The best way to hook a Minnow

[little fish]

Hi Guys,
           Can any body tell me where to incert a hook, into the minnow to keep it alive the longest.

            Thx, 

[1TIGGER]

Through the lips or the fleshy part of the tail

[miket.]

i personally like to lip hook the minnow. i put the hook in the bottom lip and back through. this way the minnow can still swim around and have the freedom to attract fish. i find that this doesn"t seem to bother the minnow and can keep him out there indefinitely without killing him. with all the trial and error through the years this is what works best for me. good luck!

[icejunky]

I use all three areas to hook a minnow dependign on what Im fishing for or what I want the minnow to do. On my tip-ups with the larger minnows for pike i hook them just under the dorsal fin, gives you a nice large target. For crappies and perch when using pinheads i lip hook a few on. Then for an ultra active minnow i hook them through the tail...

[fishercat]

I hook mine between the dorsal fin and the spine. They stay nice and lively and they sit well on the hook.

[wallyboss]

I hook mine just behind the gills, hook just barely under the skin with the point facing forward

[flyman1002]

Depends on what i am fishing really.  Tip up and tip downs I always hook through the dorsal fin.  Not real deep but just enough to hold the minnow.  Shiners and fat heads usually always are fine.  Buckeyes don't last that long.  If I am tipping a whole minnow on a jig i go through the lips. 

[little fish]

 Hi Guys,
              Many thanks for the valued information.
This is still the best Ice Fishing site out there, for fishermen willing to help other fisherman.

   Bert 

[Tainterslayer]

I hook mine just in front of the top fin.

[Water Wolf]

In my area I can't use live minnows so I use frosen ones on a jig.
I usually hook them under the jaw and through the top of the head.
I also hook minnows through both gill plates so it is sitting sideways on the jig.
When I jig it this way it looks like it's crippled/dying.

If I want to dead stick them, I punch a small treble or single hook through the center of the minnow so they hang horizontal.

All 3 methods holds a frozen minnow quite well.

WW