why trap minnows when you can fish for them...... when you have shakey ice on the lakes got to your favorite little stream with your ulralight and throw a small piece of worm onthe hook and toss it in.... it is a whole lot more fun then setting a trap for and checking it the next day. if you do this, atleast you are out there fishing and not sitting whatching tv or something. plus you usually get bigger baits like chubs and fallfish.
for smaller minnows i usually prefer kicking for them. its more work but you can get a ton of minnows if you find the right hole to kick.
JiggerMan
Ps.... i have 50 5+inch chubs in a big tub in my basement right now that are begging everyday to go bass and pickerel fishing
