On a lot of river systems in the fall like Tobin Lake, Winnipeg River, and Rainy River you’ll see the JMO team and a lot of anglers using frozen shiners. There’s just something about the smell of dead bait this time of year when shiners and other baitfish move up into these river systems.
Shiners can be a very productive bait in the fall, but the thing about using dead shiners is they’re not very durable and will often fall off the hook. To improve your bait use efficiency, there’s a couple of things you can do. One is to try the using shiners that come in a jar which are a lot more durable and stay on the hook better. If you’re using frozen shiners, another common thing to do is hook them through the tough part of the tail so it stays on better. and then use rubber bait buttons. You can even use a small piece of a rubber band, just put that or a bait button over the tip of the hook and that’ll keep your shiners on a lot longer. Whether you’re open water jigging on river systems or targeting Manitoba greenbacks through the ice, trying these simple tricks can really help up your batting odds by keeping your hook baited and in the water longer.
