Author Topic: Show me your bait buckets (Read 2168 times)

Tip Up Spy · « **on:** Dec 25, 2012, 07:22 AM »

What does everyone use for bait buckets? I have never been a 5/6gallon bucket fan and everything else commercially available is not large enough. The past years I have used a ~24qt container. Last year it till a spill off the sled and cracked. My dream bucket would be this pictured but twice as tall. Any ideas? What do you use?

SoDakdick · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 07:26 AM »

A medal chafing pan would work but I think they are only 14 qt and I don't know of a lid that would work you would have to make one.

d4ng3r3ux · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 07:29 AM »

use a cooler

big bobber · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 07:31 AM »

i use a water jug (coleman) with a lid...doesnt hold a ton,gotta change the water often...but it is sturdy and never freezes.try one of those gatorade coolers people have on the side of their work trucks...they come in assorted sizes.

fish-kabob · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 08:30 AM »

i have this and a plastic bucket right now. the this is a areo bait bait saver which i never use in the winter cause the cheap foam in side the buckets. if the water in the buckets freeze's you have the problem of haveing to wreck the foam to get the minnows out or de-thaw it by bringing it in the house who want to do that. any ways get a small $3 dollar buckets at the bait stores with no foam isolation. if you leave it out side for the night with bait in it they tend to freeze the insolation get wrecked trying to get it out. this is why i do not suggets a cooler in the winter it will keep it alive longer. but it harder to remove the ice and minnow's once it freeze's but works great in the summer for keeping the minnows cool just got to throw ice in there once they start ggetting to warm. here is a link to the areo bait bait saver i will see if i can find a cheap bait bucket to as a example of what i use.

http://www.magicproducts.com/aerobait.htm

fish-kabob · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 08:43 AM »

if i had my choices i would by one of these instead of the areo bait and a five gallon bucket, and a areator to keep minnows swimming lively . there is a small port in the bucket top tackle box link below for a areator. you cut the bottom out of one side there is a cut line and it works awesome i got one for fishing in the winter and use it some times and it doulbe as a tackle box . i use it when i use my flip over that or a small 4-7 quart bucket in my s3000 shappell. i always use non-insolated cause it is easier to get the mminnows out of it when they freeze.

http://www.fleetfarm.com/mff/detail/plano-bucket-top-stowaway/0000000035520

SDFlagChaser · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 09:04 AM »

I don't have a picture, but i just use a small cooler

reddog11 · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 09:10 AM »

An OLD PAL gallon bait bucket. Its 30+ years old. Ice fishing gear was made to last back then...

Bear32 · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 09:13 AM »

Tried many, my favorite is a insulated cooler with flip top lid.

eriksat1 · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 10:59 AM »

I've been using a old cooler and need to try something else it spills way to much water and the lid freezes on so you have to pry it open with a metal ice scooper. I'm thinking of going back to a 5 gal pail with one of those cheap Styrofoam minnow buckets inside and a good snap on lid for the 5 gal bucket so you can also sit on it.

Michaelo · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 11:27 AM »

Just got the frabill kool keeper minnow bucket for christmas this morning sure looks a lot better then the foam bucket I have been using.

AugustWest · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 11:58 AM »

I have a small screw top cooler...never have to worry about spilling your bait!!!
AW

tbirdbassr · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 12:05 PM »

Quote from: fish-kabob on Dec 25, 2012, 08:43 AM

if i had my choices i would by one of these instead of the areo bait and a five gallon bucket, and a areator to keep minnows swimming lively . there is a small port in the bucket top tackle box link below for a areator. you cut the bottom out of one side there is a cut line and it works awesome i got one for fishing in the winter and use it some times and it doulbe as a tackle box . i use it when i use my flip over that or a small 4-7 quart bucket in my s3000 shappell. i always use non-insolated cause it is easier to get the mminnows out of it when they freeze.

http://www.fleetfarm.com/mff/detail/plano-bucket-top-stowaway/0000000035520

Those things a ok but dont drop it. It blows apart like dynomite is in it!

Scuba Steve 3 · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 12:32 PM »

Quote from: reddog11 on Dec 25, 2012, 09:10 AM

An OLD PAL gallon bait bucket. Its 30+ years old. Ice fishing gear was made to last back then...

X2!!!

SlabSlayR · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 12:55 PM »

I use a 5 gal. bucket that I modified. I got a 5 gal. bucket and a smaller 2.5 gal. bait bucket with a lid and some Great Stuff Foam. Remove the handle from the 2.5 gal pail and throw it away. I then sprayed some of the Great Stuff foam in the bottom of the 5 gal. bucket (about 2"-3") I then put the 2.5 gal bucket in the center of the 5 gal bucket and filled the sides in with the rest of the foam until it expanded to the top of the 2.5 gal pail. Make sure to leave enough room at the top of the 2.5 gal. pail for your lid to fit back on. I then took a piece of 2" Styrofoam that I had laying around the shop and cut it to fit down in the 5 gal. bucket for a insulated lid for super cold days and overnight.

There you go an minnow bucket that never freezes and you never have to worry about foam in the water again!

I will try and get some pics posted of the bait bucket if anyone is interested.

Rebelss · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 01:03 PM »

Sorry about the size. Blame photobucket. The original Minnow Magic from 2001.

tbirdbassr · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 01:07 PM »

What ya dividing minnows and suckers?

Old Crow Ice · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 25, 2012, 01:14 PM »

Picked up one of these 1 Gal igloo coolers on the cheap ... for about 10 bucks .... It will work fine for live bait with a minnow dipper .... figure it was a good alternative to a 20.00 Plano