I personnally think the pointer live is crap! I doesn't work too well in the normal rip style retrieve. It has the tendency to want to rollover on the jerk. But I have heard it is suppose to be reeled in slow to work right, but I haven't tried it yet. I bought 4 of them and now I regret it. I would rather have a regular pointer because those catch tons of fish for me everywhere I fish. The pointer minnow I have't heard of, unless you are talking about the flashminnow, then that is an awesome bait also. I will wiggle on the pause and that will bring fish to it. But you will have to try them out for yourself to be the judge of it because everyone has there own preferences. Just my 2 cents.