ALL NEW AND IMPROVED ENGEL LIVE BAIT BOX!

[wicklundrh]

Did they fix it so when you're running across the lake and it ruff... the water doesn't splash out from @ the top? that why we haven't bought one yet for.

I just got the new ones in last week as I pro-staff for Engel. I cannot comment on any of the old ones but here is what I CAN tell you about the ones posted above. Please keep in mind that I do NOT get paid to tell you that something is great. I am a pro-staff fisherman for them. I test their products as I write a ton of product reviews. Some are good, and some are bad. I just tell it like it is. I do get stuff at discounted prices but... I still pay for them like everyone else.

Monday April 3rd: Used the 13qrt and purchased 4 dozen 3-4inch emerald shinner minnows for walleye fishing. Filled it a little over 3/4 with water and put some cheap junk DD batteries. These minnows are normally suseptable to dying very quickly. Ran Aerator on low all day long. Not ONE dead minnow in the bunch. Ran up and down river at over 40 mph and never had a drop of water come out of the box. I love the internal net. I think it keeps the minnows off the side walls and from banging on it too hard. I DID NOT lift the net to retrieve minnows. I used a dip net. I did NOT want all of them to keep coming out of the water.

Tuesday April 4th: Day of rest. Minnows still alive and kicking in the back seat. Aerator still running. One dead minnow.

Wednesday April 5th: 2 dozen minnows added with fresh water. Minnow bucket took a tumble (end over end) three times from the front to the back. No water lost and no dead minnows.

Friday April 7th- Night before tournament day 1. Put 4 dozen minnows in the box. Aerator on low and left in the truck overnight
Saturday Arpil 8th 4:30am: Minnows still alive and well, aerator still running on same junk batteries. Changed batteries JUST to be safe. Blast off at 6:50am. Boat number 1 of 120. Ran up river 20 miles at 37mph. Took two big waves. Box tumbled all the way to the back of the boat. No time to slow down and right it. A couple of drops of water and that was it. Aerator safe and sound and still running. Minnows doing good!

Sunday April 9th: 2nd day of tournament. Inverted field. Last boat to start on 2nd flight at 7:30 am. Launch was like a washing machine. 3 plus foot waves to start. Trimmed up boat and made a 28 mile run pushing just over 41mph. Hit so many waves so hard that I seperated the windshield in my boat. No time to stop or slow down (Thank god for smooth moves seats). Passed 20 boats that found it too rough to run that fast. Bait box went by me twice. Looked like a snow ball being rolled across the floor of the boat. Sit down, shut up, and hang on. No time to right the box. Aerator still running, minnows still downing fine (although a little green from seasickness). No water loss, a few scuff marks.

My take away from this bait box... Best investment you could make in regards to keeping minnows safe and sound and alive. A 5 gallon bucket, an old cooler, a styrafoam bucket, and a regular minnow bucket would NOT have survived the trip. Would have been dead in the water. This bucket kept me in the fight. Would I buy another one???? I already have. A 19 qrt model for keeping at camp.

How is that for a product review?

[yikess]

Great review on the Engel but I think what I really want is to go on a boat ride with you! For some reason I can't get Billbob to ride with me anymore. I can't imagine why? LOL

[yobuck]

Great review on the Engel but I think what I really want is to go on a boat ride with you! For some reason I can't get Billbob to ride with me anymore. I can't imagine why? LOL

Funny but I was thinking just the opposite. Maybe Billbob and I could meet you guys there. lol
One of the reasons tournaments have never impressed me.

[Just Steve]

I am Ordering 2

1 is a prize for our fish camp

2nd for me

Good review Rich.

[wicklundrh]

Great review on the Engel but I think what I really want is to go on a boat ride with you! For some reason I can't get Billbob to ride with me anymore. I can't imagine why? LOL

My 70 year old dad is my tournament fishing partner. Thank god for smooth moves seats. Without them, I couldn't do what I do.

I understand what it is like being in the passenger seat. Nothing to really hold on to. They never put the handles in the best spots on these boats. He was holding the windshield and it pulled completely out of the housing! Thank god it didn't break On Tuesday, we took it completely out, put the seal back on correctly and put it back in. I then purchased a new handles, used a reinforcing block of solid walnut on the back side, and affixed a handle on the dash for him in a much better location.

Three weeks and we do it all again. This time on Lake Erie. Any other day, I wouldn't push it like that, but when $13000 is on the line.... I'm running hard