Minnow Bucket

[piscesman]

I have a single wall el-cheapo plastic minnow bucket. Several times this year when it's cold out the water starts to frezze and the minnows start to die off. I've seen the cheap styrofoam ones keep minnows frisky all day even in cold temps and no freezing water. I put mine in a 5 gal bucket to keep the water from splashing around and freezing. Has anyone lined their 5 gal bucket to create an insulated barrier??? With the price of bait I want them to last more than 1 trip on the ice. Also do the minnows die off quicker in the much colder water??? Thanks..........
      Kim

[A- bomb]

Frabil has one out thats a 5 gal bucket with a built in areator. inside is foam lined. looks neat

[Mr.Vexilar]

i use a styrofoam one also, dont have any problems with minnows dying off, in fact i bought a dozen pike minnows and 2 dozen crappie minnows and didnt use one of em the whole day, took em home and put em on the bench in the barn, left em there for 3 days and lost 7 crappie minnows and 1 pike minnow, i was suprised how long they lasted, as long as you keep fresh water in the bucket

[Slammerman]

I've seen the cheap styrofoam ones keep minnows frisky all day even in cold temps and no freezing water. I put mine in a 5 gal bucket to keep the water from splashing around and freezing. Has anyone lined their 5 gal bucket to create an insulated barrier???

Do you put just your minnows in the 5 gal bucket or the styrofoam bucket into the 5 gal bucket???

I have the styrofoam minnow bucket that fits perfectly into a 5 gal bucket and use it all of the time. I bought a half dozen golden shiners and 2 dozen "perch minnows" (smaller shiners) on Sunday morning and they were all alive today when I fished. They also went for a ride yesterday and stayed in the truck for 8 hours. I've added a little bit of fresh water but don't run anaerator. I do bring the whole 5 gal bucket (w/ styrofoam inner bucket) in at night and keep the whole thing in the fridge - except for tonight where I left them in the truck as it's not supposed to get much below freezing and I'm going in the morning.

[wallyboss]

I have a 5 gallon bucket and a styrofoam lined minnow bucket. And what I did was I drilled a couple of holes in the 5 gallon pail then I put my minnow pail in a plastic bag and then put it in the 5 gal. pail. then i took a can of expanding foam spray and filled up the empty space around the minnow bucket. Aftyer the foam had cured I took out the minnow pail and plastic bag. So now my 5 gal pail is insulated plus the minnow pail is insulated. The cold water will not kill the minnows. Unless your minnows are in warm water and you put them on the hook and in the icy water then it will last a couple of minutes and then die.  You got to be careful of temperature changes.

   

[fish_finder]

Frabil has one out thats a 5 gal bucket with a built in areator. inside is foam lined. looks neat

  i have one of those, only used it once so far but it worked great, teh aerator runs forever on D batteries

[piscesman]

I found out that the water temp was changing too fast resulting in minnow kill. I lined my 5 gal pail with neopreme and then set my minnow bucket inside. This should stopp the water temp from changing too fast and keeping the minnows alive. I'll let you know how it works out this weekend... Thanks for alll your suggestions.........
      Kim   

[Kybar]

I also have a styrofoam pail that fits inside a 5-gal bucket.  I just drilled a hole in the top for my air line and set the aerator on top of the styrofoam lid.  I works well and the water never seems to freeze.  I also agree that fast temp changes are the quickest way to kill minnows.  Chubs and suckers also seem to be more hardy than shiners.