how long does it take for a minnow to grow into an eatable size fish?

Question

I see minnows in the lake all the time, will these grow into catchable fish?

Answer 1

These are edible. Think appetizer. Dredge in seasoned cornmeal, and drop into deep fryer for 10 seconds. Yummy and crunchy. Won't fill you up so that you can't eat the main course.

Answer 2

They won't grow bigger than the biggest you've seen - ordinarily, they're used as bait for larger fish. About the only really small fish commonly eaten in the US are smelts (freshwater) and sardines (saltwater). The fortunate thing about them is, they're very filling. I'm a big guy with a huge appetite, and a dozen smelts fills me right up. Anyway - if you see a fish that looks like a minnow but is more than about two or two-and-a-half inches, it's not a minnow but another fish. To catch minnows to use as bait, most folks use a net and scoop 'em up into a pail of water - you want to keep them alive...and they won't last more than a day or two in that pail, so net 'em, grab your rod 'n reel, bait your hook with a live minnow, and toss it in deeper water where you think larger fish might lurk, and be patient. Putting a living fish on a hook takes some getting used to if you haven't done it before. You stick the hook into the minnow right behind the fin on its back, or stick the hook through both its lips. I thought it gross the first time, but I got used to it real quick - especially after a meal made of some fine fat largemouth bass caught with minnow bait!