I have head many terms for minnows thrown around, such as, suckers, shiners, fatheads, and fingerings. When I have been at docks people seem to use these terms interchangeably to refer to all different sizes. I want to start casting larger live bait from the dock, but after hearing all of these terms I have no idea what to get. 
Can anyone help me clear this up?
Best thing to do is go t a place like Vados or Thorn Bros and look in the tanks and the sign above them
Hello,
Crappie minnows- the smallest minnow sold at bait shops and are used for panfish.
Fatheads minnows- are a step up from crappie minnows and are used mainly for walleye but can be used for crappies, perch and bass.
Sucker minnows- they are normally sold in a few different sizes small, medium, large, and decoy. Small suckers are used for walleye, bass and smaller northerns. Medium suckers are mainly used for northerns and maybe muskies but can be used for walleyes and catfish. Large suckers are used for northerns, muskies, and flathead catfish. Decoy suckers are big normally 12+inches and are used by catfisherman for cutbait, cut them into chunks or filleted and cut into strips, but can be use live for muskies, and flathead catfish. They are also used by northern spear fisherman through the ice, there attached to a harness and lowered in the spear hole to attract northerns, that is how they got there name (decoy suckers)
Shinner minnows- come in a few different sizes small medium and large, they can be used for walleyes, northerns, and muskies. They are hard to fined dureing the summer but are readally avalible dureing ice fishing season.
I hope this help and good luck fishing.
Take care!
Kevin
I would say your post pretty much sums it up. 
Thank you very much.
Do you have any recommendations for a good bait shop as close to Minneapolis as possible?
Your very welcome. Sorry I can’t help you with bait shops in the area, the only one in minneapolis unfortunately just closed a week ago.
Kevin
“Minnow” has dual meanings: one as a baitfish and one as a family of fish. Minnows are a family of fish, scientifically known as Cyprinidae, that includes shiners, chubs, minnows, goldfish, and carps. Because most people think of minnows as small fish, it is commonly used to describe baitfish. Sucker minnows, for example, are not true minnows. You could buy suckers if you’re targeting bigger fish or catch your own bullheads as bait(familiarize yourself with (DNR) fishing regulations first.) Main concern is you can’t transport water/bait from infested waters to other bodies of water.
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I would say your post pretty much sums it up.
Do you have any recommendations for a good bait shop as close to Minneapolis as possible?
Moore’s closed, and that was the best in my opinion. That being said, Vados Bait in Spring Lake Park is a pretty nice bait shop and you can go look at all types of minnows there. They even had creek chubs last time I was in there.
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