using cut up bait

[masterpuppet]

Ok odd question for all of you. I picked up a book at the library about fishing with livebait. My question is has anyone or can you use cut bait. In saying cut bait I mean just the head or cutting the the hole minnow and using the body? Any ideas would be helpful. Thank you

[Norm1980]

When i use a jigging spoon all I ever use is the head. If you use the whole minnow it kinda takes away from the action of the spoon.

[slabchaser]

ive used minnow heads when the fish are being finicky. It gives them less to work with and presents more of the hook. I wouldnt suggest going out fishing expecting to use minnow heads, the whole minnow is generally better.

[bigwalleyeguy]

Always just the head when using a spoon.

[herefish101]

Pinch the heads dont cut them, all the entrails hanging down entices the though biters, as stated above, heads only on a spoon, that is unless i'm on lake of the woods.

[CHEX1982]

Cut minnows into three sections. It saves more money and is less wasteful. I'm not sure why people would only use the head. Personally, it's mainly for scent so whether head or tails, it's gonna entice. Also, there is the theory that tipping with cut minnow resembles regurgitated food which fish will eat because it's an easy meal. So if that's the case, head or tails, it's gonna get eaten.

I always try to wait for someone to use a full minnow to the point where it is near-death or dead. Then I'll offer to swap it out with a live one. Just my personal ethic, as I just hate killing a minnow just for tipping. And as others have been saying, if they are biting plain jigs, save the full lively minnows for the big ones.

[Note From Admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

...we have gone too far in this whole "tip with minnow head" ordeal.

[hoggs222]

+3 on the minnow head on a spoon.

[masoct3]

minnow heads or perch eyes are always fun.

[Dan189]

Cut minnows into three sections. It saves more money and is less wasteful. I'm not sure why people would only use the head.

I always try to wait for someone to use a full minnow to the point where it is near-death or dead. Then I'll offer to swap it out with a live one. Just my personal ethic, as I just hate killing a minnow just for tipping.

[Note From Admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

...we have gone too far in this whole "tip with minnow head" ordeal.

wow, I like the extreme conservationism going on here, but I wonder how many ice fisherman have bubbling live wells at their house to keep bait fresh past a week? I'm not too familiar with these, do they make fairly inexpensive setups, and how long have you seen bait last?

Wonton waste of bait is unfortunate, but one scoop of crappie minnows, or fat-heads may be way more than I'll use in a evening or two fishing. Tonight for example, I thought about paying for one dozen shiners and only taking 6-8, because a dozen would likely not be used.

Typical I bait my hooks much more frequently than many of the people fishing with me. Do you ever notice how the guy that is using the same deadstick jig as you are, in the same house, keeps catching back-to-back-to-back fish? Part of the equation is fresh bait. I also have an extreme amount of equity tied into many local bait shops, so change your bait every 3 minutes! (that last sentence is likely a fallacy).

I do use gulp, but mostly in manitoba, or if I'm bored and feel like seeing a side by side comparison.

After this discussion, and those peculiar gulp imitations, I'll be thinking about ripping off minnow heads in a new light.

[south_metro_fish]

How about a cut bait for northern pike? I bought some suckers the other day and they put them in the same bag with my scoop of fatheads and by the time I got home after fishing and before I got the aerator on them they were upside down. I have heard that northern pike will hit dead bait and was wondering if there was a way to make it more appetizing to them? Also I was wondering what part of the water column you would fish dead or cut bait for northern pike, I would think on or right off the bottom.

[Capt. Russ]

As far as keeping the dead suckers for Northern fishing, by all means do. I've caught a large number of big pike on dead suckers I have left over in the shop. As soon as they kick off I put them in a Ziploc bag with a liberal amount of kosher salt, then stick them in the freezer till I'm ready to use them. The salt keeps any dead bait better as it toughens the skin

[Brad B]

I use cut up sucker minnows year round on catfish and also have used them on northerns when tip up fishing.

[MN BassFisher]

....but I wonder how many ice fisherman have bubbling live wells at their house to keep bait fresh past a week? I'm not too familiar with these, do they make fairly inexpensive setups, and how long have you seen bait last?

I just bought a 48 quart coleman cooler of a guy from Clist. Then I went to a petstore and bought a $8 air pump, some $2 tubing, and an airstone. Have it plugged in my garage. I've kept a scoop of crappie minnows, half dozen suckers, and a dozen shiners in there for the last 2 weeks. Sweet and simple setup. The water being so cold (near freezing) slows down their metabolism and all that so they last even longer.

[cold one sd]

Much of the time Northerns prefer dead bait in winter. They don't have to work as hard for dead bait.

[GotALunker]

I keep my minnows on the aerator in the garage in the insulated pail. if I dont have the insulated pail, then every day in the morning before work and evening after work I bust out any ice that has formed with my metal scooper. it's a bit of work, but they will last for upwards of two weeks at a time.

also, I've found that after the minnow has died, if you take off the balls from the males or the hoohaws from the females...that seems to work pretty good too for tipping jigs!

the other thing is that if you wanted to invest a bit...what about buying like a 5 gallon fish tank and stick a small heater in it and just heat the water to 39 degrees? would that work? I've thought about doing it, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

[josh_c]

if you're marking fish and they won't bite you gotta find what they want. live, dead, head, tail, plastics, waxie, whatever it takes. I guy I work with was catching walleyes with waxies on Milacs last weekend, said that's the only thing they'd take. I usually use a head or tail when jigging and a live if using a float.

[servocam]

This year I have been keeping my left over bait in a 5 gallon bucket in the garage with an air pump and tank heater. Change the water out every 4-5 days or when needed. Crappie minows have lasted for 3 weeks now. Shiners not so good but a few left. At $6 a scoop and only using a few, bait gets expensive. I have wax worms in the fridge.

I have been keeping the dead shiners for the tip-ups as I have heard of many using dead-bait for Pike.