What is about the best way to rig a minnow on a hook about 2" long and keep it alive as long as possible? I hook mine and 2 minutes later they're gonners.

i always hook mine right in the middle of the back, as shallow as possible, if you get them in the spine, it usually kills them in no time. or you can just hook them in the upper lip real shallow as well so you don't put a hole in their brains. these are the 2 most effective ways for me.

It depends on how you want to fish the minnow or shiner.  If you do some research, you can read the specifics of the action a certain hook placement will do in a bait.

When shiner fishing, you will find times to use the lips, the back, or the tail.  As well, depending on the bass, the liter from the bobber or no bobber at all while free-lining makes a difference.  

I don't do a lot of live bait fishing at all, actually just in Florida and what I learned to do with my grandfather when I was a kid, but you can find plenty of help from florida guide websites, and I am sure some of the knowledgable guys on here will be willing to share specifics for what you are doing and where you are fishing.

It depends some on what kind of minnow you are using and how you are fishing them.  If I'm under a bobber I hook them in the back right behind the dorsal fin.  I don't know if thats any better than just in the middle of the back but its just how I learned how to do it since I was a little guy.  I'f I'm jigging them or anything else that involves a retrieve, I usually go through the lips.

For drifting on a river, split shot rig and no float I always hook them in the lips, from bottom to top. For smallmouth bass I use a Gamakatsu #6 Octopus Circle Hook. For stripers using larger baits (gizzard shad, yellowtail or skipjack) Gammie #2 Octopus Circle Hook.

I go through the head.

I guess I am fishing them wrong?

BD,

That kills them. Trust me, I know something about fishing live shiners.

Yeah I figured you would that's why I thought I was hooking them wrong.

Like I said I don't fish much live bait  

who prefers live bait over lures??

not me, thats for sure. the only time i get live bait is when i'm taking young family members out w/ me b/c it's real easy for them to do  

I prefer live bait when I'm fishing for smallmouth on the Tennessee River. My partner and I probably catch more large smallmouth (over 5 lbs) than all the other fishermen combined on this river. I estimate we outfish fishermen fishing artificials at least 20/1 and on big fish 50/1.

Catching monster smallmouth is more fun than just fishing for them.

look under their chin and stick it right through the lines on it, and bring it throgh the head, or hook it through the base of the tail