was swimming away with Bubba. Oh yeah! I caught Old Sam that day. Showed Old Sam to the bait shop owner too. Evidently there was a bounty on his head for repeatedly stealing bait and getting away. My reward was three packs of soft plastic lures.

I missed him so much I started using hair jigs and soft plastic lures in his memory. I still use artificial lures in Bubba's memory. As for Old Sam, it was catch, grease and hot sauce bath. He sure tasted great in my belly. That is my story and I am sticking to it! If you believe it then no proof is necessary. If you don't believe it then no proof will be sufficient.



Mike

[DockShootinJack]

Good story Mike

[DrNip]

If it’s what you enjoy then keep doing it but I would also start to venture out and try different techniques.

I have one lake I never leave my minnow bucket at the house. Something about that lake 9 times out of 10 they want a minnow. Everywhere else I don’t take them unless I’m going for a weekend and struggles with artificial bait. I mostly dip with a 10’ rod but do cast a weedless jig to them with a plastic. This year is the 1st year I dedicated myself to using hand ties. Up to this year I never had confidence in them and never caught a fish on one. Now it’s the 1st thing I try and has caught me the most fish this year.

[Chuck Adams]

Went yesterday and did somewhat of a test.
Yes, took minnows just in case.
Caught bunch of fish with my usual technique of pushing double minnow rigs.
After finding a couple piles in heavy brush I broke out the crappie nibbles with hand tied 1/16 oz jigs. Had pink, white, and chart laid out to harden up. Slab sauce too.
Caught a few but the fish aren’t chasing bait very far around here yet.
Water temp around 68.
I then started tipping the jigs with the smaller minnows and I believe I caught more that way.
The fish that were suspended thick in the brush and tree lay downs were not doing much even when you put the jig in their face.
Watching on the scope I think the most fish were caught when I pitched beyond the brush and let the bait swing above the cover I was on. I could see fish come out of the pack and move toward the jig. Some bit and others just turned away.
When fishing completely vertical the bite was like they just sucked it in and stayed in one place. Didn’t know I got bit until I raised my rod tip slightly and felt weight. Similar to the sauger bite here on the river. Weird!!!
Probably caught 75 throw backs to get the 5 keepers but that is pretty normal for the lake I was on.
Didn’t intend to ramble, and so the minnow or no minnow test continues.
Chuck


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