[Coach D]

I'm always losing my minnows off of the hook when I cast out with some extra oomph or when I'm coming through structure. What can i put on the hook to keep them from falling off. I've thought of putting some gulp on it (a small piece). Any ideas??

 

[Jeffonc]

if they're sliding off the end of the hook I've seen people suggest hole-punch sized pieces of thin plastic lids (like butter tubs) for keeping plastics from sliding off jig & trailer hooks.

With small (crappie) minnows, I think its more often a case of the minnow tearing off than sliding off the end. Not much to do about that...

 

[Topsail Angler]

Also they make a hook called a "bait keeper". It has little barbs back up on the shank. Works well on dead bait but might work for live minnows too if you thread the hook horizontally.

 

[Dave B.]

Hook'm thru the eyes without jabbin them in the eyes (in the front)

That should keep them alive and on the hook.

or

Come up from the bottom with the hook, go thru the front bottom part of the fish mouth dead center and then up thru the head before the eye's. Should keep them alive and on the hook!

Keep practicin till ya figure out where to get it just right without killin 'em

 

[sundrop]

Daves right. Watch for the little red spot between their eyes and make sure your hook passes just before it and they will live. I also like to hook from the bottom thru the lower jaw and out one eye socket. Another good way is thru the tail shank, this makes them struggle more to provoke a bite but wears them out faster and drowns them easy from reeling them in backwards...

 

[straps57]

There are rods made specificaly for casting live minnows. They are called noodle rods and are basically a fly rod made into a spinning rod. They vary in length from 9ft -13ft. and are light-ultra light or slow action depending on company that makes them. Usualy will cast between 1/16th-1oz and use 2-8lb test. I have a Tsunami model but here is a model made by Browning,Browning Fishing Six Rivers Salmon/Steelhead Noodle Rods . You can put all your power into casting the minnow and they wont fall off no matter where they are hooked. I prefer to hook a minnow through the lower jaw and out the nose. That way when reeling in the minnow swims in a natrual motion. I have caught loads of fish stoping my retrieve 10-15ft from the bank or boat with them hooked this way.

 

[sundrop]

crappie fishermen use alot of noodle rods some call them jigging rods. Stay away from the Silstar brand, Zebco isnt much better. B&M makes some good ones as does Ozark.