Author Topic: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?  (Read 9575 times)

Offline cleveland

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Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« on: Sep 30, 2019, 10:11 PM »
As I am replacing and updating my equiptment I have come to the minnow bucket. I'd like to get something that has a similar footprint or smaller, this one fits nicely into a milk crate. Of course, I could go with another foam-lined 5-gallon bucket but I am betting some of you have a much more user-friendly minnow bucket. What are you using?




Offline chilly-willy

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #1 on: Oct 01, 2019, 12:28 AM »
Job site Water jug with a screw top lid ?




Offline chilly-willy

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #2 on: Oct 01, 2019, 12:29 AM »
I am useing a areo bait bucket and a foam liner for a 5 gallon bucket when I fish but I hear those job site water jugs don't spill?

Offline Monticatgeek

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #3 on: Oct 01, 2019, 02:45 AM »
I use these when I fish with minnows. I have one of each size.

https://shop.clamoutdoors.com/bait-bucket.html#
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Offline Spider1

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #4 on: Oct 01, 2019, 06:34 AM »
I use a small igloo cooler. It's big enough for around 3 dozen medium minnows and with a bubbler they will stay alive for the weekend. Unless the pickerel eat them all!

Offline jrjach75

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #5 on: Oct 01, 2019, 07:12 AM »
I just use a gallon sized water jug with the screw on top. Has a decent handle, insulated, and won't leak. Under $10.

Offline esox_xtm

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #6 on: Oct 01, 2019, 08:17 AM »
Kinda depends on what you usually tote for minnows. Just crappie sized/jig tipping stuff or larger tipup sized bait. Walleyes/bass or pike. You ain't gonna keep a half dozen 6" suckers in a tea cup.
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Offline jethro

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #7 on: Oct 01, 2019, 08:29 AM »
I use the Engel with the bubble box for live bait.
Quote- fishslap: I use a variety:  whistlin' bungholes, spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistlin' kitty chaser

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Offline kayl

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #8 on: Oct 01, 2019, 09:18 AM »
I use an Engel with the clam lithium aerator. Fantastic combo.

Offline Northern_MN Outdoorsan

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #9 on: Oct 01, 2019, 10:53 AM »
Engel 19qt bait cooler for me.

Offline winterbuddy

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #10 on: Oct 01, 2019, 11:08 AM »
I just use a gallon sized water jug with the screw on top. Has a decent handle, insulated, and won't leak. Under $10.

That's my favorite for most live bait while ice fishing too, a simple 4qt coleman insulated jug.  Cheap, durable and it works.

Offline PikeKing23

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #11 on: Oct 01, 2019, 11:57 AM »
5 gal bucket.  I use big bait.

Offline Bucket Rump

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #12 on: Oct 01, 2019, 12:05 PM »
Went with an Igloo 18 Pack cooler modded to hold a Marine Metal Products Hush Bubbles aerator.  Perfect size for my purpose and the aqua blue interior is a color that is supposedly calming to minnows - seems to work, and I know my minnow supplier uses aqua blue on their tanks. Fits perfect inside a milk crate, too.








Offline bart

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #13 on: Oct 01, 2019, 01:14 PM »
I just use a gallon sized water jug with the screw on top. Has a decent handle, insulated, and won't leak. Under $10.



Same here!  I have two, picked them up at garage sales, one for .50 cents, the other .25 cents.
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Offline chilly-willy

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #14 on: Oct 01, 2019, 01:51 PM »


Same here!  I have two, picked them up at garage sales, one for .50 cents, the other .25 cents.
(Image removed from quote.)

That's the one I was talking about!

Offline jrjach75

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #15 on: Oct 01, 2019, 02:04 PM »


Same here!  I have two, picked them up at garage sales, one for .50 cents, the other .25 cents.
(Image removed from quote.)

Yep, same color I have too. Just make sure you mark it somehow so someone does not try and use it later for water, and then you are put into a position trying to decide to tell them or not after they drank from it. Not that I would know anything about that.

Offline TheCrappieFisherman

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #17 on: Oct 01, 2019, 08:27 PM »
Do any of you use the Frabill Magnum Bait Station?

https://www.frabill.com/catalog/product/view/id/1864/s/magnum-bait-stationr-13/category/407/?fbclid=IwAR3gNltkTfq5EKkk8zHUZvBMAw00Lv5MGW77EUahVZ-D_FlIIhl3pB1o15I

First question would be, do other aerators fit in that cut out? If not you might be forced to buy the frabill specific one if it burns out, or mount one else where.

Offline Iceassin

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #18 on: Oct 02, 2019, 04:59 AM »
I use the same one that I do for soft water...those plastic ones with the trap door on top. I repositioned the handle to the inside of the top so that it fits nicely inside a 5 gallon bucket. An aerator and an oxygen tab now and then. Have never had an issue with the water freezing either.
"Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
 


Offline bart

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #19 on: Oct 02, 2019, 06:40 AM »
Yep, same color I have too. Just make sure you mark it somehow so someone does not try and use it later for water, and then you are put into a position trying to decide to tell them or not after they drank from it. Not that I would know anything about that.



Maybe I'll put a sticker on them to dress them up?

While at home I also open the drink spout and send an aerator hose through it and replace the stone to keep the minnows lively and longer.
"Many fish their entire lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."-Henry David Thoreau
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Offline matzilla

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #20 on: Oct 02, 2019, 07:05 AM »
That's my favorite for most live bait while ice fishing too, a simple 4qt coleman insulated jug.  Cheap, durable and it works.

Same here, works great, no spills

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Offline FishDoc_1

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #21 on: Oct 02, 2019, 07:37 AM »
Engel 13 qt. 
Good things come to those who bait.

Offline bassin212

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #22 on: Oct 02, 2019, 09:56 AM »
those of you who use Coleman's with the screw top. Do you keep an Aerator in it while you're out on the ice? Here in NH we use Smelt that are pretty sensitive. Just wondering exactly how you're set up with it out on the ice.
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Offline winterbuddy

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #23 on: Oct 02, 2019, 10:02 AM »
those of you who use Coleman's with the screw top. Do you keep an Aerator in it while you're out on the ice? Here in NH we use Smelt that are pretty sensitive. Just wondering exactly how you're set up with it out on the ice.

I use the small 4qt often, but that's primarily for Pimephales minnows for walleye and crappie.  I'll use a second for emerald shiners at times, but anything larger in any #'s would go into a bigger cooler like an Engel. 

Offline esox_xtm

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #24 on: Oct 02, 2019, 10:24 AM »
Most of the time it's an Engel 19 qt. for me. I ditched the stock aerator and replaced with a Frabill Whisper Quiet. Cheap buzzing aerators make me absolutely crazy and the longer they buzz the crazier I get. Wired the Frabill with a jack so I can run off a 12v lighter/source in the truck or a 110v wall wart inside as well as the D cells.

I've used a gallon water jug for crappie or tipping minnows at times. If it's just tipping minnows I've got a bag of brined bait I've used with good success. Not commercial, leftovers I've processed myself.
To fish or not to fish? That's a stupid question!



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Offline Mancaveburnett

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #25 on: Oct 02, 2019, 11:02 AM »
I use an engel. From experience dont get it too close to the big buddy heater. My engel still works fine but doesnt look as good as it once did lol.

Offline esox_xtm

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #26 on: Oct 02, 2019, 11:32 AM »
I use an engel. From experience dont get it too close to the big buddy heater. My engel still works fine but doesnt look as good as it once did lol.

Or anything else. I once melted the soles offa pair of Rocky hunting boots trying to warm my frozen feet.  ::)
To fish or not to fish? That's a stupid question!



“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”― Lewis Carroll

Offline Iceassin

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #27 on: Oct 02, 2019, 01:01 PM »
Or anything else. I once melted the soles offa pair of Rocky hunting boots trying to warm my frozen feet.  ::)

Same thing happened to an old buddy of mine many years ago. Claimed to be an ice fishing aficionado. Came dressed in a wool Mexican poncho and a pair of work boots in -20* weather.Set fire to the bottoms of his boots. Never asked to go ice fishing again. ::)
"Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
 


Offline rdhammah

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #28 on: Oct 02, 2019, 02:14 PM »
how many shiners you planning to carry?

Offline Sylvanboat

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Re: Minnow Bucket - What are you using?
« Reply #29 on: Oct 02, 2019, 04:49 PM »


Maybe I'll put a sticker on them to dress them up?

While at home I also open the drink spout and send an aerator hose through it and replace the stone to keep the minnows lively and longer.


So what if you drink a little minnow water?  Builds character.

 



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