Bait, chum, them in. Get a cheap box of dry cat food, poor some in a plastic container add water and mash into a thick paste. Add a little sand for weight, mix and form into balls a little smaller than a tennis ball. When you see some minnows throw in one of your chum balls and they will all come start eating, a few minutes later get them all in one cast net throw. Works great for shrimp too.