Tap them on the side with the piece of fish; I've found that most Nerodia respond to prey items brushing up against them. When you say, "minnows", exactly what do you mean? The "minnows" sold in bait shows are usually shiners, which are members of the Carp family along with goldfish, and so are the so-called "rosy reds" often sold in pet shops as feeders. All of those fish are very high in a dangerous enzyme called thiaminase, which inhibits Vitamin B absorption, vital for survival and development of the snake. Thiaminase is especially dangerous for young, growing snakes, and can and usually does result in serious neurological issues. I've found it best to try and get them onto f/t mouse pinkies if possible, and if not that, then cut pieces of thiaminase-free fish from the supermarket, such as tilapia, trout, ocean perch, salmon or flounder. The article I linked refers to feeding predatory fish, but the information can be applied to any piscivorus animals.
Thiaminase

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