dorsal or lip

[bucketmouth64]

Is there a preferred way to hook crappie minnows thru the lips or dorsal in the winter? Is one better than the other?

[fast40m]

I hook thru the tail or the jaws.

[upnorth]

I typically hook them between the dorsal and the tail.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

it depends! i normally hook them through the back. but if nothing bites i try the lips. sometimes thats all it takes. always experiment!!!!

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

Doesnt part of that depend on the jig?

When I hook a horizontal Fat Boy I go through the lips (actually the skull, but lips sounds nicer. hee hee.)

If I am fishing a verticle jig or just a hook, then I go through back 1/2 way from dorsel to tail. This also depends, I think anyway, on how active you want the minnow. If you hook it near the fin, he will be less mobile, for more negative fish, hooking it nearest the tail makes the fish more mobile and able to pull your bobber all over the hole.

Like someone else already said, experiment and use all the different spots for different situations.

[Deitz Dittrich]

As stated above, when fishing a horizontle jig I go threw the lipps.. when fishing on a verticle jig I go just under the dorsal.

[Dan Thiem]

Same here. When using a bobber and a teardrop or marmooska, I'll hook my minnow just barely through the top of the back behind the dorsal. Maybe just a little more towards the tail. I think the minnow swims a little more that way.

As long as were on the subject, how about waxies? Through the head end or wacky/hot dog style?

[FreeFlySpy]

I rig my baits traditionally as stated above but when fishng always throw them what I call the curve ball. Experiment with different hook sets, tail, side of tail ect.Sometimes a little different presentation will trigger a strike.

[George]

I found out something interesting this year after buying an underwater camera that I never was able to see before. I use to hook all of my minnows behind the dorsal fin, they seemed to live longer. But what I noticed is that every time I did the minnow always looked like it was swimming down and made it look very "un" natural in the water. Now I hook them before the dorsal fin. Minnow swims more level and if I am careful as to where I hook the minnow it seems to stay alive just as long. Food for thought!

[Zemp]

I often hook my minnows underneath, often right through the crapper. I know it sounds cruel, but it seems to really make them swim against the hook and look like an injured baitfish---easy pickings for a predator. Surprisingly, it does not seem to affect their health any more than a hook through the back does. When these fish are looking at minnows hooked through the back all day long, this presentation gives them a different look and triggers strikes. Give it a try if the traditional way isn't working.

[bucketmouth64]

Thanks for the replies. Hey Zemp, I think anything hooked thru the crapper would make it look like easy prey. The minnow is probably wondering what is taking so long for something to eat it. Can you imagine how we would react? . That is a new way to hook a minnow I have not heard of I must say.

[Gofishleech]

Thru the [PoorWordUsage]er on a horizonal jig,,hook goes right in and leaves them very much alive and kicking.And a fish can slurp'em in head first and often has the hook in there mouth faster then a vertical jig.

[Quickstrike]

if I'm actually jigging i will hook the minnow through the lips, it seems to give a little more action. however when fishing a dead stick, i always hook it between the tail and dorsal fin for a more natural presentation.

[mrwalleye_13]

always dorsil in winter for me. Summer lips. But some of my fishing buddies do the tail or lips. But as long as u have a sharp hook and can hook that baby perfectly and keep the little guy swimming normal, your going to be ok. Some of the guys i fish with, that dont know what they are doing will just hook it wherever and throw it down.... no action left in the minnow or nothing, its always funny.