Best method for dead minnow use?

[Alex = #1]

I know it is semi-popular to use frozen minnows on LoTW, and I'd like to apply those same principals to an area where it is illegal to use live minnows.

I'm wondering, is it better to freeze the minnows a few days before fishing, or just buy live bait the day of, and drain the water out and kill them all right before going fishing?

Any one have any thoughts and/or procedures for freezing/curing minnows?

Thanks!

[Dellfin]

Alex-That's a great question and was wondering the same thing after all of my minnow died last Saturday. Unfortunately, I don't have the answer for you but I can tell you that I had no problem catching tons of smallmouth on Sunday using the dead minnows right out of the bucket.

I'll watch for others with more experience in this to chime in...

[Boar]

It is my experience that when using frozen minnows, they have a big tendency to get mushy an dont stay on the hook well, my experience with catching river chubs for catfishing is that when fezzing river chubs an then using them later they stink ten times as much when they thaw, if this is the same with small bait shop chubs I dont know, but all in all If ya durability kill them the same day of use, if ya want scent, freez them the use them as they thaw, IMO anyway. If ya fish a lake that requires no live bait then your better off freezing them cause ya might run into a gray area with a CO. Boar

[sdfishin]

Here'e a couple ways I've done it.

I'll freeze minnows all summer and fall just to save for the Rainy river in the early spring. The best way I have found is to lay them flat in a ziploc bag and pour a little Coke into them; that way they seem to preserve better and do not freeze so rock hard as with water. This way you can get a hook through the lips of them without tearing the heads off when ready to fish.

As far as using dead minnows the day of fishing buy a bottle of coke and pour on the minnows. They will croak in seconds and no mess. This worked very well last spring fishing the canada side of the rainy.

[late night]

Here'e a couple ways I've done it.

Have you ever tried salt? I read an article once that recommended it stating the bait gives of more scent but I have never tried it and nobody I have talked to ever has either. I might try it later in March when I head to the Angle.

[chris63]

Yes,we use canning salt to preserve minnows for Canada trips in the summer.The minnows aren't as mus hie due to the fact they don't decay(as fast) when thawed.When they do thaw out they will last at least 48 to 72 hours (even in the sun)before you can't stand the smell!c63

[mnhunter 3815]

dead,alive or frozen minnows works great on lotw.i use all them all.