Need some tougher minnows

Managed to get out and do some fishing yesterday and today.
(I put a post in the MN river forum for details)
Came to the realizaton that I needed to have some bullheads with me today, somthing tough that could take the bite a little more. I was using live sucker and the fish were smashing them litteraly.
They were leaving me with the only the head and that looked like someone gave it a good stomping.
Would have been very curious to see what was doing the damage. I would see them bite but they werent moving with the bait at all. And then I ran out.
Things seem to be picking up with the water warming again.

I would usually say channel cats are the culprit.. they tend to do a number on the minnows. All of our *runs* recently have been non aggressive, and they have been sitting with the bait just lightly chomping it. The way these fish eventually move with the bait they are obviously flatheads.. but to hook one has been impossible this far

I have never observed the fish doing what they are right now, and have no idea why they are doing it. Strait hooks, circle hooks, tight line, clicker.. doesnt make a difference. I hope getting a little further away from the full moon cycle, and the warmer water temps soon coming with the warm relatively stable weather.. dropping water.. the fish should be on a normal bite soon.

Yea. The bite has gotta turn sometime soon, With this next system things will at least heat up and that will probably be the trigger.
(lets hope).
thanks
Larry

Yup, I was thinking channel cats, too.

What you need to do is next time you get minnows, ask for the “PITBULL MINNOWS” they bite and don’t let go, be sure and use a net cause the will come after anything that even gets close!

If it wasnt for that little issue I would like them channels a whole lot more I dont know how many quality suckers I have had smashed but usually I have quite a bit more cut bait than live minnows but the time the flat start to bite!

I do agree that given the time of day and fishing conditions
I figured that it was channels, I wans’t really expecting a flat (though part of me was secretly hoping). I’ve used suckers a long time, Never had I had them so thouroghly mushed.
Had some luck in getting some small bullies, so we shall see how these will fair. Much better I expect.
thanks
Larry