Please help: why can't I seem to catch minnows?

[majahops]

Hey guys. I'm at a total loss here and I'm hoping somebody can help me out.

I've been trying to catch minnows for bait for the last 6 days. There are tons of minnows swimming around my dock, I see them swimming around in huge schools every time I walk out there. However, none of them seem to swim into my minnow trap. I have literally only caught two fish in that thing... interestingly, both were tiny baby blue fish, not the minnows that swim in huge schools back there. These minnows I'm speaking of would fit easily into the mouths of the trap but wouldn't fit out of the holes in the trap... (i.e. they are the right side for the trap).

So here's what I'm working with:

- Gee's minnow trap.
- Tried it at the top of the water, medium depth and on the floor of the lagoon.
- I have left the trap out there the majority of the days and over night every night over the last 6 days.
- On separate occasions, I have tried raw chicken, dog food, white bread and bagels for bait.

Can anybody please poke a hole in what I'm doing wrong here? The fish are there, my trap is there... What am I missing here?

Thank you so much in advance for any advice you can offer. Please excuse my ignorance.

Tim

[info2]

Use a net..
Rest the net a few inches under the water and sprinkle some bait over the center to attract minnows. Bread or cracker crumbs work best to attract them. Hold the net steady while they gather in order not to scare the fish away. Raise the net swiftly when a large pack of minnows are dining on your bait. It is important to quickly raise the net so that the fish are not given time to escape. Lift the net completely out of the water and be sure not to tilt the opening too far. Throw the minnows in a bucket of water.
This is the easiest way to me.

---

The Gulf Coast’s premiere source for fishing charter information, we're located in the Florida panhandle (Santa Rosa Beach, FL). Destin fishing to Panama City fishing, even Louisiana Redfish in the “Biloxi Marsh,” you will have the best guides and a great fishing experience.

Shallow Water Expeditions
http://www.shallowwaterexpeditions.com

[majahops]

Thanks. This was awesome advice. I'm going to just use a net.

[Catchers Mitt]

Majahops, i don't know where your dock is but I went down the wrong road on trying to catch minnows in a trap as you did. I will tell you what I have learned. 1. the minnows swimming around on top are probably not going to go in a trap. The ones I have swimming around my dock on top are what we call glass minnows. not a very hardy bait. but if you want to catch them, throw a cast net and you will get them. if they are finger mullet, these are much better for bait. use a cast net to catch them also. 2. if you want to catch minnows in a trap, the ones we catch are called Cocahoes, I believe the real name is killifish. they live in the marsh and to catch them, put your trap in the marsh on the bottom and bait with pogeys or cracked crab.

I, as you, have had zero success with the trap on the surface. so put it on the bottom in a fishy looking area. use black string and a non obvious marker so no one will run your trap. and one will probably not yield enough bait one night.

Also if you see little flicks on the surface and maybe a flash under the surface, around here in LA, those are pogeys (menhaden) throw the cast net over the flicks and you will have a net full. they are a little hard to keep alive but are excellent bait for Speckled trout and snappers.

But my advice would be to get a cast net and learn how to throw it. you will catch a 1000 times more bait with it than with a trap or two.

good luck

Mark

[majahops]

You guys are all so right. I threw a cast-net out there and caught over a hundred pretty quickly. Thank you so much for the feedback.

One question, if you don't mind. I bought an umbrella drop net, since I suck at throwing out the cast net. Anybody have any experience with these? Do they work well? The fish that I caught with the cast net (a smaller form of bunker, I believe) were SUPER fast. I don't see them slowing down long enough for me to pull them up on the umbrella net. I haven't had a chance to use it though. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much again!

[Catchers Mitt]

You guys are all so right. I threw a cast-net out there and caught over a hundred pretty quickly. Thank you so much for the feedback.

One question, if you don't mind. I bought an umbrella drop net, since I suck at throwing out the cast net. Anybody have any experience with these? Do they work well? The fish that I caught with the cast net (a smaller form of bunker, I believe) were SUPER fast. I don't see them slowing down long enough for me to pull them up on the umbrella net. I haven't had a chance to use it though. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much again!

I am not familier with an umbrella net. a good cast net in the 5 to 7 foot range with 3/8 mesh mono and lots of lead will get them. avoid the 25 to 45 dollar nets and spring for a better one. old salt, betts and others. easy to throw once you learn how. google for a video. follow through. if you are lazy with it, it will not open fully.

one more bait trick. range cubes!

[info2]

I agree with Catchers Mitt. Plus, you can always call up some buddies to help you with the cast net. You can always say your having trouble with the net because of an old injury you got fighting a bear, panther, whatever. Haha.

---

The Gulf Coast’s premiere source for fishing charter information, we're located in the Florida panhandle (Santa Rosa Beach, FL). Destin fishing to Panama City fishing, even Louisiana Redfish in the “Biloxi Marsh,” you will have the best guides and a great fishing experience.

Shallow Water Expeditions
http://www.shallowwaterexpeditions.com