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There's not much chance you (or I) can come up with something that hasnt already been thought of when it comes to fishing bait. And we are still buying spikes, that should tell you something. I'll stick with my $10/1000 live spikes that last me the entire ice season.
So, thinking of going the bulk route this winter (1000). I know keeping spikes in the "warmer" areas of fridge (door, butter compartment, top shelf front, etc. is best. My question is...and I have heard/read...that if you have any left that you took fishing for the day, they should NOT be put back in the bulk container due to the possibility of contaminating the ones that are in said container. So either keep them in the smaller one you took to the ice or toss them out. Can anyone verify this?
Air tight container. Bottom, back of the fridge. After ice out, I put about 3 dozen spikes in those conditions in my fridge in February of this year. They lasted until I remembered them in August. Out of the 3 dozen, they may have been half a dozen dead ones. Prior to the unintended storage, I got 12 dozen spikes at the beginning of the ice season (2017) and dumped them all into a UV resistant (cobalt blue) 4oz cosmetics container (I make lip balms and beard care products and already had the container). I only used half of the saw dust. I took the entire container with me every time (about the size of a BaitPuck). Several outings each week until ice out. In and out of my pockets, sitting on the ice, these guys experienced temp fluctuations every time out.I found as long as the container was sealed airtight (even when warm in my pocket, shack, and car) they would last and they lasted very well. Quality bait to begin with helps a lot too. I was very surprised when I found 3 dozen, healthy, alive spikes still in my fridge lol. I used them up that day.During ice season, I would take some out and put them back sometimes too (sharing with buddies and getting the extra back) and as long as they weren’t wet from snow, oozy from being ruptured, or already dead, they transferred pretty well. I never noticed any “cross contamination” issues. Moisture and access to air seems to be the demise of the spike (well, for bait purposes anyway).My fridge is around 40*.