Spring-Time Minnows
by Don Allphin
Apr 10, 2006
For the better part of 30 years I’ve been hooked on fishing with minnows for most of the game fish I pursue. Of course I use other lures but if you took a good look around my boat you’d quickly observe that I have at least one minnow bait tied on at all times. “Why?” you might ask — because minnow are what most fish actually eat.
I know this flies in the face of those who wish to think that all fish are happy little vegans that respect the lives of fellow fish, but the sad truth is that most fish species would just as soon eat their own offspring as someone else’s. It’s a simple fact that fish eat other fish, and to quote Mr. Miyagi, “Nature rule, Daniel San, not mine.”
Recently, an 18 pound 2 ounce giant rainbow was caught through the ice at Strawberry. And, what did Sherm Holdaway use to catch the monster? That’s right, a frozen minnow. Pointer minnows and Rapalas have been my go-to lures for years on Strawberry, but nothing beats the real thing as Mr. Holdaway just proved.
Many readers have confessed that they still don’t know how to use minnow baits. Okay, now that confessions are behind us, let’s review some basics about fishing with minnow-type lures.
Minnow lures are called crankbaits, jerkbaits, or stickbaits. They possess various characteristics ranging from floating to suspending or sinking. I prefer suspending lures for year-round use. They can be fished with either spinning or bait casting reels and can be used with light or heavy line.
In the springtime, fish will first show up on points, and then will move towards the backs of coves, or into creeks and rivers. Always remember that minnow baits will attract fish even if they won’t bite. So, if you’re throwing a bait and don’t see fish activity after a few casts, move a few yards to another area and keep trying.
I try to watch the lure as I retrieve it. This requires a good set of polarized sunglasses. I use Cocoons. Sunglasses enable you to watch the lure to note any fish activity below or behind the lure. Stopping, starting, twitching, or burning the lure back in might trigger a response. When fish are located, the fun will shortly follow.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with minnow baits. I’ve trolled with them, fished them with a weight on the bottom and have used them while dropshotting. My advice: don’t fight it, give fish what they eat day in and day out – minnows!
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