Things You'll Need:
- Live minnows
- Aerator bucket or cooler
- Hooks
- Bobbers
- Rod, reel and line
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Step 1
Decide whether you plan to troll or cast-and-retrieve a live minnow, suspend it from a bobber, or drift fish a minnow on free line. This will determine which way to hook the minnow. Keep live minnows in a cooler or bait bucket with an aerator.
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Step 2
Use a lip hook for trolling a minnow. Use a hook that’s less than half the length of the minnow. Insert the point of the hook under the mouth behind the lower lip, and push it up behind the upper lip. The hook shaft will be facing forward and the hook tip will face upward. Lip hooking works well for cast-and-retrieve or slow trolling a live minnow.
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Step 3
Hook the minnow through the top of the back for bobber fishing. Insert the hook tip just in front of the dorsal fin, just low enough to avoid damaging the spine and disabling the minnow. Use a leader length of three to five feet from the bobber, or less if fishing in very shallow water.
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Step 4
Hook the minnow through the tail for free-line fishing. Insert the hook tip at the fleshy base of the tail and run it through, ending with the hook tip and shaft facing rearward. Cast the minnow gently and let it drift and swim freely.
