Minnow or Minnow head

[TV BOY]

I'm still an ice fishing rookie. Do most folks use a whole minnow or just a head for crappies or walleyes?

[nluchau]

Depends on how the bite is. Try one way and if that doesnt work try the other. Its all about trying different things.

[gonefishin11]

I use just a minnow head when I jig and a whole minnow when I deadstick.

[mark n]

Don't forget the tail! Someimes thats the only thing that will work for me. Pair that with a green #6 genz bug with the hook set staight up through the back (head pinched off). Use a slightly agressive jigging techniqe, and it's usually enough to turn their heads and provolk a chase!

Mark

[LovenLifeGuy]

When I was out yesterday I was getting more fish on my deadstick and that just never happens to me. So, I put a very small full minnow on my spoon and the fish would not leave my spoon alone. Just like low..

LovenLifeGuy

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have to agree with all of the above suggestions!

Each day's bite can be different, so you should try different types of baits, presentations, and lures until you hit the one that works best at the time you are fishing.

Cliff

[ScottND]

He he he...I like this one!

When you use just the head it isn't the head so much that attracts as it is the way the guts float out behind it. Try just a gutless head once and the the next one when you pinch it off make sure you squeeze the guts out so they stay connected to the head. The way they flow in the water reminds me of when my St. Bernard sneezes in his water bowl! Ummmm...What fish could resist?

Although the other day the crappies would at least nibble my live minnow off the hook when they wouldn't go for the guts!

[mark n]

Scott didn't you used to just bite the heads off to keep your fingers from smellin?

If I use a fellet knife to cut the head off clean, they still kinda wiggle back and forth in the water. If I was a fish I'D want to kill that!

[Bass_Bully]

I'm a big fan of using the head of a minnow. I to use a fillet knife to get a clean cut...seems to work for me.