minnow heads

[tschneid]

I always tip spoons, raps, etc with a minnow head and sometimes going to a bait shop can be a pain or the fishing stunk and I got a dozen left over at the end of the day. I am looking to  preserve some minnows so I can use them when I want without the need for a minnow bucket or a trip to the bait store. After some internet research and an iceshanty search it appears that a variety of techniques exist to keep them "fresh". It appears that a good salting and freezer time seems to be most popular but someone mentioned windshield wiper fluid to keep them fresh.

I was wondering if anyone else does this and if they could share the way they preserve them. Do you feel they do just as good a job as pinching off a fresh minnow head. I worry about them getting mushy and not staying on the hook. I also worry about the fish knowing the difference between a fresh pinched head vs one that has been in salt and the freezer for two weeks. Do you add artificial scents or attractants?

This is something I always think about at the beginning of the season but never follow through with.

Thanks

[flicker]

ive used salted and they work ok  but the fresh minnow head has always worked better.. but if you dont have fresh. salted is pretty good

[tater140]

Seems to me I saw some methods of using vodka for storage.  Obviously that wouldn't freeze... I just remember seeing some info on that on the Ohio boards when the shiners were scarce this summer on Erie.

[abishop]

heard wd40 is good to spray on them.

[MDeppe]

A couple of years ago two friends told me that they put left over minnow heads in the left over juice from the gulp minnows,  They said they actually worked better.  They also said they put them in the fridge.  I have never tried it just thought I would pass this along.