Time for minnows?

[Guest]

What the key elements to decide when it's best to start fishing with minnows again vs. a leech/crawler.

Any particular date? Water temp? What depths?

I've typically waited until late September/early October and move in shallower but maybe I should do it sooner in a bit deeper water? Just curious what others do.

[LuckyFish]

When water temps fall to 60 degrees I start using minnows more. When temps fall below 50 degrees I go only minnows.
Lucky

[Ranckenstuff]

When fishing during summer or warm water months minnows are good targeting deep fish. The minnow is more lively in the colder water. Sometimes that what sucks about using minnows in the summer they die or become lifeless in the warmer water.

I experimented a little with a bigger minnow a redtail chub last weekend and had a nice result 21 incher. 22 feet down. All the other fish I caught were on nightcrawlers.

[guts]

Up here in Northern Mn. on the border lakes, minnow use is year around, but not always the best choice. I think the depth range where the fish are schooling can indicate the better bait choice.

Generally on Kabetogama and adjoning lakes,if the best bite is deeper than 25-28' minnows seem to have the upperhand. It also seems like the sauger and jumbo perch prefer minnows over the other choices, so it might break the boredom if eyes fishing is slow.

The early springtime, minnows are always the best bet here, as the water warms up to say mid 60s, and the fish often times prefer leeches and crawlers. So much has to do with the presentation. guts < )))))))><