If you've ever spent the foggy morning upon the Mississippi Lake, you probably realize that using a willowcat minnow is definitely basically just like having a cheat code regarding walleye. Ask any seasoned river rat from Iowa or even Wisconsin, and they'll tell you that even though fatheads and shiners have their location, nothing triggers the big, lazy walleye quite like the willowcat. But in the event that you're new in order to the game, you might be wondering what most the fuss will be about. They aren't the easiest lure to find, these people certainly aren't the particular cheapest, and they will come with a built-in protection mechanism that'll make you regret your life choices when you're careless.
It's not in fact a minnow
First off, let's clean up the title. Calling it a willowcat minnow is a little bit of a misnomer that's stuck around regarding decades. Actually, these types of little guys aren't minnows in any way. They're actually a varieties of small catfish called the tadpole madtom. If a person look at 1 closely—preferably without coming in contact with the sharp bits—you'll see the loved ones resemblance. They've obtained the whiskers (barbels), the smooth, scale-less skin, and that distinct catfish profile.
They often stay pretty small, capped out at a several inches, making all of them the perfect snack size for a hungry walleye or even sauger. Because they're catfish, they're incredibly hardy. Unlike the delicate emerald shiner that might kick the bucket if the particular water temperature adjustments by two degrees, a willowcat is definitely a survivor. They can handle being thrown around in the bait well plus will stay energetic on a lift for a surprisingly long time.
Watch out for the sting
Before going shoving your hands into a bucket of these things, we need to speak about the "sting. " This isn't just a campfire story to scare the rookies; the particular willowcat minnow packs a genuine punch. They have venomous spines upon their dorsal and pectoral fins. If some of those spines punctures your skin, you're likely to feel a burning, throbbing sensation that's often in comparison to an awful bee sting or even a wasp bite.
Several guys call it up the "willowcat itch, " but let's become real—it hurts even worse than an itch. The pain may last anywhere from twenty minutes to the few hours based on how deep this got you and how your entire body reacts to the toxin. Most experienced anglers use a pair of specialized pliers or a small rag to take care of them. If you do get stung, the old-school water remedy is to rub the belly associated with the fish around the puncture wound. A few swear by it, claiming the slime neutralizes the venom, while some think it's only a way in order to make you look silly while you're in pain. Personally? I'd rather just use the pliers and prevent the problem entirely.
Exactly why walleyes can't resist them
Therefore, if they're a pain to deal with and expensive in order to buy, why trouble? The answer is easy: they catch seafood when nothing else will. There's something about the way the willowcat minnow moves and smells that drives walleyes crazy.
As they are bottom-dwellers simply by nature, they have got the natural instinct in order to dive for the rocks or the particular mud as soon as they will hit the water. This particular downward swimming action is a massive dinner bell for the predator. They also delay an extremely specific scent. Walleyes have an amazing sense of smell, and the "stink" of a madtom is apparently irresistible. Even in muddy, high-water conditions where presence is near absolutely no, a walleye may track down the willowcat through gerüttel and scent alone.
Another factor is their sturdiness. You can jump a willowcat off a wing dam to have an hour, plus it'll still become wiggling once you draw it up. That will constant movement is key. A dead minnow is just the snack, but a struggling, vibrating willowcat is a focus on.
How to rig a willowcat minnow
There isn't one "right" method to fish these, but a few methods definitely stand out on the river. Most guys try some fine simple jig head. A 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jig, depending on the current, is normally plenty. You want to hook the willowcat minnow through the lip area, coming up from the bottom jaw and out by means of the top. This keeps the mouth area shut so it doesn't catch the current and rewrite like a propeller, and it enables the fish to stay alive and "breathe" through its gills.
Another popular setup is usually the Lindy rig or a simple "wolf river" rig. This requires a three-way swivel with a sinker on a dropper line along with a leader of a few ft leading to the bait. This is killer when you're fishing deep openings or maybe the edges associated with wing dams. Considering that the willowcat normally wants to remain near the base, the rig assists keep it in the strike area without it getting snagged quite mainly because easily as the free-swimming bait might.
Where in order to find the "black gold"
Getting a steady supply associated with the willowcat minnow can end up being a challenge. They aren't like fatheads where every gas station with a minnow tank has them. They're often seasonal, and mainly because they're difficult to catch in huge numbers, the particular price reflects that will. It's not unusual to find out them heading for a buck or more for each fish. Around the particular Mississippi, bait shops that carry them usually have indicators out front like they're selling yellow metal bars.
When you're feeling exciting, you can try trapping them yourself. They love slow-moving backwaters with a lot of cover—think submerged logs, leaf litter, and rocky crevices. Some people make use of "cat traps" produced of PVC water lines or old containers. You drop all of them in the water overnight, and the willowcats crawl inside looking for a spot to hide. Just make sure you check your local rules first, as some states have really specific rules regarding trapping your personal bait.
Maintaining your bait healthy
If you're going to fall $20 or $30 on a number of or two of these, you wish to make sure they endure the trip. The particular willowcat minnow is tough, however they aren't immortal. The largest killers are warmth and lack associated with oxygen.
An insulated lure bucket with a good aerator is really a must. If it's a hot July day, don't hesitate to toss a little frozen water container into the container to maintain the temp down. You don't want to freeze all of them, but keeping the particular water cool assists it hold more oxygen and maintains the fish's metabolic process slow. Also, try to avoid making use of tap water if you can. The chlorine in city drinking water can kill all of them faster than you'd think. If a person have to make use of tap water, allow it sit away for 24 hours first or use a dechlorinating fall.
Is the danger worth the incentive?
All in all, fishing with a willowcat minnow is a bit of a love-hate relationship. You'll detest the price tag, you'll dislike the strain of attempting not to get stung, and you'll definitely hate it whenever a rogue sheephead steals your last one.
But everything that frustration disappears the 2nd your own rod tip thumps and you fixed the hook into a six-pound walleye. There's a reason these little catfish have this kind of cult adhering to for the river. They work. Whether it's the vibration, the scent, or simply the fact that they look like a tasty, high-protein snack, walleyes simply can't say no to them. So, next time you're heading out to the river and you visit a shop with "Willowcats in Stock, " do yourself the favor and get twelve. Just keep in mind to bring the pliers.