Emerald shiners

[Knowknot]

Just wondering if anyone has any live emerald shiners left to sell, or if all that is left is frozen ones. Thanks,

[Hoey]

I suggest checking with Steve at Log Cabin bait.  

[PRO-V]

Adrian's always used to have them to..

[Mozer]

I have heard no live shiners.

[anyfishwilldo]

they only ran for a couple days.  They have them on the canadian side but its illegal to transport live bait across the border

[Iowabrewcrew]

Funny...seems like when the Emerald run slowed down up there 4-5 years ago, the fishing followed suit!

[PRO-V]

8 hours ago, Iowabrewcrew said:

Funny...seems like when the Emerald run slowed down up there 4-5 years ago, the fishing followed suit!

Agreed!!

[hookie]

no live ones that I know of just frozen ones. I heard the run started good than the rain came and dirty the river and moved em back out into the lake.

[PRO-V]

Frozen ones work better in my opinion anyway. Haven't bought a live one in 10 years.

[hookie]

I've had very good luck with them also. Always pick some up before heading out on the lake.

[kfk]

I like to fish a frozen shiner along with a live fathead on a single hook.  Even though the shiner is dead, I think the movement of the fathead creates the illusion that it's a live shiner.  It's worked for me many times anyway and it's usually better than either a frozen shiner or fathead by themselves.

Edited February 22, 2018 by kfk

[CANOPY SAM]

Interesting presentation, kfk.  I like that idea.

I think the typical predator fish in LOTW really keys in on the natural smell of these shiner minnows, as it's one of their primary forage base all year round.  Adding the movement of a live fathead to the "scent" of a shiner minnow, and of course the shimmer of those sparkling shiner minnow scales, is a very smart presentation!

I've done this same thing numerous times while fishing for pike under tip-ups.  I'll take a Whitefish (from LOTW) and cut it into slender, boneless strips of flesh, and add these "flaps" of whitefish to extra exposed barbs on my quick-strike treble hooks, with a large lively sucker minnow as the primary bait.  These strips of stinky whitefish fillets (they look like Uncle Josh Pork Rinds when cut up right) act to add action to the bait when that big sucker minnow swims and darts around under that tip-up.  It also adds a very specific, natural forage base "scent" to my baits that these big LOTW pike really key in on.  Takes just a bit more prep time, but it really adds dividends on days when the pike are a little picky.

I'm gonna try your fathead/frozen shiner "combo" presentation next time I'm up, kfk!  I really like this idea!!!

One point to make, to those coming from a distance to LOTW.  I would hesitate to bring up shiner minnows from another location.  I've done this myself in the past, and I've had VERY limited success.  In my humble experience, these fish seem to really know the difference between baitfish that are natural to this lake vs. baitfish that have come from another body of water.  They have a remarkable sense of scent or smell, and I'm certain they can quickly tell what actually belongs in their lake, and what doesn't.  I could certainly be wrong.  These are just my humble observations.

 

 

[Knowknot]

Thanks for the responses. I think I will try the frozen shiner and fathead combination myself and see how it works this weekend. 

[Bigfatbert]

 I have had my best luck up at LOTW  with chubs  on small jigs , and also have had good luck on a frozen Emerald shiner head on a jigging spoon ..   as for the previous mention by CANOPY SAM of sticking to Emerald shiners from local LOTW resorts or baitstores , vs shiners bought downstate , I agree 100 % ,as they are always a different type of shiner ,much different from each other .. as for CANOPY SAM's statement of the predator fish keying in on the scent of the shiners , I disagree , as Walleyes  don't feed by scent , it's all got to do with there lateral line on there side of there body .....  I do think with the pike , the scent does attract... Good luck Knowknot up on the huge pond .

[PRO-V]

I disagree on the scent thing. Have had many times out there where the fish wouldn't go in a spot and as soon as I sprayed the minnow with Gulp spray it was lights out. Had the same experience with crappies. 

[Bigfatbert]

2 hours ago, PRO-V said:

I disagree on the scent thing. Have had many times out there where the fish wouldn't go in a spot and as soon as I sprayed the minnow with Gulp spray it was lights out. Had the same experience with crappies. 

I think it has more to do with taste vs smell . I think if it tastes good to the fish ,then they will tend to hold on longer ,  thus giving you a better probability and percentage of a hook set vs the fish blowing the bait out . I do believe that soft plastics that are impregnated with scent do have there time and place  vs the spraying of scents onto the bait . I'm just talking about Walleye and scent and taste ..  obviously some fish thrive on seeking out and biting a stinky , rotten smelling and tasting bait , such as Catfish  and Sturgeon..    these are my opinions... PRO-V , you do your thing and I will do mine .. I'm glad we both love fishing., and best of luck to you in the future in pursuit of those fish ..

[seifjr]

Just curious about the "lateral line" comment, if you're fishing with just a minnow head, wouldn't that be more of a of a scent/taste trigger, as you've pinched off the lateral lines of the minnow?

[PRO-V]

My experience wasn't getting them to hold on, it was them taking a bite at all. This usually involved vertical jigging. Guess we all have our own theories and methods.

[Knowknot]

When you say "chubs", do you mean creek chubs, or rainbow chubs? And where do you get them around Baudette?

[Bigfatbert]

21 hours ago, seifjr said:

Just curious about the "lateral line" comment, if you're fishing with just a minnow head, wouldn't that be more of a of a scent/taste trigger, as you've pinched off the lateral lines of the minnow?

Hey there seifjr ! The lateral line I was speaking of is on the Walleyes sides , not the on the minnow. It runs down the sides of a walleye , about right in the center , length wise , from head to tail. This line is a nerve/sense organ that senses vibrations , movements , pressure changes . Walleyes use this sense to respond to minnow , and/or other food sources movements when they are feeding ,as there eyesight can be limited at times with heavily stained , churned up , algae bloomed waters .this line helps detect there food source.. Bait movement in the water creates vibrations , these vibrations are detected by the LL allowing the walleye to search out and react to the bait that created such movements.... As for your thoughts on just using a dead minnows head would create a scent/taste trigger . It's the vibration/movement of the jigging action , and/or the built in rattles on jigs or spoons , or the up/down pounding of the bottom of the lake that you create that can help the Walleye detect just where your bait is and react , hopefully with a strike of your bait and a fish fry to follow .... Good luck !

[Bigfatbert]

12 hours ago, Knowknot said:

When you say "chubs", do you mean creek chubs, or rainbow chubs? And where do you get them around Baudette?

 To answer your question Knowknot ,  just regular chub or fathead minnows offered at most bait shops , either up LOTW way , or throughout the state ,  is what I have had my best luck with  . Some people prefer rainbows , which also are usually quite readily found any where...    You mentioned creek chubs , well I do like to use a fairly large creek chubs 5"-6" or so in the spring open water , and/or summertime on a jig or lindy ,  and in certain lakes ... They are not available in winter , that I know of , but boy oh boy , I sure would like to try them under a tip up for Walleyes if I could ......      Oh yah ,some baitstores will have mixed in with there chubs/fatheads a breed of minnow called a Dace . I personally avoid these stores , as I have found a big difference between a Dace and a fathead/chub for successfully catching Walleyes ....  Good luck !

[Knowknot]

Thanks for the good information, I think I am going to try some rainbows and fatheads both and hope for the best. 

[PRO-V]

On 2/27/2018 at 5:29 PM, Bigfatbert said:

 I have had my best luck up at LOTW  with chubs  on small jigs , and also have had good luck on a frozen Emerald shiner head on a jigging spoon ..   as for the previous mention by CANOPY SAM of sticking to Emerald shiners from local LOTW resorts or baitstores , vs shiners bought downstate , I agree 100 % ,as they are always a different type of shiner ,much different from each other .. as for CANOPY SAM's statement of the predator fish keying in on the scent of the shiners , I disagree , as Walleyes  don't feed by scent , it's all got to do with there lateral line on there side of there body .....  I do think with the pike , the scent does attract... Good luck Knowknot up on the huge pond .

 - Interesting facts on walleye by John Vance

 

During the research for my book "Walleye Biology and Behaviour" from a fisherman's point of view, I found a host of interesting facts about the walleye. Here are just a few:

Walleye have their ‘taste buds' in their lips - thousands of them!

Walleye are ‘long distance' swimmers, and few ‘prey' species can outdistance them. It is believed that walleye can ‘smell' their prey, quite a distance away, using their keen sense of smell. Too, they use their lateral line to find such schools of minnows.

[Better Than Working!]

Fishing Rainy River this fall and the baits with scent on them dramatically out fished those that were not scented. I have seen this occur time after time. If walleye don,t feed by scent then there is no harm in using scent, but if they do and you don't have the right scent your success will be diminished. Just my thoughts! 

[PRO-V]

From In-Fisherman:

Smell and Taste
Because they must detect molecules of substances dissolved in water, a walleye’s senses of smell and taste are more closely linked than humans. While this makes it hard for researchers to determine which stimuli they respond to, there’s little doubt scent and flavor play a role in feeding behavior. A fish’s chemoreception (including both smell and taste) is also critical for avoiding predators, locating fish of the same species, coordinating spawning time, and homing in to residence areas and spawning sites.

Judging by the design of its olfactory organ, a walleyes’ sense of smell probably falls somewhere between channel catfish and members of the sunfish family, and walleyes are likely able to detect amino acids in a dilution of several parts per 10 million. Studies have shown walleyes respond favorably to various amino acids and salt solutions, while fish mucus, essences of walleye body parts, and other amino acids repel them. It’s no surprise that walleyes smell well, considering that livebait is often the only answer to a tough bite and finicky fish. Taste is likewise important, often spurring the decision whether to spit a bait or swallow it.

Read more: http://www.in-fisherman.com/biology/walleye-senses/#ixzz58ajHqz8n

[Hoey]

I ice fish on LOTW about 40 days per year, from my experience, there are too many variables in fishing to know what works and what does not.  For example, I changed from red to pink and all of a sudden I was catching fish.  I will never know if it was the color change (i did not change back to red to find out) or just a timing thing - did the fish finally show up?

I have used all types of bait, shiners (frozen and alive), rainbows, small creek chubs, etc..., and have never tried plastics or scents.  I only use large fatheads on my dead-sticks and medium fathead's heads on my jiggin spoons.  Advantages are cheaper, less work keeping alive, and predictable success.  I have fished all side-by-side with no noticeable difference.  To me, rainbows are too strong and I end up with many tangled lines.  

One tip on how much bait is needed - with a 50/50 mix of large and medium fats, one pint is good for 6 man-days of fishing.  

Good luck and enjoy the sport of fishing!!!

[Knowknot]

Hoey, I'd have to agree with you on this one. Just got back from the lake and did great with just using fatheads, larger ones on the dead sticks and smaller ones or just heads on my  home made jigging spoons. Had shiners along and they didn't work as well as fatheads. Good luck to all.