I made over a half dozen trips up there last year up till December in the evenings till about midnight and brought home a total of less than 10 shiners from the Rocky.
They never came in in numbers last year. I know a couple of guys that got a few bags with their umbrella nets last year. it's hit or miss but they were pretty scarce last year.
The steelies were all over though.

 

Most of the time catch at least 6 or 7 dozen when I go out. I normally wait until the water temps hit 65 and below.

 

Not to be a smart as- or anything , but why would you fish for shiners?

 

I catch mine at conny before smelt fishing, smelt like them too

 

They are netting them for bait for perch.


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Shiners are in every river. They school up by size. Best patches are the 1 or 2 inch shiners. Usually hide in corners of the river outside of the current.

 

I haven't seen the big black cloud (mass migration) of them yet......but they are ALWAYS in there. I catch emerald shiners all summer long. I do enjoy a good minnow hunt.

 

you will see them when the steelhead come in and chase them to the sides of the river shoreline.

 

This cool down should bring them in big time. I plan to go out on the river today will let you know what I pick up on the sonar.

 

Well, we're really having a "cool down" right now! I just might have to fire up the hearth stove today!(all electric house!) brrr

 

They are starting pack tight now. We're going to get me a few hundred for some pan fishing this Thurs and Fri.

 

Anyone seeing them at Wildwood by chance?

 

they are not in yet in numbers , usually by now the big schools will come in and you will see the bait balls on the depth finder but ive been up 6 times in the last 2 weeks trolling the breakwalls and inner harbor and the rivers and they are not there which I find to be unusual , they are usually in by now !

 

Yup been thin for emeralds. I wonder if the odnr can have an emerald shiner stocking program. Figure the walleye are going to need more food with their bonkers spawns.

 

salty Emeralds
It takes some time to make them......but they are really convenient when it comes time to use them.

 

I plan to go out to the Rocky River today and see if I'm picking anything up on the sonar. I'll post picks if they're showing up thick in there yet.

 

pack fresh minns in vodka and freeze, they jump around like pop corn when you vodka them up. it takes a little bit but they will get rubbery with time, gulls like em hahaha

 

Do you use the cheap plastic bottle vodka, cause I can’t justify pouring the good stuff on them, maybe a swig or two lol...one for you Mr minnow, 3 for me..

 

yeah yeah just some cheap booze perch and wally like em .

 

Only place I’ve ever caught them in good quantity is upstream from the airport. Granted you gotta go to a few spots but they seem to thrive better up their. Maybe less predators?