How to Raise Fishing Minnows

By Jonathan Croswell

Raising minnows as bait is a low-maintenance but cost-effective project for individuals ranging from the frequent angler to the child looking for a small-time job. Individuals with the natural resources of a pond oftentimes only have to worry about providing food to minnows and making sure they are able to reproduce in the waters. But even if you are raising minnows for bait in a tank, it won't take much time, money or effort to get a lot of minnows ready for fishing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You'll Need:

Tank or pond
Non-chlorinated water
Aerator
Minnow feed
Spawning ground material

Step 1

Find a location to raise your minnows. Ponds will require less maintenance than tanks and are usually the better option. Tanks will work fine, but keep in mind that the size of your tank will dictate the number of minnows you can raise.

Step 2

Use non-chlorinated water to raise the minnows in a tank. Check with your local pet store to see if your local tap water is safe for fish. Most water systems have chlorine added to the water supply to stave off bacteria, but you can purchase special tablets that will remove the chlorine from the water and make it safe for a fish habitat.

Step 3

Find objects to which the minnows can use to attach their spawn. You can go simple by throwing in coral, rocks, old cups, and anything else that will offer crevices and dark corners for the eggs, or you can buy special breeding caves designed to promote minnow spawning (and if you are serious about raising minnows, this is not a bad idea).

Step 4

Decide if you need an aerator. A tank will require one, but some ponds have high enough oxygen levels that they can do without. If there are already fish living in your pond, you likely don't need an aerator. Otherwise, there are solar-powered options available.

Step 5

Purchase minnows from a bait shop or catch them in a stream or creek with a fishing net. Introduce them to their new habitat.

Step 6

Feed fish flakes to your minnows two to three times a day. They will grow fast, so they need a lot of fuel to maximize the use of your new minnow breeding habitat.

About The Author

Jonathan Croswell has spent more than five years writing and editing for a number of newspapers and online publications, including the "Omaha World-Herald" and "New York Newsday." He has spent several years working on tri-annual wedding publications as both a writer and content editor. Croswell received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Nebraska.

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