Tis the season, to, well, use live minnows.

With all due respect to being jolly, for those of us that grasp the potentially dwindling days of the open water fishing season comes the concession that live minnows often up the odds of success. This is particularly true of wild minnows trapped from the same watersheds being fished.

Such wild minnows present a bait to fish – walleyes, muskies, northern pike, bass – that they are accustomed to eating. Also, collecting wild, indigenous minnows can be fun in its own right.

Over the years I’ve trapped minnows from smaller streams feeding Crooked Creek and Buffalo Creek, both of which are significant tributaries to the Allegheny River. Various creek chubs, suckers, and dace (Eastern black nose and long nose) have commonly found their way into my minnow traps, as have various shiners at times, all of which can be effective bait.

The first step in collecting wild minnows is in finding a good stream. In our area some of the best ones are of medium to low gradient, 10 or so feet in average width, and of good water quality, i.e., not negatively impacted by Acid Mine Drainage or other pollutants. On such small streams, minnows tend to be concentrated in what few deeper pools/holes that are available. This is particularly true when the water is cold as it is now.

Happily, one of the more consistent type of spot is that of bridge crossings on rural, township roads. Bridges and large culverts often funnel water into a comparatively narrow conduit. During periods of high flows, this results in a deep hole on the downstream side of the crossing as the high discharge scours out the bottom. It’s an ideal spot to trap minnows; and you don’t have to carry a heavy bucket of freshly trapped minnows any great distance. Deeper holes are also often formed at sharp creek bends, another kind of spot worth checking out.

I’ve found the classic, funnel-shaped minnow trap to be quite adequate for catching creek minnows. Though a variety of bait can be used to lure minnows into the trap, dry dog food is effective and easy to use. Simply toss a handful of kibble into the trap before closing it up.

I like to target the deepest spot in a hole to throw a trap, having a line of quarter inch line of at least 15 feet available to secure the trap to a stream-side bush or branch.

Twenty-four hours is enough time to collect a good number of minnows from a productive hole. Remember that Fish and Boat Commission regulations provide a 50-fish limit on bait-fish. Also, you must identify your trap with name, address, and telephone number.

Having secured a cache of creek minnows, the next step is storing them for future use. Fortunately, keeping minnows alive is quite easy at this time of year when the water’s cold. Cold water holds more dissolved oxygen, and minnows require less oxygen at this time as their metabolism is low.

A cheap ice chest outfitted with an equally cheap aquarium aerator will serve as a fine bait storage system. Keep the ice chest in a cool/cold place and plan on changing the water once it becomes cloudy.

Creek minnows are much harder than store bought bait, a plus that makes them not only a more effective bait, but one ideal for keeping long term. I’ve kept wild minnow all winter long without ever losing one provided I follow my own maintenance advice.

I try to keep a couple dozen creek minnows on hand throughout the winter, swapping out the water every two or three days. Chlorine will kill minnows, so if you have city water. be sure to use a treating agent such as Sure Life in the amount suggested on the package.

Aerated minnow buckets are ideal for handing creek bait when actually fishing. I’ve used Frabill’s 6-gallon Bait Station with success, replacing its built-in aerator with a Metal Marine clip-on air pump when the original died after some years of use.

This big minnow bucket is top heavy, so be sure to secure it during transport or it’s likely to upset in transit. This season I’ve added Engel’s 13-quart Live Bait Cooler to my in-boat minnow storage and am quite pleased with its design and function.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle