How do you key in on bait fish?

I actually posted this under the water temp post. but here’s the info and questions.

Once the WT hits 55 or so on the Mississippi it often seems like the temp effects the prey almost as much or more than the Bass themselves. They are hungry critters and when the water level, temps, and forage changes for their prey and the prey moves the Bass,(especially LM), eventually have to follow to eat. I really think this is part of the reason we have been catching a ton more LM out on the channel in recent years.

Although I kid a lot about just getting started in Bass fishing I have been fishing for them for almost 20 years, (unfortunately usually on lakes until 6 years ago), and am amazed how much better I do when hunting for their prey instead of the Bass themselves. Please don’t laugh your but off , I know most probably have always done this, i.e…. crayfish holes in the bank, etc.

Pin minnows for example almost always means good fishing, often even in cold front conditions. I really can’t remember finding them without finding bass, and ofcourse baby panfish and other bass forage that feed on the pin minnows !!!!!! The pin minnows, and the panfish feeding on them are also a N.Pike magnet. I usually know I’m in the right place when I’m catching both Bass an N.Pike. The pike feeding are often the tip off.

Anybody who fishes the river a lot for Bass knows that this approach is a real problem when the water is very muddy, and then I just have to cover ground and hope to see a spray of them here or there or the fish nipping them on the top of the water. Other wise I just jump around to the spots I usually find them at an hope for luck.

Just for clarification purposes Pin Minnows are the tiny little critters that are transparent and almost neony and barely if even an inch or so long. I have no idea the real name and have been calling them that since I heard the name used a long time ago fishing for panfish. Until six years ago or so I assumed it was just frey of some other species, but their approx average size and appearance is the same in the Spring an Fall.

Do any of the rest of you key of the Pin minnows? Crayfish? Baby panfish? Or something else.

Mountain Man,
I think that keying on forage of any kind is important in the overall picture but there are times when these forge species are not easily observed. They are fighting for their own existence and if they find a suitable “hiding” place they are going to tough to observe. The river has such a diverse and seemingly unexhaustable forage base that I feel that different schools of fish exploit whatever the river is providing for them at any given time. How many times have you seen an area that is alive with forage and gamefish only to come back later that day or following day and have the area devoid of life. I think river fish are much more transient than many lake fish. I know that certain areas seem to hold fish year after year in certain seasons or water temperatures but I also know that some areas are very unpredictable on any given day. Observations of forage are like the icing on the cake but I do not have enough time to search out forage concentrations by observation due to the fact that I like near Madison and don’t get over the river as much as I would like to. I try to establish a pattern when possible and then try to find similar conditions which may or may not be hold fish. I wish I knew more about some of these things but I also think if we use the common sense and experience we have that we can be effective fishermen most of the time. I also think that by reading reputable articles on fishing and fishing threads like this one are very helpful in putting together the many intricate pieces to the puzzle. On a side note if I find shad or pin minnows being forced to the surface by gamefish, I usually find the fishing to be good for a time. I also keep track of crawfish holes in the exposed banks as these areas are usually consistent form year to year.

Pin minnows,

I might be wrong here buy I traditionally think of pin minnows as buffets sitting in current breaks. Fishing the main river in current you are 100% correct that if they are there you will get bit. The size of the fish you are targeting might not always be what you are looking for however the number should be there. These fish are much different than the young of the year found in minimal current backwaters. Traditionally the larger bass even larger smallmouth bass will be keying on the larger forage.

In the summer months once the spawn has past and the animals are back into eat , sleep, swim mode you will find this pattern to play out every day on the water. Fish have to eat and yep, plenty will be eating the pins.

As for targeting the biggest fish in the ecosystem you will need to look for the best feeding areas and the best populations of forage. I will tell you that every time a big Largemouth or Smallmouth come for a ride in my boat to weigh in I never find pin minnows. I find 8” blue gills, huge shad, 2” pinchers, and once in a while a crappie. So, Take it for what its worth.

Forage plays a significant role in the summer. In the spring the location of pin minnows can often mean larger fish are using this same area but I suspect for different reasons.
My 2 cents worth.
Jc

Except for an occasional turkey baster test,(old trout fishermans trick), the only time I would check the gut is if I accidently rip out a gill and keep the fish. I hardy ever see many pins in the stomach. Bass as you all know are notorious for spitting up what they recently ate when you catch them, or put them in the livewell. I would have to say the one thing I most often see spit are shad and small panfish.

Like I mentioned above the pins are prey for the bass forage, and you have the bigger prey for the bass right on.
The shad, slough shinners, other frey, small walleye and panfish, (not in that order), are usually what both the northern and the bass are there for when you see the pins around.
I have ocassionally had the thrill of a northern or bass in the clear water bulldozing their way through a cloud of pins, but like I said it isn’t very often I find what I am sure is pin minnow slop in the belly. I have found them though.