I have used the orange cooler and bubble box for years. Works for me.
Why do you think any $80.00 Engal 30 QT bait cooler is $50.00 better than an orange $22.00 Igloo 5-Gallon Heavy-Duty Beverage Cooler + an $8.00 Bubble Box aerator ($30.00 drive out price)?
$80-$30 = you save $50
All bait tank salesmen say the rule of thumb for safe stocking density for bait tanks is 1 lb. minnows (fish) for every 1 gallon of water… that’s 1440 minnows/gallon in any bait box..
That means 1 gallon of water is safe fo1440 minnows in any bait tank.
So, the max safe stocking density for the high dollar 30 qt. (7.5 gal H2O) Engal is7.5 lbs.minnows…1440 X7.5 gallons of minnows = 10,600 minnows.
And, the max safe stocking density for the 5.0 gallon Igloo is 5.0 lbs.minnows… 1440 x 5.0 lbs. = 7,200 minnows.
QUESTION? How often do any of you ever take or will ever need to take more than 5.0 lbs.(7,200 minnows) for any fishing trip?
*Costof crappie minnows – One gallon (or 8 pounds) of crappie minnows contains 120 dozen/1440 minnows (a very conservative estimate). The average cost of a gallon of crappie minnows is $25.00. Crappie minnows are usually sold by the scoop, which holds approximately 24 minnows.This scoop of minnows usually sells for $3.00 per scoop. At 24 minnows per scoop there will be 60 scoops per gallon. https://www.minnowmaster.com/why-sell-minnows-.html
Thanks for your opinions.
I have used the orange cooler and bubble box for years. Works for me.
It would be hard to use 1400 minnows much less 7200 . That is a lot of minnows
The love for fishing is one of the best gifts you can pass alongRobAnderson LIKED above post
I take 6 dozen minnows at a time in an Engle 30 quart with the aerator connected to my starting battery (because it is in proximity). It works impeccably and the only addition is a 4lb (that is what they call it) Yeti reusable ice block in the cooler when the outside temp gets over 95 degrees. Works like a charm in the Texas heat. The minnow seine insert allows you to easily lift to scoop out 5-10 minnows at a time to go into a smaller container with water to easily move it to whatever part of the boat you are fishing from. I highly recommend the Engle over trying to bootleg a standard cooler. The aerator hose in the Engle goes trough the cooler allowing the top to be secure holding the temperature for a livable environment. I also leave the aerator going when I am home and plugged in and have had minnows last for days as long as I keep them cool and aerated.
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Been using a 5 gal bucket with styrofoam bucket line. Put hole in upper side of bucket for hose. Can run battery bubbler or my onboard bubbler. Have never had a problem keeping minnows up to a pound or so at all and it gets bad hot here in summer. Friend built a minnow cooler like your talking about. Works like a charm. All your trying to do is keep water at a temp they can tolerate. In summer I freeze the small gator aid bottles full of water, put several in my drink cooler swap out ever hour or so and that keeps water plenty cool with that bucket liner. Only advantage on the cooler type I can see is very unlikely you will turn it over. One main thing I have found on conversions is having a insulated lid to keep sun from heating up inside.
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Charlie Weaver USN/ENC 1965-1979
I use a 18qt cooler with a 12 volt bubbler and it will hold minnows for a long time usually buy a pound at a time.
I have the Engle 30 qt and buy minnows a 1/2 pound at a time which depending on minnow size is usually 12 to 15 dozen.It works well for this amount and I have no trouble keeping them alive for at least a few days,even in the heat of summer.I would not want to put 7 and a half pounds of bait in my 30 quart Engle,in my opinion it would be way to many for a cooler of that size.
I've had and use both. The round drink cooler is better insulated and its round shape holds minnows better for long term use. However, the water depth along with a less user friendly lid make for less user friendly product. For on the boat use, I would recommend the Engel. Especially the 3.25 or 4.75 gal size.
I use the 5 gl igloo for bait storage. I also use a 2gl igloo for personal use and refill as needed. I also keep a troll box if needed. All of those are several seasons old. All were recommission from athletic programs. Zero issues. I've had aerators and I've just taken the net and slashed the top of the water around.
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