keeping chubs alive in while fishing

[I GUY]

I dont use chubs all that often and when I do its usually early and late. So here is the question, how do I keep chubs alive while fishing with them during the "dog days". What I mean is, I can keep them alive in cold water in the boat but what about when I hook them and they get in the warm lake water,,, do they go into shock and die from the different water temps? How do you guys remedy the problem.

[catfishkiller]

I've found chubs to be about the hardiest minnows as far as temperature tolerance is concerned. They do, however, need lots of oxygen, ariation. The are typically a creek minnow and reside in moving water. Stagnant water will smoke 'em alot quicker than warm water...

Set up a 20-30 quart cooler with a boat style livewell pump (atwood 500). Drill a hole in the lower side below either handle for the pump inlet, this way the pump is outside the cooler out of the water. Silicone the daylights out of the inlet pipe where it goes through the cooler wall and put one of those neet screw on screens on the end of the inlet pipe inside the cooler. Make a sparge out of 1/2" PVC pipe and mount it to the back wall of the cooler parallel to the cover hinge above the liquid level. Drill another hole through the cooler wall, at the inlet end of yor sparge. Cap the other end of your sparge. Use hardware store fittings and hose to connect the outlet of the pump to the inlet of the sparge. Add 15' or so of wire to the wire ends of the pump so that you can move the cooler around or hook it up to a remote battery.

Move the cooler from the pickup, to the boat, then back to the porch as often as required! It does make a great baitwell in the boat...

Having the pump outside the cooler keeps the water inside the cooler from warming as fast. You also retain full use of the cooler lid by running the pump inlet/outlet through the coller walls. We've kept chubs alive over 20 hours in the same cooler, with the same water at 90+F outside temps. Place a wet towel over the cooler for additional cooling when its in the sun.

It is also very important to keep the water fresh. Chubs are generally a larger minnow and 3 dozen in a cooler can make for some rancid water (read dead minnows) over 12 hours. Use tempered well water or lake water. In a pinch you can add a few ice cubes to chill the cooler water. Be careful as adding a whole bag of ice (or 2) to the cooler will thermally shock and kill your minnows also.

I guess i got carried away on this post... good luck.

Catfish