Minnow Hooking Basics

[BIG TUNA]

I'm a self taugh fishing novice. I'm looking at going out ice fishing for the second time, first time for pickeral. Planning to put minnows on a three way splitter. I was thinking of placing the hook through the mouth of the minnow and then making a stinger hook for the tail, hoping this will keep the minnow alive for some movement. What is the best way to hook a minnow. Any suggestions for a hunter trying to expand into fishing, would be appreciated.

[Chuck7]

I've already used about 30 dozens of minnows this year fishing for crappie. I buy 7 dozen at a time..

The best way to keep them alive for a LONGGGG time is by CAREFULLY hooking them through both lips. Hook them just enough to make it work..if you go back too far it's instant death through the brain. My minnows last for a long time. I drift 4 rods at one time when it's slow.

Hold on!! I got a bite..

[Phil from Maine]

I like hooking my minnows when ice fishing just behind the back fin. Be carefull not to get its backbone though and the minnow will live forever ( almost ).

[mauser06]

i hook smaller minows up through the bottom lip and up through the top.

bigger minows(2+ inches) ill hook behind the back fin..

[Hiawatha]

We are not allowed to use live minnows here. When using minnows i usually fish just a plain lead head putting the jay hook through the mouth and turning it up just back of the head. Make sure the hook is in the middle of the neck area so the minnow fill stay level. Then i attach a small j hook stinger and hook that back by the tail. Not sure if this helps but thats what us frozen minnow guys do.

[buckhunter14]

For small minnows 1.5" or less I will hook them through both lips.

Larger minnows 3.5-10" I will hook through the back fin. Be exteremly careful not to hit the vertabrate and the organs. There is about .25" margin, so make it a good set.

[KonaBoy]

I do it somewhat different than the other guys. If I'm jigging with the minnow, I put in through the lips. If I'm putting him on a tip-up, I put it under it's backbone. I found that through the lips on a tip-up resulted in too many lost minnows before I'd finally get a good hook set. Just my opinion, as always

[deerslayer32]

i like hooking them right behind the back fin

[WesternMdHardwoods]

Always seem to stay alive froever behind the back fin! Gd Luck!