stickle back minnows

[Mike89]

They seem to always be in the bucket, has anyone had any luck using them for bait? I seem to remember some say they are good bait, not sure.

Thanks, Mike89

[pathogen]

Generally, my experience is that they are a bait that is least desirable. However, I have had one or two experiences where they appeared to be preferred, but that was in the open water season. Pike don't seem to be nearly as fussy with them as panfish.

[fishersofmen]

They are a curse. Do not put them on your hook.

[Will]

I think the name "stickleback" says it all

[paceman]

I toss them out......

[Crappiechopper]

What they said. It seems at least in my area, that some bait dealers have them in thier minnows and some don't.

[herefish101]

I had a buddy tell me that I could not catch a fish with one, so I put it on and caught an eater eye, I just jigged it alot. But for the most part, I never use them.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I've tried using them when I found one in the minnow bucket and they don't work for me!!! I let the gulls get them and they don't seem to mind.

Mike

[Gordie]

I have caught eyes on Mille Lacs with them tipped on a pimple

no different than using bullheads for bait '

There isnt something that cuts off the stinger in the wild same with sticklebacks to a hungry fish all it is is FOOD and when its on a hook its a easy meal for them hungry fish

[EMAGDNIM]

I'll use the head and works just fine but i dont use the whole thing.

[Mike89]

Interesting thoughts, thanks all. I might try one someday but for the most part, not!

Mike89

[KrabbyPatties]

I'm cheap, so I have used them. I've caught crappies, bass, and bluegills on them--didn't seem to work much differently than any other minnows.

[bdafisher]

I use them and they seem to catch fish just as well as the others, and they are stay on the hook longer too.

[HandGunner]

aparently from what I heard they are the odd ones out of the bunch, kind of like a invasive species type thing with minnows, they say fish dont bite them hence the name stickleback because there sticklebacks will choke a fish. as a kid I would keep the 2-3 sticklebacks in a jar that were in the minnow bucket and keep them as pets for fun then throw them on the hook at the end of the day cant remember if I caught fish or not to me its just another minnow to use

[uptracker]

Here near home, we fish a 50' hole for perch and they're always spitting up three spined sticklebacks. I'm still trying to figure out how to trap them in water so deep.