Crappie minnows

How do you stick a crappie minnow on your hook. Through the lips, eyes,dorsal fin,tail?

I'd like to hear how others hook their minnows and maybe why you hook them by that method.

Generally speaking, I hook my minnows "behind" the eyeballs when using a plain hook. I do so, so as to allow the hook deeper access to the fish's mouth when they're biting slow or tentively. I don't poke the hook point thru the eyeballs, since that deflates them & opens up a big gap, allowing the hook to come out easily. I gently run the hook point behind the eyeball, popping the point thru the membrane and out behind the other eyeball. This method also allows me to present the minnow a little faster ... either getting it down to depths, or casting it out ... with less chance of pulling the hook free (ie - pulling/slinging the minnow off).

Dorsal hooking is fine, if the boat/float isn't moving, or I'm not fishing it much beyond the length of my rod.

If I'm using a minnow on a jighead ... I'm running the hook point up from the V shaped section of the bottom of the minnows mouth (throat) and bringing it out between the nostrils. This allows the minnow/jig to be cast, jigged, trolled, or tightlined.

Tail hooking is OK, and works well when "freelining" ... but, also allows Bluegill & other small sunfish to grab the head & run off.

Lip hooking isn't a hooking method that I have much confidence in, or use for, since it's too easy for the minnow to be taken from the hook. I have enough problems with gills & other small "baitsnatchers" yanking the minnow off the hook, or pecking it to death while it's on the hook ... I don't want to make it any easier for them, by precariously hanging a minnow on the hook by their soft little lips ... LOL !!

I rarely use minnows, preferring to cast jigs ... but, when I do use them, 99% of the time I will hook them behind the eyes.

... pappy

[QUOTE=crappiepappy;484483]Generally speaking, I hook my minnows "behind" the eyeballs when using a plain hook. I do so, so as to allow the hook deeper access to the fish's mouth when they're biting slow or tentively. I don't poke the hook point thru the eyeballs, since that deflates them & opens up a big gap, allowing the hook to come out easily. I gently run the hook point behind the eyeball, popping the point thru the membrane and out behind the other eyeball. This method also allows me to present the minnow a little faster ... either getting it down to depths, or casting it out ... with less chance of pulling the hook free (ie - pulling/slinging the minnow off).



... pappy[/QUOTE]

I think I understand what you're saying. You push the hook point through the eye socket just behind the actual eyeball? That's the method I try to use. All other methods seem to kill the minnow much faster. Thanks for the detailed reply.

I have to say lip hook em. I use a smaller hook like a four or six with small minnows. If your minnows have any size to them, I would hook them up through the top lip and not through the bottom. They will live much, much longer. It also allows for the only "natural" presentation in the water. Have you ever seen a dorsal or tail hooked fish swim? I've seen crappie stare at them and make jokes. Insensitive if you ask me. They have no compassion for a fellow fish in peril. If you hook them up through the top lip and out through one of those nostril holes then it will hold and take quite a bit of abuse. A small hook might just land you some slab bluegill too and won't hurt your hookup ratio.

On a jig or trolling through the lips.

On a hook under a bobber or KY lake rig behind the dorsal.

I always lip hook them. Been doing that for many many years. Go from the bottom lip, then up through the top lip. Works just fine.

The only time I'll hook one behind the dorsal is when it's of decent size, and I'm targeting bass.

For catfish, I'll run it through the eyes and then hook the minnow right in the side, hiding the hook point and all. Catfish love dead crappie minnows.

In one eye socket and out the other, it sounds cruel but they seem to live a long time.

[QUOTE=sweetwater;486625]In one eye socket and out the other, it sounds cruel but they seem to live a long time.[/QUOTE]

agreed ^^ been doing that for a long time. if the crappie are biting it really doesnt matter where you hook them!