View Full Version : Aerated minnow bucket vs. baitwell
I have always used a insulated minnow bucket with a minnow - mizer. I have been happy with those results. I recently bought a boat with baitwells. I'd like to use those instead so I don't have to carry a seperate minnow bucket. I wanted to hear thoughts about how effective they are vs. what I have been doing for my bait. Will the recirc keep the minnows fresh? Should I throw the minnow-mizer in there as well? Thanks.
T
Terroreyes
08-21-2003, 01:53 PM
The big difference is going to be that the baitwell will keep them cooler, which in turn, means they'll stay alive longer. The recirculator will do just fine for oxygen. Also, you can never have too much room on the boat, so I'd leave the old one at home. If I'm going out in the next day or two, I'll leave the shiners in the well and just run an aerator in there until I go again. Shiners are expensive these days!
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Kevin B
08-21-2003, 02:52 PM
Depends. In my boat, the livewell and baitwell will kill whatever is in it within one hour because it gets too hot in there. Fish in the livewell turn into mush by the end of the day. I use my livewell(s) for dry storage. Minnows go in the minnow bucket, placed inside a Coleman cooler with ice. Fish go in the same cooler. Minnows stay alive a long time when chilled. Fish on ice stay fresh a long time. I've been in boats that keep fish and bait alive all day in the livewells, but not my boat! In October and November, I can use my livewells without problems. But not in summer.
eyewinder
08-21-2003, 03:49 PM
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eyewinder
08-21-2003, 03:53 PM
Find a plastic minnow bucket that fits inside your baitwell. If I keep minnows in the bucket while I'm fishing. . .and the bucket is in the baitwell. . .I have the best of a couple of worlds:
1) Fresh & recirculated water is available (either automatic or manually)
2) I don't have to chase the little boogers around the baitwell when I need one
3) When fishing panfish, I can throw quite a few fish in the baitwell along with the bucket, and minnows and fish are all happy!
DaveT
08-22-2003, 12:12 AM
The baitwellin my Ranger621 is great. However in the heat of summer you may need to cool down the water temp a little if recirc is on. Use ice when avaiable for temp fix. Most generally unless in turbid waters keep fresh water pumping in or bait will die in their own sludge.
Easyrider
08-22-2003, 02:47 PM
When trolling with bottom bouncers, do you lift and touch the bottom or just troll keeping the bouncer off the bottom? I want to troll the channels since I have never tried this. Also while trolling the channels such as the Livingston or Balards Reef I assume your troll against the current? Is that correct? Lastly, I am concerned being in a channel such as the Livingston or Amherstburg with Commerical boat traffic approaching. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.
Bud
easyrider
08-22-2003, 02:51 PM
Darn, sorry guys, posted in wrong location. Should not eat and try to type.
Bud
daren
08-23-2003, 02:45 PM
As stated earlier, heat is the real killer. In the heat of summer I would use the insullated bait bucket. As long as the water surface temp is under 60 the minnows will be fine in the baitwell as well as any catch you decide to keep with occasional refreshing of the water. Bait can be kept in the baitwell in slightly warmer water as long as you keep fresh water coming in. I.E. don't use recirc and don't turn the livewell pumps off, let them continuously wash the livewells/baitwells. Over 70 degree surface temps I would just use the insullated bucket or, add ice to the livewell (a decent amount) and let the baitwell water be cooled on recirc so that it's water is being mixed with the livewells icewater continuously. Watch to make sure all the ice does not melt when doing this as it will not be long afterwords for the minnows to die.
BabeLinder
08-23-2003, 07:26 PM
My solution. Aerated minnow bucket for the drive. Tolling minnow bucket for the fishing. Drop one of those chubs straight from 40* water into 75* water. Hopefully he survives to swim around. But when using the trolling bucket they go back into same temp water. Works great. Just take your time getting water from baitshop to same temp as lake water. I just pour some lake water into bucket when we get there and some more every five minutes or so.