Tadpole's in my minnow bucket ??????

[CrappieNut]

Tadpole's in my minnow bucket ??????

So last Saturday I was dumping my minnows into my big cooler where I keep them aerated in between my IFL (ice fishing league). And as I was pouring them in I noticed a very fat minnow and so I dug around until I could find it and sure enough it was a tadpole, which then perked up a couple of questions.

1. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

2. Is this going to be the best bait ever? Since fish don’t get frogs in the winter.

I’m reminded of a post a while back where a guy found a frog in the wallys/ bass’ stomach (I’m not positive which species it was) i'm not sure how to find an old post quickly.

3. How long does it take for a tadpole to turn into a frog?

Just a few questions and your info is greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

[skee0025]

I saw the same thing last week. A friend and I went fishing up near alexandria and there were about 10 large tadpoles in a storage tank with the minnows.

[EBass]

No tadpoles - but 2 lil bullheads were mixed with the crappie minnows. I haven't tried them, but will. Could be the hot ticket. Or not:)

[BartmanMN]

She are like men, they are not attracted to anything with whiskers. Throw the bullheads out. HAHA

[ozzie]

I had the pleasure of having a little bullhead in the bucket.....I dropped it on a jig and within 5 minutes I was pulling in a dandy 18inch walleye!!! too bad I lost the bullhead cause I threw everything I had at the flashes on the bottom of the lake and the only solid hit I had was on the bully!!! DON"T THROW THEM OUT USE THEM!!!!!

[BartmanMN]

Good to know.

[Bigeye30"]

Never had a tadpole, but have found, bullheads, sunfish, bass and perch on occasion, little guys. I suppose it depends on where they are trapped, that many minnows are bound to mix a few here and there, I always check my bait for bullheads cause I got stung by one a few years back reaching in with my hand, so now I check for them everytime.

[EBass]

OK, I'll use them up this weekend. I know Flatheads, Walleyes, and Bass will eat them, but don't know about a Crappie. I bet they have sharp stingers.

Sorry for the hi-jack:(

[pvoll332]

I've cleaned walleyes and have found small bullheads in them.

[katoguy]

What? Frogs mating this time of year? They are in hibernation. I doubt the state allows for bait distributors to bring in bait from down south. ???

[JigginIsLife]

Yup, well sorta, was at the bait shop up in Hawley and the guy next to me scooped up a frog, little bugger jumped all over the place before gettting back into the tank.

[SDbowhunter]

I have had the same thing. I dont know if they are tad poles or some other type of amphibian that look very simlar. Maybe they are mud puppies? I have noticed that they will live a very long time in bait bucket left in a permanent and continue to get bigger I assume they are eating dead minnows. I find it hard to believe tad poles would be around in the winter.

[hoggs222]

Were you at Christophersons? I have seen them with the tadpoles quite often. I never really thought to ask them about it though.

[walleyeslayr]

I had 2 tadpoles in a scoop of rainbows from portside at Mille Lacs this past weekend. First time i've seen it.

[swampman]

What you guys are finding are proably green frog tadpoles or mink frog tadpoles, they dont transform until the second year of there life unlike common leopard frogs which transform in a couple months. I used to catch some trapping in the winter when I was in bait buis. never did try fishing with them in the winter, might be worth a try.

[Catfishunter]

What he said. Maybe you could use them on a lake with a ban on live minnows?

[CrappieNut]

I looked the species up online and the only tadpole it resembles is the leopard.

[Black_Bay]

What ever bait shops some of you are going to are sure bad at sorting if you're getting sunfish and tadpoles in the mix. I've gotten a few stickle backs, shiners, and suckers mixed in but never the other things.

[SWMuskeye]

I've gotten them on occassion- I caught a 22" walleye on my rattle reel last winter with a tadpole on it, they sure do wiggle!

[CrappieNut]

i forgot to mention i got them at gander in Forest lake

[castmaster]

Those of you finding small bullheads, are you sure they aren't willow cats aka mad toms? they are a type of minnow that looks like a 1"-2" or so bullhead and are a great bait for walleyes, especially on the Mississippi River.

[ozzie]

mine could have been a willow cat all I know is that if I get another in my bucket I will be throwing it down to the bottom of the lake immediatly!!

[NyQuiLlama]

Several kinds of frogs take 2 seasons to turn into frogs. My pond is full of them swimming around right now.

[Bulldoggr]

I had some baby Bullheads in my batch the other day

[Fuzzbient]

I found a tadpole in a scoop of chubs the other day too. I didn't know they were worth fishing with so I gave it to a friend who's a school teacher so his class could try to grow it into a frog. He might have a long wait for it to grow legs if it's one of those 2 year tadpoles!