colored minnows

[rod bender]

I've found that if you keep minnows in a white container, they turn to a pail color in just a few days, and if you keep them in a black container, they stay their normal color or a tad darker. I've heard that if you keep them in a red container they'll have a tint of red? I'm thinking about putting a few in one of the new Folgers coffee containers and giving it a shot. Any body with similar experiences or know what color works best?

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Rodbender

[can it be luck?]

Try useing a fire tiger or glow colored bucket.

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http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[LOWinEYEin]

But how do colored minnows-work?

[say_der]

would putting food coloring in the water work to color them?

[eyehunter]

I was wondering too if food coloring would do it. I have used food coloring for smelt and ciscos when fishing big northerns and it works for them, but have never tried it on live bait before.
Anybody from the pro staff have an opinion on this?

[Flash King]

An old timer once told me of a trick using crushed red onion skins in a shiner bucket to color your shiners; tried it once and the shiners seemed to take on a reddish hue,but the time spent peeling the skins and allowing the shiners to take on any color seemed not worth it.Maybe if I knew a chef would would save me the skins I would definity try it again.

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[big_fish_guy]

would red food coloring kill them?
seriously.

I think I might do some experimenting, don't tell peta.

[rapala75]

I've put minnows in a red bucket all the time i never noticed a color change.

[CrappieJohn]

Using food color gets some interesting looking minnows. By keeping the minnows in a container in the fridge for a couple days is all it takes after you color the water. Do not use a ton of the food color, just enough to get a good clean color in the water. Yellow, orange and purple have been good colors for me in the past. Grocery stores will carry McCormick's food coloring in the baking section and can be found in 4 color packs the will make any color you can imagine.

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Sure life happens- why wait....The Crapster....good fishing guys!
[email protected]

[roadkingclasic56]

I have noticed the same thing with my own minnows. You keep them in a white bucket and they fade to match their invironment. I have used them to fish along side a partner who had fresh minnows and outfished him this way on more than one occasion. I believe they are not able to blend in as well and make an easy target. I don't know if they would match any other color. No experience with that. But I know I am not afraid to keep the minnows around for a few days if I have a trip planned. It's a little work to change water on them but I think it's worth it when you get to the ice.

[DARK30]

Looks like its just a matter of time.....

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/12/02/fluorescent.fish.ap/index.html

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[bigminnow]

I use minnow piant for my shiners and noticed more flags than my buddies who wern't using the stuff. All I would do is dip their tails in this "Magic Powder" and it really does the trick. Plus the powder is scented like licorice so I think that also increases the awareness for Northerns and walleye's. I use it on every flag that I leave out.

[MnRon]

hey big minnow where do you get this powder?

[bigminnow]

I haven't found it up here in MN. I go to a tackle shop in SE WI. Thats the only location I can find the powder fish paint. It looks pretty generic, but works really well.