CTFishTalk.com: Minnows! - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi All!

Well as many of you already know -> The cost of live bait (particularly minnows) is getting expensive Exclamation

Also last year it was very hard for everyone to find their local bait shop able to carry Pike size minnows (4 inches and up and at $1.00 apiece the cost adds up!).

So??? What are you to do???
Well NOW would be the time and effort to find some back waters that have a population of Golden Shiners (Alewives are a NO! NO! as they are NOT native to many waters and can ruin many fisheries Exclamation

)
Once you find some good Goldie waters -> You can set out 1-2 small minnow traps, baited with cat food, and catch them by the dozen.

Now! -> How to keep them alive till you need them! -> Easy -> Get a large clean plastic tote box with cover -> Fill with Spring water (NOT CITY WATER!) 2/3 to 3/4 full and run a air line + stone thru the cover.
Keep the tote in a fairly dark area where the water will stay cold and not freeze and DO NOT FEED THE MINNOWS! -> Food will foul the water!
Once a week -> Change 1/2 the water out with fresh Spring water.
That's it Exclamation

What happens once ice forms on waters? -> Easy -> Cut a hole thru the ice and set your trap(s) -> Goldies will stay just under the ice and easily caught!
Or you can jig them up with small #14 hook tipped with tiny piece of worm or spike.

That's what I did yesterday in my next door neighbors small spring fed old fire pond, 50 ft. from my back door. Caught over 7 dozen in little over an hour.
All sizes from small to 4-7 inches!
(I have 2 small goldfish ponds next to the house -> so I put the Goldies in the lower pond till I need them).

Had fun doing that and the cat and the dog enjoyed sitting by me getting 1 or 2 to munch on! Smile

Hope this post helps!
Best regards,
SeaDog1

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi All!

I went to my next-door neighbors pond and hook and lined up about 6 dozen Goldies in about 2 1/2 hours. (Had fun)!

Looked like a school of Piranah in a feeding frenzy when I thru some goldfish pellets on the water.

Again the cat and the dog sat on either side of me waiting for their share to munch on! Laughing

My lower goldfish pond next to the house is full now, so I figure I'll be trying for some Pike and Smallies this week! Razz

SeaDog1

DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Sounds like a plan. Keep us updated on how you do.

asianfisher · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 920

I have this connect that sells me 10 lbs of shiners for 30 bucks.... sometimes i just dont know what to do with them since i dont have a tank big enough for them.... maybe this year if price didnt go up can split that shit with some of the guys....

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi AF!

No tank big enough for 10 lb of shiners!?

As I have previously posted!
Here's an easy cheap way -> Get a large deep, dark colored, plactic tote with cover.
Put tote in unheated garage or cool dark place.
2 cheap air pumps from Wal-mart.
Fill 2/3 to 3/4 full with "Springwater" -> (Not city water).
Start air pumps and wait 1 hour.
Add shiners (Not the water they came in).
Cover (Shiners will jump).
Change 1/2 of water out per week.
DO NOT FEED SHINERS Exclamation

That's it

Most all shiners will stay alive for weeks!

SeaDog1

asianfisher · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 920

Thats small... will try ive been tryin coolers with white inside... they dont last thought it was cause its to small. Maybe cause white? I got the air for them and water filters from old fish tanks. they just dont last. I dont know why. Will try dark container this year...

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi AF!

Forget the water filters -> waste of time.
You need to change out 1/2 the water each week.
It's the build up of ammonia that kills them.
Again -> DO NOT FEED!

SeaDog1

DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Yup...it's the ammonia from the fish waste. One way to keep the ammonia down is to change out the water like SD said. You may even need to change it out more often then once a week. You could probably use tap water but if you have city water you would need to add a dechlorinator like "Prime" whenever you add or change out water. A filter can help the problem if it is colonized with beneficial bacteria that breaks down the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. The only way that happens is to take a filter from an established tank though. Good luck!

asianfisher · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 920

Cool beans thanks for the tips couldnt figure out why they died so fast... seruiously thought it was the size of cooler....

deafice · Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 15

My fish tank is full did all the fishing and traping all summer and early fall i have now 9 200 gal fish tank full of bait fish about 90 fall fish about 200 8 inch sucker about 300 chubs about 100 siverside have 1,000 wax worm i am ready to go ice fishing

deafice · Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 15

all my bait fish are in 200 gal black tub with rock in them put few water plant in them and one thing i find it i use 20 watt plant light and i put fish food they live all year in them been doing it for two year yes you have to take some water i use water tube to suck from the bottom to clean out the crap and bad water put new river water i do it every two week Very Happy

do not put them in white tub glass tub they get stress and will die

asianfisher · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 920

Glad to know... seriously.... thanks ya'll.....

pikePERSUADER1 · Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 521

seadog, i've thought about doing that before seeing as my local bait shop seems to run out mid way through winter, question though, 1- is there any minnow traps you know of that would fit through a 8'' hole? 2- does it seem that you find them in a peticular location relating to weeds or vegetation and are they always higher in the water column???

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi pP1!

I have 2 square crayfish traps I use, but have to use my spud to open the ice holes larger so the traps can fit through.
I bait the traps with cat food in an old onion bag.
Many times I just hook and line the Goldies just for the enjoyment!
Goldies can be traped or caught 1-2 ft. below the ice.
Swampy backwaters are a good place to find them!

SeaDog1

Flipper · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 347 Location: Enfield

Asianfisher-another reason they might be dying is water temp. A regular fishtank in your house will get too warm for shiners to survive. Put it in your basement or garage and they should be okay.
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