Best Bait for Minnow Trapping?

[Torquer]

When we are at the cabin I have the kids put out a minnow trap- it's a lot cheaper and convenient than buying minnows for all of the screwing around they do fishing from the dock and playing with them. Sometimes they make a nice catch and sometimes get nothing even though we can see huge schools of shiners all over. They've tried bread, oatmeal, cereal, dry dogfood, and haven't found anything that can be counted on. Any experienced trappers have any secrets out there?

[Bobb-o]

winterfresh gum, the minnows wont eat it, but are attracted to the scent of it i guess, has always worked well for me

[walleyeaddict]

Never tried gum but I am going too!!! Canned corn also works pretty well!!

[slick814]

DOne the gum thing, the corn thing, and the day old bread thing.. pretty much any of them have worked for me.

[fishinaddict]

DOGFOOD!!! I checked mine the other night and had a couple dozen huge fatheads in there and a couple crawfish. Have tried bread and moist catfood, just not the same results.

[Mike Walerak]

Ivory brand soap works great. Dog food works pretty good too.

I'm not sure why Ivory works so good but it just does and it does not take a very big piece either.

mw

[Torquer]

OK- The kids have reported that the Winterfresh Gum by far outperformed the Ivory soap. The gum was even more productive with dogfood. The problem is keeping the dog out of it. Next questions- what's a good depth? It seems if it's wavy you don't want to be too shallow. Also, is it better to lay the opening parallel to shore or perpendicular? We are talking hard sand bottom, and clear water.