Again , Mods if this is in the wrong place I am sorry. I looked them over and put it here.

 

 When I was a kid dad would get me to go to the branch and catch him some knotty head minnows to fish with. They were Bass busters for sure.  The big ones would get 4 to 6 inches long. And they were not in all branches. They had several knots on their head thus the name.  I have not seen them in a coons age.

 Anyone else know of these?

 David

Take a look at the Bull Head Chub, is that the minnow you are thinking of?

Tom

Bluehead Chub or Horned Dace?

We got all kinds of them around my neck of the woods. Stonerollers, creek chub, and river chub all have tubercles (knots) on their heads and will catch all the fish in the river 

I know this is a little late but maybe the fish you're referring to is a Hornyhead Chub. I catch them all the time in a creek by my house.

I believe many if not all chubs -there are a number of species- get what are called "turbercles" on their heads when they spawn. Males only I think. So it would likely be a time of year thing as well. Chubs are most common in warmwater creeks. My guess is chubs would make good bait regardless of time of year you catch them.