Hook type/size for minnows to catch some rainbow's.

[NH piker]

I'm taking the wife out tomorrow for some rainbow action and I have only used egg's as of late but went over the other day and got skunked and some guys were doing ok with minnows.  I was just wondering what others use for hooks.  I'm looking at getting some real small minnows.  I still can't believe after 29 years my wife is going ice fishing with me and she's excited about it.  I think its the menopause thing?

[BrookieSlayer99]

small shiners for rainbows, I use a #10 baitholder hook. #8 also works.

[Mr.Harry]

X2. I usually use 8's.

[HuntnFish603]

#10 Gamasatku

[MikeSJ]

X2 Gammies for sure #8

[fullerbn]

I use # 10 egg hooks, i use them for live bait and eggs

[missoulafish]

Way to much effort for a fish that eats everything. I'd try some less intensive choices before I went through the effort to use minnows.

[SALMONEMIA]

 size 8 and size 6 on occasion,  gami octopus, I was getting bows on small/medium shiners, prefer smelt but shiners work too. Redfins are good if you can find them.

[deerme]

Always went with 8's until last year.  AJ told me to switch to 6's so I did.  It ended up being a wise decision.

Gammy's are nice, but Owner makes the sharpest hook in the world.  I just bought a 63 pack on Amazon for $23.  That will last a while

[meatandmetal]

I basically use 8 - 10 hooks. I stab some of the bigger shiners in the mouth with a salmon egg on to add some color. Don't be afraid to stick one in 3 feet of water.

[meatandmetal]

Way to much effort for a fish that eats everything. I'd try some less intensive choices before I went through the effort to use minnows.

Those Montana Rainbows are a little different than ours. Some days eggs, some day worms, some day powerbait, some day shiners, some day nothing we have to shake it up here.

Do you fish Flathead at all?

[nixstyx]

The key is to match the hook to the size of the bait. You mentioned you got some really small shiners -- in that case, sticking a #4 hook through them is likely to kill them. On the other side, if you use a #10 on a larger shiner, you aren't likely to get a good hook up. In most cases I don't think the sight of a large hook turns off a fish, but I do think if they feel it in their mouth they're more likely to spit it. Generally, for small "pins" I use #10 or #8. Mediums, #8 or #6. And, don't be afraid to try out salmon eggs on a #8 or #10 egg hook.

[missoulafish]

Hey Denny!!
They are trout, the evolved to be dumb lol! Jk!!
Fish flathead many times. Boat, shore, through the ice.
I only remember it freezing over maybe two or three times in my life.
If it freezes over again I'll walk up there to fish it if I have too!!!!

[meatandmetal]

Hey Denny!!
They are trout, the evolved to be dumb lol! Jk!!
Fish flathead many times. Boat, shore, through the ice.
I only remember it freezing over maybe two or three times in my life.
If it freezes over again I'll walk up there to fish it if I have too!!!!

I can't believe Flathead doesn't freeze over with the temps out there. Where do you go for bows ice fishing when I was out there we usually went for bottle bass in ice fishing season.

[missoulafish]

Parts freeze over but it takes a couple weeks of 30-40 below to freeze that much water but if it freezes over....
Those silly trout are everywhere, it's harder to find a place where they aren't. I'll fish for them until the water that has the fish with spines and big teeth freeze over

[meatandmetal]

Parts freeze over but it takes a couple weeks of 30-40 below to freeze that much water but if it freezes over....
Those silly trout are everywhere, it's harder to find a place where they aren't. I'll fish for them until the water that has the fish with spines and big teeth freeze over

Good luck Bud I might make a trip in June or July to Montana OK to hit you with a conditions update then. I love the rivers out there. Sorry guys I got a little sidetracked on this post.

[missoulafish]

No problem:)