Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 41
Knowing how to rig a
minnow in a particular
situation and how to fish
that rig can make or break
a day on the water.
which defeats the purpose of
this rig. The most common
way to fish this rig is in a lake
or slow moving water. When
using small minnows, most anglers will use a bobber
to aid in strike detection, making it the perfect rig for
crappie anglers. As with the previously described rig,
anglers can use various weight sizes as well as placing
the weights further from the minnow to manipulate
where the bait will be within the water column. The
best part of this rig is that the minnow is doing all
the work for you. When fish strike at a minnow, the
natural way for them to do so is to approach it from
behind. With the hook sitting in the middle of the
body, the fish will more likely be hooked as soon as it
grabs the minnow.
Needle rig
The most common way
to fish the needle rig is to
cast upstream, let it "roll"
through the current and work it
back by twitching the rod
as you retrieve it.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com
The hardest part about fishing with minnows is
keeping them alive while you are fishing. You can still
get some action out of a dead minnow, but you need
to be a little more creative. In a lake or slow-moving
river, you can accomplish this by using a jighead.
If you are fishing fast-moving water, such as rapids
in a river or a riffle in a trout stream, a threaded
minnow using a needle is the best way to utilize a
dead minnow or use a minnow in an area where the
minnow can be easily ripped off by the currents.
To rig the minnow, you will need to use a needle
that allows you to easily place your fishing line in it.
Run the needle from the mouth to just in front of the
anal fin, and pull the needle through until the line
comes the whole way out. Anglers will either use a
double or treble hook. Once the hook is on the line,
you will pull the shaft of the hook back into the body
of the minnow. Only the hook barbs are exposed.
After the minnow is rigged up, I cut the line about 12
to 18 inches above the bait and tie on a barrel swivel.
Then, add your desired amount of weight just above or
below the swivel. As the minnow moves through the
water, it will spin. Over time, this will cause your line
to become twisted and very difficult to use. The most
common way to fish the needle rig is to cast upstream,
let it "roll" through the current and work it back by
twitching the rod as you retrieve it.
Now that you know the most common rigs out
there for minnow fishing, you can be prepared to fish
minnows in any situation.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014
41
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Straight Talk
Notes from the Stream
Contents
Northeast Best Ice Perch Lakes
Tying the Zebra Midge
Your Fishing Field Guide
“Iced” Fish: a Great Winter Release
Midwinter is Sunfish Time
Drilling Your Way to Success: Strategies for Ice Fishing
Simple Ice Fishing Equipment Modifications
Presque Isle Ice
5 Hot Tips for Icy Trout
Ice Safety Thickness Chart
What Lurks Beneath
Bluegills on Ice
Fishing with the Next Generation— Nurturing Your Future Angler from the Cradle to Canoe
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Fisheries Biologists: Who are they and what do they do?
Angle Jigging for River Walleyes
Choosing the Right Minnow Rig
Different Boats for Different Folks
Highlights from the 2014 Boating Regulations Recap
Winter PLAY Newsletter
Southern Redbelly Dace
Reflecting on the Water
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania’s Best Fishing Waters Wild Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Northeast Best Ice Perch Lakes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Tying the Zebra Midge
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - “Iced” Fish: a Great Winter Release
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Midwinter is Sunfish Time
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Drilling Your Way to Success: Strategies for Ice Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Simple Ice Fishing Equipment Modifications
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Presque Isle Ice
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 5 Hot Tips for Icy Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Ice Safety Thickness Chart
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - What Lurks Beneath
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Bluegills on Ice
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Fishing with the Next Generation— Nurturing Your Future Angler from the Cradle to Canoe
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Fisheries Biologists: Who are they and what do they do?
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Angle Jigging for River Walleyes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Choosing the Right Minnow Rig
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Different Boats for Different Folks
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Highlights from the 2014 Boating Regulations Recap
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Winter PLAY Newsletter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Southern Redbelly Dace
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Pennsylvania’s Best Fishing Waters Wild Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Cover4
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