IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Maine => Ice Fishing Maine => Topic started by: JPort on Jan 31, 2013, 09:33 AM
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I took out an older plastic bait bucket out of storage to use as an extra bucket this weekend. It has some crud stuck to the bottom. What do you find is the best way to clean a bucket without using soaps or cleaners that might kill the fish? I'm thinking I'll just scrub it out with hot water and call it good. Thoughts?
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I'm no scientists, but just giving this response based on experience (some failed, some worked). If I can, I avoid using anything, but it all depends on what was in the bucket before. IF I have to use any sort of cleaner, Simple Green or Dawn dish soap with plenty of rinsing seem to do the trick.
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Clean it out with whatever and use a plastic bag, we use hydraulic oil buckets even and hasnt been a problem
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Clean it out with whatever and use a plastic bag, we use hydraulic oil buckets even and hasnt been a problem
X2
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Go to H.D. and get a new one for $2 and be done. @)
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i put my bait in egg nog buckets , people who know me know why , they just seem to make my bait a lil fishier ;D
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I use old pickle buckets...... pickled smelt anyone? ;D
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I had 3 dozen good looking (nice size and seemed healthy) smelt die off on me within an hour recently and I worry it was due to my uncleaned, nasty bait bucket. Should've bagged them.
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I use old pickle buckets...... pickled smelt anyone? ;D
Ya those work good... Except now the handles are plastic.. Break right off .. :(
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Smelt are really hard to keep alive (which is why I use mostly shiners) ;D
But what works well for me is:
1. Use a clean 5-gal bucket (rinsed well with hot water)
2. Aerate, Aerate, Aerate! (I use a 2-hose aquarium pump with the long airstones, cheap at WalMart)
3. Change at least 1/3 of the water every few days to keep the nitrogen content down.
4. Keep the water as cold, add ice or keep the bucket in the garage or porch.
Hope these tips help, good luck!
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When I used to have fish tanks, I used vinegar to clean them!!
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By another cheap bait bucket.
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You can use soap. Just rinse rinse rinse! Rinse very thoroughly, and be sure there is no oil showing on the surface of the water.
Also its a good idea when putting water in a untested bucket, to splash it around and see how it bubbles. If the bubbles pop and disappear right away, you may be fine, but if it foams and they stay, then you have a soapy bucket that needs rinsing.
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Also by no means an expert or a scientist but I agree with the above assesments. Smelt are REAL hard to keep alive, learned that the hard way over the years. NEVER put smelts and shiners in the same bucket, that's a recipe for disaster IMO. I'd also try to split 'em up a bit more and not put 3 dozen in the same bucket, maybe try 2 buckets with a dozen and a half in each? I have better luck overall it seems when fishing with smelts for salmon but they are pricey and harder to keep alive so sometimes, it's just gotta be shiners!!!
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I see these smelt are hard to keep statements but i by from a guy and have had only 6 die in 2 weeks. They are hardier then my shinners.
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Use some salt, all natural and is abrasive. Rinse well. This is what I used for years cleaning my fish aquariums without any problems. :thumbsup:
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Like Blacktrap says use a trash bag liner .I have and it works great. Or take up jigging you don't need to lug an heavy bait pail around.
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I never have to clean my bait bucket.
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I've soaked them over night to help loosen up the crud then just pressure washed them. Just wear your rain suit it gets a bit wet. Coarse salt with ice cubes and a little bit of water. If it can clean a coffee pot on the ship after 3 months of nonstop use, it shouldn't have a problem getting that crud out of tour bucket.
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Well, I soaked it in hot water for a couple hours and then scrubbed it out really well with a scour pad. Seems good to go. Passes the smell test anyway. @)
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if you use soap use a real small amount and rinse rinse rinse... the best method is a tiny amount ( 1 tsp or even a little less) and hot water... dump the bucket after scrubbing rinse rinse rinse and then rinse again and you are good to go
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tiny amount of bleach forgot to add that in there
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i put my bait in egg nog buckets , people who know me know why , they just seem to make my bait a lil fishier ;D
What's the reason???
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i put my bait in egg nog buckets , people who know me know why , they just seem to make my bait a lil fishier
What's the reason???
I was wondering that too but didn't dare ask. ;D
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a little dawn and elbow grease . rinse well. I've used degreaser buckets and they still smelled like degreaser after washing but never lost smelts in them. smell goes away after awhile.
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What is it that is stick to your bait bucket?
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oh man, this thread just reminded me that I left bait in my bucket last weekend. Time to go feed the seagulls and see if my bucket will ever pass the smell test again.
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On our bait tanks at the begining of season i use a very small amount of bleach with water. Rinse very well then LET DRY. Wipe out again with wet towel. I do the same once or twice during the season using simple green.