What Wayne said - idle engine.

I also believe that the half minnow works best once the fish start bitting. I believe this is because the fish that you are reeling in are trying to spit the hook and therefore are spitting out minnows they have already eaten and these fall to the bottom. Other fish come along and eat these minnow pieces and if you are using a half minnows it looks just like another piece of minnow to be eaten.