My first microfishing adventure - advice on avoiding roundnose minnows?

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MichaelAngelo
MichaelAngelo's picture
My first microfishing adventure - advice on avoiding roundnose minnows?
<p>It was about a month or two ago when <a href="http://www.roughfish.com/~roughfis/users/ken">Ken</a> introduced me to Roughfish, the concept of lifelists, and microfishing. &nbsp;Well I finally gave microfishing a try! &nbsp;I tied on some 4lb fluoro and my smallest hook.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My target was any sort of stickleback. &nbsp;I have not identified which species lurks in my local creek, but I know they are there. &nbsp;I found one in a minnow trap of mine a month ago, so I know they&#39;re there.... somewhere :P.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>To my misadventure, the creek is thick with roundnose minnows. &nbsp;They absolutely swarm anything that touches the water. &nbsp;This was the standard fare of the day:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/521977_3181095660171_1832452022_n.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 375px; " /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Lucky for me, there were some gorgeous damselflies in the area. &nbsp;Trying to shoot a macro on a fly really brought out the limitations of my point-and-shoot. &nbsp;But here we go:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/555529_3181096500192_1038703038_n.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 375px; " /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Again, my camera didn&#39;t like focusing on the gorgous, contrasting black wings (or anything in the frame for that matter)...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/481934_3181094900152_1474781698_n.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 375px; " /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/554147_3181096780199_1702835225_n.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 375px; " /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In my search for the sticklebacks, I did come across an abnormally large fish. &nbsp;Now, trying to catch this one fish in the swarm of tiny minnows was a challege in and of itself. &nbsp;The tiny swarms would always beat the lunker to the bait. &nbsp;I had to devise a plan!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I tried throwing bits of bread in the water, about a yard or so from the lunker. &nbsp;Of course, the minnows swarmed the bread and it gave me a clear shot at pitching my bait to the big guy! &nbsp;It worked and I quickly had him in my hand...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/486156_3181095740173_1226909797_n.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 375px; " /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Is this simply a full-grown roundnose? &nbsp;I believe it to be so. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>All in all, I had a fun first time trying microfishing. &nbsp;The last bit of trying to outmanouver the minnow swarm was a nice challange :). &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tips for finding those sparse stickleback are welcome! &nbsp;As are tips for avoiding the roundnose swarm :P. &nbsp;</p>
TheHugbot
TheHugbot's picture
So you were using bread? in

So you were using bread? in my experience sticklebacks will take peices of worm or maggot with plenty of scent. if you can find bloodworms they make a great bait for all micros.

MichaelAngelo
MichaelAngelo's picture
Thanks for the advice.  I

Thanks for the advice.  I started with bread and then went to worms... the bit of worm threaded through the hook stayed on much better than the bread.  

 

I didn't see a sticleback, all I saw were those roundnose.  Do they happen to be active at night?  Should I look harder, or pitch my bait under a root or tree?

 

They must be quite sparse in the creek I was at.  The first time I saw one I wasn't even sure what it was :).

TheHugbot
TheHugbot's picture
if you can't see any stickles

if you can't see any stickles then it would probably be best to find another spot, they often favour very shallow water that may be too shallow for roundnoses, try looking for areas where the water formes a large shallow area out of the main flow.

 

also try using the tanago hooks from tenkarabum, they are the best for micro fishing!

http://www.tenkarabum.com/micro-fishing-hooks.html

 

Outdoors4life
Outdoors4life's picture
Last fish looks like a creek

Last fish looks like a creek chub.

 

Tenkara bum is the place to get hooks. best thing to do is research for the fish in your area.  Sight fishing is the most fun and you can choose your targets.

It is all perspective!

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Dr Flathead
Dr Flathead's picture
Never heard of a Roundnose

Never heard of a Roundnose Minnow.  Both of them are Creek Chubs

the pyromaniac
the pyromaniac's picture
http://www.fishbase.org
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Dionda-episcopa.html roundnose minnow

 

 

 

Let there be fire!

MNbowfinangler
MNbowfinangler's picture
Creek chubs

Your "roundnose minnows" are Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus.

Outdoors4life
Outdoors4life's picture
Location!

Please post locations whenever you are looking for an ID on a micro. Make sit much easier. Roundnose minnows are in Western Texas.

 

 

It is all perspective!

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