Switching from crawlers to minnows

[auggie78]

When does everyone make the switch from leeches/crawlers to minnows in the fall? What water temps do minnows start being the better option on jigs/rigs

[RangerJack]

Typically in the second or third week of September, but I've been using creek chubs/shiners for a week now with some success.

[tacklejunkie]

I use crawlers and minnows all year. Spring, summer and fall.

This year, being the St. Louis River was so slow, I used minnows all summer on our local lakes with decent success

Having said that, I do like the 4-5 inch suckers late Sept-early Oct. Don't forget the stinger hooks for the jigs in the fall

[reinhard1]

late fall for me has always been minnows. not to say anything else cant work, and maby it's because i do this year after year because it works for me. years ago in the fall i always went to fatheads in the fall and they worked fine. then some guy gave me some shiners as we were talking while he was leaving the lake. those shiners outfished the fatheads big time. so i do tend to use them more in the fall when they are available. but when the fish are on the feedbag i dont think it realy matters. the old jig and minnow or under the slipbobber in the fall cant be beat, for me anyhow. good luck.

[Jarrid Houston]

I have switched from crawlers to minnows already, and it has paid off for me. I will keep crawlers readily available, but minner time is here!

[mainbutter]

Can anyone describe to me exactly how you like to work a jig and minnow in the fall? Do you like to cast and then swim it at any particular water level? Vertical jig the entire column under the boat during a drift? Drag a sandy bottom? All of the above until you find something that works? Any particular retrieve you NEVER do because it's not a great strategy?

[thatoneguy]

Dragging a jig w/minnow on a drift or slow troll has always been good for me. Crawlers have still been working pretty well too. Leeches have still been good for panfish, but haven't done much for walleyes the past couple times out.

[tacklejunkie]

Can anyone describe to me exactly how you like to work a jig and minnow in the fall? Do you like to cast and then swim it at any particular water level? Vertical jig the entire column under the boat during a drift? Drag a sandy bottom? All of the above until you find something that works? Any particular retrieve you NEVER do because it's not a great strategy?

I like vertical jigging under the boat with a slow drift in the fall. I don't jig up the entire water column. Just at or somewhat near the bottom

[reinhard1]

yes drifting with the wind near the bottom is great. i also will anchor off points and throw the jig near the break and work it back to the boat also, but not when the break leads to very deep water. in the northern stained lakes where the top of the point or structure is say 5 ft. and leads to maby 12 feet is my area for that type of presenttion. also fishing these shallower lakes and having snaggy bottoms i use a bobber and have my jig a foot or so off bottom and work it back to the boat much like fishing crappies in the spring with bobber and flu flu's. good luck.