How Do You Hook Minnows For Ice Fishing?

[redkona]

I also hook them right through the dorsal fin. I try to keep the hook at the top of the skin as to not kill the bait.

[reelcharacter]

When it comes to hooking minnos there are as many different opinions as there are fishermen (and they are all right, of course).   

My rule of thumb is "through the minnow, and not through the thumb . . ."

-Reelcharacter

[TroutFishingBear]

I feel the action is much better when you tail hook it.  However if I am open water fishing and casting out I will hook it behind the dorsal fin.

your right. I always feel for live minnows you should always tail hook it, and if they are dead and you are tipping a spoon or jig or something, then hook it behind the dorsal fin because it will have better action because of increased resistance to the water. Just my $.02

[grumpymoe]

tried them all.....for the hard bite....lip hooked......for the short bite...tail hooked....overall....f or the winter bite when temps get cold...just behind the dorsal fin...and just under the skin.........dont know how many minnows made it to live another day....but the resilience of live bait hooked this way.....promotes more bites when fishing the same spots day after day....live chubs are the best....shiners of any type just dont cut it....genetics come into play....tightlines all....Grump

[billditrite]

i agree moe .right behind the dorsal yet above the backbone.i have fished minnows on saturday,struck out and took them off, back in the tank!!the "hookedbacks"as we call them, are right back out on sunday!!

[camo_fish]

I'm in the same boat, on treble hooks I "back hook" them, on jig heads for jigging, I "lip hook" them.
 

My rule of thumb is "through the minnow, and not through the thumb . . ."
-Reelcharacter

I agree with this method too. 

[Kodiak Commando]

I thread the hook through the inside of the mouth as far as possible then stick it up through the back.

[kingfshr16]

Most of the time ill hook it right behind the dorsal, if im jigging sometimes i hook it threw the eyes and let it dangle.

[NAD42]

...after I cut it in half, I'll hook it so it hangs vertical, in-line with my jig.

[nepa old man]

Fatheads thru the mouth, shiners thru dorsal fin.

[BlackIce]

Fatheads jigging for crappie I tail hook most of the time.  Occasionally I will use just the head.  Tipups if I use fatheads I lip hook them and try to face two of them at each other.  If I use golden shiners I hook right by the dorsal fin as others have mentioned.

[baginwal]

Fatheads jigging for crappie I tail hook most of the time.  Occasionally I will use just the head.  Tipups if I use fatheads I lip hook them and try to face two of them at each other.  If I use golden shiners I hook right by the dorsal fin as others have mentioned.

Black,
Do you catch more walleye on tip ups w/fatheads or golden's?           

[fishuhalik]

Here's a trick that I've learned from my dad.  When fishing for finicky craps, hook you minnow through the butt.  Just stick it through there and then through the skin.  You minnow will stay alive all day, plus it gives the minnow a unique action.  If you've ever seen a dying fish, they will often swim upside down.  This will drive craps nuts.  Try it, you'll like it!

[jacksmelt71]

UNDER THE DORSAL NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF BAIT.

[Kolby]

Walleyes, Another vote for dorsal.  Tip-ups - Small split shot attatched to the treble to anchor the active minnow for an easy target, larger shot up 2 feet.  For more active fish a small shot up 12 inches and a larger shot 12 inches up from that one.  But I fish 90% of the time without bait.  Sometimes messing with tip-ups and deadsticks will force you into spending to much time in a marginal spot.  If the fish will take a minnow, they'll usually take an untipped Jigging Rap or Pimple.

[icejunky]

Last night, I gave the tale hook method a try. I was very impressed, my minnow stayed active all night long. (doesnt hurt that we didnt catch any fish).

[tinboat]

When I go out, I'll try to hook each shiner differently, (one through the back, one through tail, etc) and see if any one method appears to work better for that day. And if I get a series of hits on a shiner hooked a certain way, I'll change all the traps to that way. Sometimes the fish do have a preference...  

[nhtroutfreak]

I'm w/ you tinboat.  sometimes that what it takes to get them to bite.  The different hook placement changes the way the minnow swims