Catching Minnows + Fishing with Them

[Even Steven]

Hey guys,
I wanted to try a different freshwater fishing technique. While plugging along, I wanted to set my minnow trap in the water much like I do in the saltwater creeks. Then I would like to use those freshly caught minnows to live-line as bait.

Questions....what do I put in the trap to attract the minnows (i tried bread before but it seemed to dissolve and the minnows just hung on the outside feeding from the pieces that broke off).

Secondly, I don't know exactly what i am targetting with the live minnows (great game plan huh?). So should I expect to catch mostly small panfish or do live minnows catch other species?

Thanks for any help!

[bassman4519]

I used to use cut up fish of some sort, bluefish in your area or cut herring or something would work fine. Minnows will catch anything, and I mean absolutely anything that is in those waters that your fishing in, I have caught just about every species using minnows, including suckers and carp, so it definately will catch anything.:thumbsup:

[BassAssassin8]

Yeah, you'll more or less catch anything on minnows. You'll definitely probably catch alot of pickerel if there are alot where you're fishing. Sometimes in low water you can see them rounding up baitfish and eating them. But other than pickerel, your best bet is for them to catch you some nice bass and crappie love em too!

[stripeman 103]

I have was onced told and have used gum as bait for the trap put three to four sticks in and that works for me. You'd be surprsided I have caught some of the biggest bass of my life on minnows and shiners:D

[jceravolo]

i watched about 5-6 channel cats repeatedly crash in on these minnows holding to the shore yesterday, it was a pretty cool site

[racksandquacks]

I use a frozen hot dog

[Mark Horn]

Stale bread in a trap for fresh water minnows allways worked for me. I put it out the night before though. Seems to take longer catching them in fresh water. Use them for pike, small mouth and large mouth bass. You can use the smaller ones for trout. Pretty much everything will eat minnows depending on the size.

[iiiisx349]

on another site i found this out put a piece of raw onion and you will get many many minnows i tried it and it doeswork also in a pinch go to wendys and their bacon cheeseburger does well too i always eat most of it tho