Minnow
EssentialBeginnerFresh & salt
A small live or cut baitfish fished under a float, on a plain hook, or as a trailer, imitating the single most universal forage in freshwater and coastal systems alike. Nearly every predatory gamefish eats minnows, which makes this the most broadly effective live bait in the box.
Profile
- Depth: 5/10
- Speed: 2/10
- Murky Water: 7/10
- Snag Resist.: 2/10
- Castability: 3/10
- Noise: 2/10
Conditions
RetrieveStill / Drift
DepthMid-Water
WaterAny
CoverOpen Water
Works well for
Recommended Knots
Technique tips
- Hook it lightly through the lips or just under the dorsal fin to keep it swimming naturally and alive longer.
- Match minnow size to the target species — oversized bait gets ignored by smaller panfish and trout.
- Keep the bait bucket aerated and cool — a lively minnow outfishes a dying one by a wide margin.
Find out what really works for you
Log each catch with the lure that got it, rate lures and see which ones pay off on your waters.