Minnow types

[Lundluvr]

Minnesota guys,

I fish the last week of May every year primarily on the Crow wing chain. I also try to hit Leech at least once during the week. Most of my daytime fishing is with baitrigs with crawlers or leeches. There are times when I think a jig and minnow might be better. When you go to the baitshops, they always have a bunch of different kinds of minnows. There's Fatheads, shiners, rainbows, ect. How do you know which type to select? And do you use minnows on your spinner rigs this time of year, or crawlers? Thank you for any of your thoughts on this

[Fin Addict]

That time of year in the area you describe, My order of preference would be:
1. Shiners, but they will cost you more
2. Rainbows
3. Fatheads - use the females only. Resort to males only after the females run out.
Early in the season minnows are a tremendous option. I switch more toward leeches and crawlers as the temps warm up and it gets tough to keep the minnows alive.

I generally fish minnows on jigs but a minnow will work well w/ just about any type of rig you choose as well. Spinners, floaters, plain hook etc.

[Lundluvr]

Thank you for the information. I'm probably setting myself up here but how do you tell female fatheads from males?

[cisco]

I'd love to use shiners longer thru the season, but they are not a very durable critter and I don't like dead bait for walleyes. I use shiners mostly in May, then switch to leeches (1st) and crawlers (2nd). I think crawlers are probably as good as leeches most of the time, but there are too many bait stealers with crawlers. On jig and crawler, try using half the crawler rather than the whole worm. For me it has improved catch rate enormously.

Fatheads are the most common, most of the time, in my parts of the state, and they will attract fish. Don't ask me how to tell a male from a female fathead, however. (I have enough trouble with some of the folks I see on the street.)

[minneman]

the male fatheads are usualy darker than the females that have a shiny silver look, males also have little bumps on their heads, I believe this is during spawning only however..