Caught a bunch of them in a separate watershed. I assume they will work, but I might buy a couple dozen shiners just in case.

They work better than shiners in my neck of the woods. Mainly because they stay alive much longer. Careful moving them from watershed to watershed or you’ll have the Minnesota minnow mafia after ya...... just kidding fellers! Couldn’t resist 

If you trap small bluegill and pumpkinseeds don’t throw them back Smallies will tear them up also. Try them with a slip float. A Thill type or something like that. The clear float and fly floats work real well. They have a small piece of surgical tubing in them that twists to lock them in place. Just a thought. 
 

You are certainly becoming the in-house resident live bait guy. Keep up the good work, have fun. 

43 minutes ago, Spankey said:

If you trap small bluegill and pumpkinseeds don’t throw them back Smallies will tear them up also. Try them with a slip float. A Thill type or something like that. The clear float and fly floats work real well. They have a small piece of surgical tubing in them that twists to lock them in place. Just a thought. 
 

You are certainly becoming the in-house resident live bait guy. Keep up the good work, have fun. 

Please translate that for me haha, whats a slipfloat?? Ditto on all of the other stuff. Do I definitely want them on a bobber? I’ve read a lot of people saying you free rig them, just a hook and this presents them most naturally. What size hook would you use, and split shot or no? Some of these things are small.

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

They work better than shiners in my neck of the woods. Mainly because they stay alive much longer. Careful moving them from watershed to watershed or you’ll have the Minnesota minnow mafia after ya...... just kidding fellers! Couldn’t resist 

Yes I’ve noticed they are extremely hearty, barely had to touch them.

If you caught them from one stream, you shouldn't move them to another to use as bait. That's one of the ways that invasive species are getting spread around different waterways. A lot of states have laws against it, we do here in Kansas.

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

If you caught them from one stream, you shouldn't move them to another to use as bait. That's one of the ways that invasive species are getting spread around different waterways. A lot of states have laws against it, we do here in Kansas.

You don’t think this river that’s only 10 miles away has creek chubs?

30 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

You don’t think this river that’s only 10 miles away has creek chubs?

You know they all don't have any diseases that the other creek doesn't have? That there's no other plant/animal eggs you can't see stuck to them somewhere? Zebra Mussel larva are microscopic and easily moved from one body of water to another. Asian Carp are easily mistaken for other bait fish. That's one of the ways these things are moving from one body of water to the next, and why it's illegal to catch bait one place and use them somewhere else, including in Ohio.

 

http://www.eregulations.com/ohio/fishing/general-information/

It is unlawful to transport and introduce any aquatic species (fish, invertebrate, plant) from one body of water to another.

 

 

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

You know they all don't have any diseases that the other creek doesn't have? That there's no other plant/animal eggs you can't see stuck to them somewhere? Zebra Mussel larva are microscopic and easily moved from one body of water to another. Asian Carp are easily mistaken for other bait fish. That's one of the ways these things are moving from one body of water to the next, and why it's illegal to catch bait one place and use them somewhere else, including in Ohio.

 

http://www.eregulations.com/ohio/fishing/general-information/

It is unlawful to transport and introduce any aquatic species (fish, invertebrate, plant) from one body of water to another.

 

 

Ah yeah makes sense.

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

You know they all don't have any diseases that the other creek doesn't have? That there's no other plant/animal eggs you can't see stuck to them somewhere? Zebra Mussel larva are microscopic and easily moved from one body of water to another. Asian Carp are easily mistaken for other bait fish. That's one of the ways these things are moving from one body of water to the next, and why it's illegal to catch bait one place and use them somewhere else, including in Ohio.

 

http://www.eregulations.com/ohio/fishing/general-information/

It is unlawful to transport and introduce any aquatic species (fish, invertebrate, plant) from one body of water to another.

 

 

Can I mix fatheads and shiners in the same coooer?

13 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Can I mix fatheads and shiners in the same coooer?

You could even put suckers in there - minnows are pretty cool about living together. Just don't overload the cooler with too many...

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

You could even put suckers in there - minnows are pretty cool about living together. Just don't overload the cooler with too many...

How many can I put in a 12 x 7.5 x 10 cooler w bubbler? Gonna go give these fatheads/chubs a try but bringing shiners just in case.

3 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

How many can I put in a 12 x 7.5 x 10 cooler w bubbler? Gonna go give these fatheads/chubs a try but bringing shiners just in case.

That's just under 4 gallons. Long as you keep it cool and aerated...a couple dozen anyway.

Chubs worm excellent for smallies, and walleye as well!

As was stated in the thread before, be sure not to transfer from one body of water to the next. 

I used to lug along a minnow trap baited with a long lasting ceral dog bone, drop it in shallows and fish for a while and come back for some local bait  shiners tend to work really well but most local minnows will catch bass in the same body of water....they're the bass forage.

14 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Please translate that for me haha, whats a slipfloat?? Ditto on all of the other stuff. Do I definitely want them on a bobber? I’ve read a lot of people saying you free rig them, just a hook and this presents them most naturally. What size hook would you use, and split shot or no? Some of these things are small.

Yes I’ve noticed they are extremely hearty, barely had to touch them.

Might be easier for me to find a Thill link where they show bobber usage. Most likely on YouTube. I’ll post the manufacturer of that clear bobber. I have that with my fly fishing stuff. They are very easy to find. And to use. What I’m talking about is not uncommon. 

9 hours ago, Tatsu Dave said:

I used to lug along a minnow trap baited with a long lasting ceral dog bone, drop it in shallows and fish for a while and come back for some local bait  shiners tend to work really well but most local minnows will catch bass in the same body of water....they're the bass forage.

 

9 hours ago, Crackintubes said:

Chubs worm excellent for smallies, and walleye as well!

As was stated in the thread before, be sure not to transfer from one body of water to the next. 

How exactly do you guys fish live minnows? 

20 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 

How exactly do you guys fish live minnows? 

If fishing em for walleye, either a lindy rig or nose hooked on a jig. Dropshotting them also works effectively. 

 

For smallmouth in rivers and streams. I use either a light weighted lindy rig setup, because I normally always have one tied on one rod, but there are many ways. 

As stated before above, a "slip-rig" works well. 

A simpler set up would be a small slipshot, enough to keep the presentation stable in current, anywhere from 8"-24" in front of the eyelet of the hook. This varies on depth of water and where you want to have your chub swim in the column. I have found the shorter in length you go from the eyelet, you may have to help.add some action, and "pop" the line every once in awhile with the rod tip. 

 

A friend of mine uses a very simple setup, he simply tail or nose hooks a chub, free spools his reel, and let's the chub swim. I've seen this be very effective. If I recall correctly, it's very similair to "mooching" for salmon. You have to have very lively minnows for this though. 

 

Use a small jighead, hook up thru the lips and cast and retrieve, or an inline spinner with a hook up thru head or lips. The best I found was redfin shiners for livebait fishing. I haven't fished them now for about 17 years as I have went totally artificial. For me its faster, easier, and you get far less deep hooked fish, they also have different regs up here for fishing live bait now. Knowing what I know now, I think I could outfish someone with a good plastic bait in the time saved with baiting hooks and keeping the livebait lively. I catch multiple fish on one plastic bait without pausing and unhooking is fast, plus when bass are hitting there's less time spent without your lure in the water. If it works good for you however rock out  make sure and keep a bubbler running.........You also want as large a baitfish as possible they will swim on their own better and bass will tackle any size.

 

8 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

How exactly do you guys fish live minnows? 

I fish them two different ways   I'll live line them.   I use a size 4 circle hook, hook them through the mouth/nostrils, just flip them out an let them swim around.   Most times I fish them under a slip bobber.  Size 4 circle hook, with a split shot about 6 inches above the hook.  The size and number of split shot will depend on how deep I'm fishing.   The beauty of a slip bobber is you can adjust the depth easily by moving the bobber stop, and it's much easier to cast than a fixed bobber.  It slips down and will stop at the split shot, when it hits the water the split shot will take the bait down to whatever depth you have it set for.  3 feet, 6 feet, 20 feet.

24 minutes ago, Fallser said:

 

I fish them two different ways   I'll live line them.   I use a size 4 circle hook, hook them through the mouth/nostrils, just flip them out an let them swim around.   Most times I fish them under a slip bobber.  Size 4 circle hook, with a split shot about 6 inches above the hook.  The size and number of split shot will depend on how deep I'm fishing.   The beauty of a slip bobber is you can adjust the depth easily by moving the bobber stop, and it's much easier to cast than a fixed bobber.  It slips down and will stop at the split shot, when it hits the water the split shot will take the bait down to whatever depth you have it set for.  3 feet, 6 feet, 20 feet.

I did the live line thing today, only on a size 6 baitholder. Is this not as effective, and what makes a circle hook better?

 

30 minutes ago, Crackintubes said:

If fishing em for walleye, either a lindy rig or nose hooked on a jig. Dropshotting them also works effectively. 

 

For smallmouth in rivers and streams. I use either a light weighted lindy rig setup, because I normally always have one tied on one rod, but there are many ways. 

As stated before above, a "slip-rig" works well. 

A simpler set up would be a small slipshot, enough to keep the presentation stable in current, anywhere from 8"-24" in front of the eyelet of the hook. This varies on depth of water and where you want to have your chub swim in the column. I have found the shorter in length you go from the eyelet, you may have to help.add some action, and "pop" the line every once in awhile with the rod tip. 

 

A friend of mine uses a very simple setup, he simply tail or nose hooks a chub, free spools his reel, and let's the chub swim. I've seen this be very effective. If I recall correctly, it's very similair to "mooching" for salmon. You have to have very lively minnows for this though. 

 

So to just free rig them and toss them out there and let them swim you think it is less effective than other methods unless the minnow is lively? Why exactly is this?

26 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I did the live line thing today, only on a size 6 baitholder. Is this not as effective, and what makes a circle hook better?

 

So to just free rig them and toss them out there and let them swim you think it is less effective than other methods unless the minnow is lively? Why exactly is this?

I tend to use weighted techniques more so in the areas I fish, but, that's due to fishing faster currents in the rivers and streams I fish. 

It also depends on bottom structure, if the bottom is all sharp rock, brush, heavy weeds etc..I'll employ the free swimming technique, so I am not hung up constantly. But, again, most of my waterways are sandy bottoms or small river stone. 

 

 I dont necessarily think it is less effective, I just employ other tactics first. I'd say it's more just due to how I was taught by my father and grandfather than anything else. Old habits die hard they say. 

But, I have used them all effectively. 

Most important thing is to take all the information from everyone, and try it, adapt, and see what you like. 

You never know, you could figure out a whole new way to fish em that works flawlessly. 

 

There are countless of ways to fish em. 

I've hooked them through the mouth and "jerkbaited" them with small pops and twitches, threaded them onto underspins, etc etc. 

The fish will tell you what they're into

Edited October 1, 20205 yr by Crackintubes
Spelling error

1 minute ago, Crackintubes said:

I tend to use weighted techniques more so in the areas I fish, but, that's due to fishing faster currents in the rivers and streams I fish. 

It also depends on bottom structure, if the bottom is all sharp rock, brush, heavy weeds etc..I'll employ the free swimming technique, so I am not hung up constantly. But, again, most of my waterways are sandy bottoms or small river stone. 

 

 I dont necessarily think it is less effective, I just employ other tactics first. I'd say it's more just due to how I was taught by my father and grandfather than anything else. Old habits die hard they say. 

But, I have used them all effectively. 

Most important thing is to take all the information from everyone, and try it, adapt, and see what you like. 

You never know, you could figure out a whole new way to fish em that works flawlessly. 

 

There are countless of ways to fish em. 

I've hooked them through the mouth and "jerkbaits" them with small pops and twitches, threaded them onto underspins, etc etc. 

The fish will tell you what they're into

Yeah I was jerking them every few seconds on a slow retrieve, that seemed to be effective. Caught about 10 in 4 hours so not a terrible day just not as good as I would’ve liked. If I’m fishing in the slower moving water just after the current do I need a split shot? I’ve been told being close to the bottom is best for nightcrawlers and crawdads but wasn’t sure if this applied to minnows.

11 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah I was jerking them every few seconds on a slow retrieve, that seemed to be effective. Caught about 10 in 4 hours so not a terrible day just not as good as I would’ve liked. If I’m fishing in the slower moving water just after the current do I need a split shot? I’ve been told being close to the bottom is best for nightcrawlers and crawdads but wasn’t sure if this applied to minnows.

You can use a split shot if you want to sort of " dead stick" and just wait for the bite. Depending weight, it sort of "pegs" the chub in one spot, sort of like tying it too a leash. 

Obviously depending on weight and the length you leave between hook and sinker, it'll also adjust the depth the chub can swim around at. 

I have found it to be most effective when.fishing the current, as in, casting downstream and fishing the bait back upstream. I've had small mouth swim past my legs in the current and hammer it once they got past me. Also works great if you find a deep hole, and fishing the downstream side of the hole. 

15 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I did the live line thing today, only on a size 6 baitholder. Is this not as effective, and what makes a circle hook better?

That's just my choice of hook.  A baitholder hook will work just as well.  I would use a size 4 though.  I find with circle hooks I'm less likely to gut hook the fish.  Theoretically, a circle hook is designed to catch the fish in the mouth when the line is tightened.  It works well with minnows, but not so much with nightcrawlers or leeches.    

1 hour ago, Fallser said:

That's just my choice of hook.  A baitholder hook will work just as well.  I would use a size 4 though.  I find with circle hooks I'm less likely to gut hook the fish.  Theoretically, a circle hook is designed to catch the fish in the mouth when the line is tightened.  It works well with minnows, but not so much with nightcrawlers or leeches.    

I did gut hook one or two yesterday, so that would be of interest to me. I’m not sure “gut hooked” but it was down in there to where I had to use a hemostat pliers to get them out. Not a whole lot of bleeding, you think they survived?