I found a way to keep my shiners alive to fish thru the day

[Rojo]

"Biggest problem right now is the difference in surface water temps and the holding tank temps. I catch my shiners out of the tank before daylight. That gives the water time to slowly warm up. Still it takes a very long time for the water to warm up so if I drop the shiner in the water it dies almost immediately. This is the reason I have my chiller set to 68 degrees but with surface water temps in the low 90's a shiner won't survive the first dip. Tuffy Minnows will survive but I can only get those in Rosey Reds at the Hatchery."

I posted this comment really in the wrong place so I copied here as I had a break thru this morning. So today with my bride returning I decided to go fishing this morning for Taco meat if that's all that will play. I removed the Styrofoam liner in the smallest bait bucket I have. Figured it would allow the water to warm the fastest. Adding 30 or so shiners to the bucket I set it outside on the boat deck while I did other chores. Leaving about 7:30am this morning the bucket still felt cold on the outside (my chiller is 68 degrees). By the time I got to the first spot the water felt too cold still so I just fish with jigs for another hour. Well a hour had past with not much to show for it, keeper fish in the cooler I mean. I moved again fishing thru a solid 365 day a year recruitment spot without a bite. Now I told myself the shiners had to put up with the hot water. Well when I put my hand in the water it felt slightly cool. My shiners were still frisky too. I need to add I use Sure Life BAIT BUDDIES, a pack was in the bucket since I caught my shiners out of the tank. One by one I put live shiners on the hook and within seconds of them hitting the water the cork went down. Over 20 shiners in a row. I started using the dead shiners the fish slung on the deck, some a bit dried, same thing, one right after the next Crappie. I had fished that spot for a good 15 minutes with several artificial offerings. I caught Crappie till I was too hot to stay. Moral of the story if your bait bucket is insulated remove the liner & get yourself some Bait Buddies, the combination worked along with letting the water warm up. Best of Luck Fishing.

[SuperDave336]

Thanks for sharing

[BuckeyeCrappie]

[Jamesdean]

Thank you for sharing some invaluable info. Now to figure out the bait buddies, lol. Like most others, when I use minnows, I buy a couple dozen the night before. I keep them in a Styrofoam bucket in-side a 5 gallon pail with a bubbler over night on the front deck of the house. If there's any left over, they're still pretty frisky. Any left, I usually replace about 70% water volume before leaving the lake, with the two buckets separated, I can take extra lake water home with me to change out water in the bait bucket. Have kept the fish for about a week like this, keeping the bubbler going and water changed out.

Ok, I see what it is. I looked it up. I'll have to go by BPS and get me a bottle for when I happen to use minnows. Thank you for the info Rojo...

[Rojo]

BAIT-BUDDIES™ Oxygen And Water Conditioning Tablets For Use In Minnow Buckets With Live Baits

[Jamesdean]

Yep, found shortly after my post. Thank you John...