Tip of the month (Feb)

FEBURARY INSHORE TIP
HOW TO FISH WITH
MUD MINNOWS ONE OF THE BEST WINTER LIVE BAITS


In the middle of winter live bait can be hard to come by. One of my favorite live baits to use for winter inshore species is Mud minnows. They are readily available and are so easy to keep alive. I usually load up with mud minnows in any of the many creeks along the rivers and sounds in our local area. Any creek that has a tidal flow of saltwater and narrows down to a ditch will hold plenty of minnows. I use regular minnow traps made by Frabill. You can find this type of trap at The Reel Outdoors on Emerald Isle. I will bait each trap with one can of cat food (any brand works). Once a trap is baited, I will then place the trap parallel to the creek. I usually will check the trap each morning.
Now the question I get most is what is the best way to fish these minnows. I use three different techniques for this particular bait. Each technique is good for different situations. One thing these rigs all have in common is the hook I use. Typically I like to use a light gauge circle hook in the size of the mud minnows I have on hand. I will first start with the most common rigs anglers’ fish them. That is your traditional Carolina rig (photo #1) that consists of an egg sinker, bead, swivel, and hook. This Rig is used for deeper water situations or an area with a lot of current. This is not a recommend rig to use at the Cape Lookout rock jetty or any of the Creeks in the tidal rivers, because you will constantly stay snagged. This rig used more in the inlet and marsh areas.
The second rig I would like to discuss is as simple as it gets. This rig consists of a couple of split shots, 18”-24” of fluorocarbon leader and your light gauge circle hook (photo #2). I tie my flouro leader to my main line with a Uni to Uni knot or an Albright knot. I start with one split shot then adjust to the conditions. This is my favorite way to fish mud minnows and definitely one of the best ways to fish them at the Cape Lookout jetty. This rig can easily be adjusted and has a minimal amount of terminal tackle.
The final rig I will go over can be a little more complicated but is the only way to get a bite at times. It consists of a Slip cork, bobber stopper, a couple split shots, 18”-24” of fluorocarbon leader, and your hook (photo #3). This is the typical slip cork rig used for floating shrimp. It is a deadly way to use mud minnows in tidal rivers like the Neuse and New Rivers and also the jetties. This rig is so good in those areas because it keeps the minnows out of the snags. Also you are able to keep the bait in the actual strike zone which is commonly overlooked by most anglers.
So go get a few traps and catch up some mud minnows for you next trip out on the water. It may save the day when artificial just isn’t cutting it. If you have any more questions or have a better way to use these mud minnows feel free to call (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com


Captain Robert Hall
Hall’em In Charters, Inc.
www.hallemincharters.com
(910) 330-6999