" Favorite live bait "

[EAGLE EYES]

As I graciously await the inland opener here in the Gopher state, I ponder the thought of certain minnow species I will be using opening day.
I was just wondering what other anglers use as there choice of live bait that time of year. Thanks to all who participate in this survey.

[AquaMan]

Shinners on a jig and crawlers on a harness for the early season, then fatheads and leeches in the summer.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[scottcny]

spring set up in upstate NY is about the same as yours. our opener is May 6th. bucktail hair jigs tipped with fathead minnows or a piec of crawler is the ticket on opener. this set up usally holds up all season on some lakes. for what ever reason the walleye's around here are reluctant to bite leeches, some of the bait shops don't even stock them because no body uses them.

[Grampa_Joe]

The one that works that day. The rules have all been broken too many times in my boat to constitute any hardcore patterns for bait. I was using a jig and a crawler before I caught fish one day last "November" on Leech lake, a lake well known as a jig/shiner lake. But it wouldn't work that day. I try to stay open no matter what and experiment rather than die on the vine because I they aren't eating crawlers and that's all I brought.
-Joe

[TBO/MN]

I agree with Joe. I always go prepared, minnows, crawlers first, then as the season moves along, I add leeches. Stay prepared, when one thing is not working, switch to something else. Some of my best fishing has come on jig and a piece of crawler, when everyone else is fishing minnows. Flexibility is the key!!

The Big One

[Kevin B]

I agree with Aquaman. - Kevin B