Minnow trappping

[SoHawk]

How is everyone doing trapping the lil' buggers this year?  It's really turned on for me on the last for days and I have plenty for opener. 

[jigglestick]

we missed a good run of shiners during the schmeldt run :-[
i did try the traps afterward, but that was real slow.
instead i kept checking the creek with goose and we found them in, one sunny afternoon, and made two pulls to fill our baitwells.
we even got into a few goldens 8)

[SoHawk]

I have gotten quite a few larger shiners and some golden.  I suspended the trap about a foot off of botton and that is keeping the mud minnows out.  I have alot of creek and rainbows in the 2-3" range, and some sized for crappie.    I even have a few dozen of the large 4-6+" creek chubs.  the northerns LOVE those.  I have been baiting iwth dog food this year and it really makes a difference.  I was using bread before.

[Spinach]

I live on one of the best minnow trapping lakes in the metro, I haven't trapped in many years, but with the price of gas now, it might be a good idea to start trapping minnows again. When I did trap, i also used dogfood.

Where can I buy a couple minnow traps now?

[SoHawk]

sportman's warehouse has some, as does Mills fleet. I would assume cabelas does too. 

[Spinach]

Thanks Sohawk, that gives me an excuse to check out the new Sportsmen Warehouse in Woodbury.

[SoHawk]

If you can't find one before opener, feel free to stop by on your way to mille lacs. I have plenty to share.  drop me PM and I'll send the phone #   

[jigglestick]

the kids and i seined about ten dozen shiners this morning. i will check one more time tomorrow and that should round it off nicely.
i will use crappie minnows and artificials on red, if we can get out though. i don't think the shiners would survive the trip up there. i have plenty of places around here to use them.

we did manage to pull some out the other day that included some nice golden shiners, and some large, 6-7 inch river shiners.

nice way to save a couple bucks.

[Dr.Bob]

I have only checked my trap once and have plenty of nice rainbows, fat heads and crappie minnows for this weekend.

I think I missed the main run though because there were not nearly as many in there as usual.  Normally I only have to put it out for one night and I have enough for the whole spring.  There are a lot of minnows in the pond that I trap!

Everything is early this year and judging by the leafs on the trees, I am too late.  Normally the young popples have just opening sticky buds on them when I set my trap.  They are way past that stage now.

[SoHawk]

The minnows have really slowed down today. I think it's because of the rain and cold front. 

[GRIZ]

Someone mentioned golden shiners. Believe it or not if you have a place with goldens, paint your trap red. I don't know why but it increases catch of them a bit. I learned this when I delivered minnows down to Florida. This bait dealer had a bunch of these "things", all they were is key rings hooked together with a piece of red ribbon woven throught them. He said they were shiner traps and everyone down there had one hanging on there dock. They for some reason like the color red and when brushing against the ribbon would get gilled in the key ring. I tried it by paunting a couple minnow traps and yes red does have a fancy for them.

Makes me wonder if other types of minnows and bait fish might be attracted to certain colors. I have not tested anything other than red on goldens. I have an idea though are ya with me yet JS.