Minnow Buckets

[wilbur]

What is a good bucket to get to hold 4 to 5 doz. It is starting to get hot up here. Yesterday it was 82 lost 4 doz in 2 hrs. they were all belly up. I just had a 5 gal. bucket. Thinking of getting something insulated with an aeriator. Any suggestions.

Thanks WILBUR.

[BarryG]

I would get an insulated 5 gal bucket with an aerator! :D

["G"]

The best that I have found is the Frabill Min o life Personal bait Station. It is the Square looking one, very well insulated and a tight fitting lid and the airator is very good. BPS number 21-422-085-00 It is kinda expensive at $44.99 but I have been using mine for 5 years now and I love it.

[wilbur]

G3 Thats what i was thinking but the 4.25 gal. one. for 5 doz . Or should i get 2 little ones.

["G"]

I have had 6 doz. in my square one (8 qts.) before....never had a problem...I might have two or three die on me but thats the most even in very hot weather. I run the airator continously

[wilbur]

Thanks G3 thats what ill get.

[Squall Line]

If you don't have an aeriator your just wasting $$.$$ on the minnows. They just won't live long without one. I have a Igloo Industrial 3g Cooler Yellow. I like it for several reasons ---size is small and squatty - hard to turn over and small enough to step over and around in my small boat. I just drop the tube into the cooler and turn on the aeriator. I rarely ever lose a minnow. I wash it out when I get home so that and I can also ues it for camping.

[majflyboy]

Get you a new boat with built-in bait wells. Just kidding, I've got one of those Frabill ones too. You will be surprised how long the aerator will run on two D cells. Also keep some frozen water bottles for the hot weather.

[buffalo13]

I add a little ice to them along the way.

[Nightprowler]

Some put ice in the minnow bucket, but when the minnow is shocked as its put in the lake to fish with, it dies quickly. I try to adjust the water slowly with the temp of the lake water. With plenty oxygen and the slowly adjusted temps, mine last longer on those extreme hot days.