what is the best minnow bucket

[JO2003]

coolers work the best imo find a cheap one get a good bubbler makes my bait last days longer than reg buckets

[NeonMoon]

Here's the bucket I just put together. I like my (larger) Coleman cooler (posted earlier in this thread) and it does a great job even on small 'gills for catfish bait, but sometimes it's just too large. I quickly added-up in my head and have about $25 in this (styrofoam liner, air stone, air pump, new bucket and lid).



I'd made a post a page or 2 back about the liner having it's own lid, which I cut-out enough to retain the lid, and still have access to bait. It alsi gives me a place to keep a spare pair of batteries with the bucket.

[Crappie 1]

Looks a lot like mine. They work really good. Nice pictures..

[CrappieCrazed]

Ive got a question for all of you actually. Ive been thinking about getting one of these bait buckets with the pump because we also are losing minnows in the summer. My question is this. When you take the minnow out of the cool bucket water, put it on a hook and throw him in 85 degree water doesnt it kill the minnow. thats the reason ive not done this yet is because i figured the water temp change on the lil minner would "shock" it and kill it instantly. This doesnt happen???

[NeonMoon]

Can't say I've witnessed it (recast & minnow still alive), but what I will say is, many times I've used a "floater" (dead one) and the fish didn't seem to care. Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer a live one, but have caught plenty on dead ones.

[Crappie 1]

Ive got a question for all of you actually. Ive been thinking about getting one of these bait buckets with the pump because we also are losing minnows in the summer. My question is this. When you take the minnow out of the cool bucket water, put it on a hook and throw him in 85 degree water doesnt it kill the minnow. thats the reason ive not done this yet is because i figured the water temp change on the lil minner would "shock" it and kill it instantly. This doesnt happen???

I have it happen. When we first get the minnows and the water is cold, they do die when they hit the warmer water. But after fishing for a while it quits. Add a little lake water at a time every 20 min. and do it till they get used to it..

[Bombfixer]

I too have had my minners die quickly from the shock of the difference between the lake and the cooler temps. I have tried to solve that by filling my cooler with lake water and then introducing the minnows into it. I have even gone so far in the summer time as to saving some lake water and make ice cubes out of it for use in the cooler. But sometimes in the heat of the summer when the water temp is 88*+ there is simply not much you can do.

[sommfshmn]

Here's what I use works great, can even keep some between trips for 7 to 10 days. Thumbs Up



Frabill Aqualife Bait Station

Thats also what I use and have put a 1/2 pound minners in it and kept them for 14 days with regular water changes,also used it in Florida with 4 and 5 inch bass shiners and did`nt lose a single one,at least till they got bitRoflRofl

[BarryG]

Magic® - The Best in Baits and Bait Care - Aerobait® Bait Savers

This is good.

[89ranger]

Thanks for the information I will be using this