My minnows die too daggonned quick!!

[Arkie John]

What I do in the summer is take my cooler and lay down a bed of ice. Then I take a couple of towels, double or triple them and lay them right on the ice. Now when I buy minnows I usually have to buy them the night before because all the bait shops keep grocery store hours--opening up at 7:00am. (That's 1 1/2 hours too late for me). So, I'll buy four dozen minnows and have them divided into two bags. I lag these two bags on top of the towels and close the lid.

The next morning I won't lose hardly any. They are healthy and spunky. When I get to the lake, I fill one of the live wells with lake water and place in the first bag, still inflated. Once the water is tempered 5-10 minutes, I let them out.

I have really good luck with this simple method. I learned it from a guide and I'd like to add that if they aren't biting well, I have actually kept the second bag for a SECOND NIGHT with very few casualties...with more than enough for my next trip.

Hope this helps. It's simple and it works. Just be sure and pad the buffer between the minnows and the ice with ample towels or the ice will kill them quick.

aj

[LBM]

An insolated bucket with an aerator is the secret. The problem with the kind that hang on your bucket is that they make a lot of noise and when you are out enjoying the peace and quiet of nature it can be aggravating by the end of the day.

The noise of the one on the left is like a thrashing machine and it was just an awful sound while running it on the boat disturbing the peace and quite one expects while on the water. Don't waste your money on the Bubbles air pump. The Frabill aerator is great.

[beagle man]

when we use minnows and it's not verry often usuall only in the summer time , we put couple scoops of ice in the water,get them minnows cold. cold enough to send them to the bottom of the bucket,tip a jig,or just use straight,and yes the ice cold minnows catch as many or more crappie and any live minnow.

[Grumpy]

I have one of those bubbles pumps and it's so annoying listening to the dang thing that I don't use it much. I'm thinking about getting one of these things that I can connect to the battery in the boat and keep the majority of the minnows in an ice chest and just put a few in the bucket as I need them.

[jimmydee1]

ArkieJohn, gonna try your towel, ice, bag method this evening. I'll let you know if I screw it up. lol Sound like it should work just fine. Can't wait to see.

Wish we weren't so far apart. I think we'd get along just fine with our huntin and fishin. I'm pretty old school myself bein 62 and all, but I sho nuff likes my outdoor stuff.

[galvatron]

get better bait also adding ice will help to

[fishinRod]

I forgot to mention earlier that i wrapped my stryofoam minnow bucket with camo duct tape and i sit it down inside of a 3 gal. plastic bucket (like your, typical 5 gal., same design and material), it protects it and makes it easier to carry and the aeroator clips right on the side, i put spare batteries for the aerator in a cloth bag and tie it to the other side for weight distribution when i carry it.

[Goldeneye]

try a little rock salt in the water. or switch to jigs.

I've heard this works with fresh shad minnows, an if you can keep shad alive, it should work great for crappie minnows .

[thudpucker]

OK, this is what I think I have learned from all the responses.

Insulated Minnow bucket or live well.
Water the minnows came in or the chemical Minnow saver.
A little Ice, inside a plastic bottle, inside the well with the Minnow water.
Cycle the water through the air to get rid of the Ammonia from urine.
A remote aerator is better than a circulating pump inside the live well.
Make the Minnows smell better, tip them with meal worms? (That one I don't understand) I may just throw some Gold fish food in with them.
No tap water or Ice made with Chlorine water in with the Minnows.

I have the Bucket I can dunk over-side into the lake. That didn't work to save the minnows. It must have been the heat or the Chlorine Ice cubes.

I'd have been back sooner except I am not being notified when someone answers my post! Whats up with that? Anybody have a hint?:o

[CrappiePappy]

I'd have been back sooner except I am not being notified when someone answers my post! Whats up with that? Anybody have a hint?:o

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