Storm Minnows: The Key to Catching Extra Fish within the Marsh

For these saltwater anglers who goal the marshes alongside the East Coast and the Gulf South, the chilly fronts which might be starting to blow by present an incredible alternative to make the most of a phenomenon that solely takes place for a couple of days every year. 

Jack Donaldson of Biloxi, MS. fishes the marshes year-round however stated his favourite time to fish is within the fall when the speckled trout begin feeding on what he calls Storm Minnows. Different often called Sheepshead Minnows, these small fish are masters of utilizing marsh grass and dirt to remain out of the crosshairs of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder.

The sheepshead minnow with a scientific identify of Cyprinodon Variegatus, is a species of small fish present in coastal waters alongside the East Coast and Gulf Coast states. The fish is comparatively small in comparison with different marsh-dwelling minnows averaging 1-2 inches in dimension. They’ve a slender, elongated physique with a barely compressed form. Their physique tapers towards the tail, giving them a streamlined look. Sheepshead minnows show sexual dimorphism, which means men and women have completely different coloration. Males usually have a extra vibrant and colourful look with vibrant vertical bars of orange or blue on their sides. Nevertheless, females are often much less colourful, with a grayish look. One distinctive function of sheepshead minnows is their dorsal fin, which has a collection of spines on the entrance, adopted by smooth rays and a forked tail fin. 

The minnow can also be referred to as a storm minnow. Donaldson stated the identify suits it effectively as these fish are probably the most weak when storms blow by. “ sturdy chilly entrance is what it takes to scrub these fish out of their safe houses within the marsh grass,” Donaldson stated. “In the event you discover the correct run-out within the marsh the place these fish are pressured out, you’ll be able to load the boat with fish.”

Donaldson just lately made a visit the place he caught 15 speckled trout, 3 redfish, and a couple of flounder in the identical spot. “It was a small trenasse (ditch) that drained out from the marsh. A chilly entrance was passing by and the stress was dropping huge time. I seen a variety of floor motion with minnows being chased on the floor,” Donaldson stated. The 65-year-old began casting a cork with a storm minnow rigged about two ft beneath. “The cork barely hit the water and I noticed that little storm minnow skip throughout the water and a speck blew it up,’ he stated. Donaldson was in a position to catch 20 fish inside two hours however his journey was lower quick because of the chilly entrance that was passing by. 

Learn how to Catch Sheepshead Minnows

There are three issues to recollect when attempting to catch storm minnows. 

1. They’re nearly not possible to catch by throwing a forged internet.
2. They’re by no means present in water over a foot deep until washed out by a storm. 
3. The very best bait to catch them is a cracked crab.

Since these minnows keep hidden within the marsh grass they are often awfully tough to catch. Donaldson recommends utilizing a minnow entice with a cracked crab as bait. “Oh they love cracked crab,” he stated. Donaldson straps a rubber band by the center of the entice to carry the cracked crab within the heart. This forces the storm minnows to journey by the holes within the entice so as to begin pecking the crab. Donaldson has a singular method by which he units the entice. “I prefer to verify Google Earth for an overhead view of some potholes within the marsh. Some are situated in spots that you’d by no means know they have been there,” he stated. After finding a pothole within the marsh he put his boats on and walked to the opening. “the smaller the opening within the marsh the higher,” he stated. Donaldson recommends simply sufficient water to cowl the holes within the minnow entice. After setting the entice all that’s wanted is an hour or so. “These fish are ruthless. They’ll scent that crab within the water and get into that entice inside minutes,” he stated.

Storm Minnow Setup

When utilizing storm minnows for bait Donaldson a #3 circle hook rigged about 2-3 ft underneath a popping cork. In between the cork and the hook, he clamps on a slit-shot. “That split-shot holds the minnow underwater if a fish begins chasing it,” Donaldson stated. For fishing line, he prefers 10-pound monofilament. 

Whereas these minnows are pressured out of the marsh the fishing must be incredible this 12 months. Donaldson stated there’s no higher time to get into the marsh and begin concentrating on small drains that spill out from the grass. However the chew gained’t final lengthy! As quickly as winter arrives these fish hunker down deep within the marsh the place there are deep potholes that render them nearly unreachable. 

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award successful outside journalist that resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s LouisianaNorthshore.com and Louisiana Northshore Discover Journal. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Outside Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery.