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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: MN Bassfisher on Nov 09, 2010, 10:43 AM
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I'm going to be modifying one of my 5 gallon buckets for ice fishing soon. I've found a few links and got some good idea's and I think I'll be using some idea's off several of other's designs. I want to put rod holders on the outside of the bucket, so I can still sit on it and use the inside for storage of the tipups and Ice 45. I was just curious if anyone else has any mods out there or ideas they would like to contribute. If not, I'll provide some links in case others are wanting to do some mods of their own!!
5 Gallon Bucket Modifications
http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2205342/1 (http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2205342/1)
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=124047.0 (http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=124047.0)
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nice, share some pics when your done, I have been looking at doing this for a few years, might get around to it this year
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MN, instead of a 5gal. bucket, you might want to look into a 6gal. bucket. A little more room and some added height when/if you care to make a seat on the top of it.
Also can modify two buckets to fit into one for a little more height also.
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MN, instead of a 5gal. bucket, you might want to look into a 6gal. bucket. A little more room and some added height when/if you care to make a seat on the top of it.
Yeah, I've been trying to track down a reasonable 6 gallon bucket today. I have a bunch of 5 gallons, but I like the height of a 6 gallon. I can't really justify spending $20 on the Frabill Sit-N-Fish though, and I have a 3/4 seat already that I'd like to use. Hmm.....
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I know I've done this before but don't recall exactly where to make the cuts at, but if you look at them you will figure it out. Once the two pieces are nestled together you can add a couple of small blocks of scrap wood to the bottom of the one and make a more sturdier platform for the top one to sit on and gain some added space/height using the buckets you already have.
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I cut the top off of one of my 5 gallon buckets and made sure to leave enough to rivet it to the outside bucket when u slide them together. I'll post some pics later when I get home from work and done putting up X-mas lights. 64 degrees out today. :( 6in
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I got a few 7gal buckets at usplastics for 9.75 each,the same place alot guys get there UMHW They are gonna be a back saver this year.
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I guess there's ways to mod these things but I still think buckets are awkward to carry around no matter what. I don't have as many jigging rods as I do tip ups and my needs are different. If you mount the rods on the outside of the bucket then they'll be sticking out everywhere.
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MN: Go to some of the restaurants...that's where I get all mine. (Helps if your buddy owns one..!) They get sauces and pickles and such in 5 & 6 gal pails. It does take a while to get the pickle smell out, though, always made me hungry!!! ;D
Think White Bear will be too shallow and overcrowded again this year...or is it worth the drive?
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I guess there's ways to mod these things but I still think buckets are awkward to carry around no matter what. I don't have as many jigging rods as I do tip ups and my needs are different. If you mount the rods on the outside of the bucket then they'll be sticking out everywhere.
I have three combo's. I'll be tightly grouping 4 pvc holders on the outside for my 3 combos and ice skimmer. That'll be one side, then on the other I was thinking of hanging half of the Frabill pail pack for miscellaneous things. With all that on the outside, I could stow away 2-3 of my Frabill Pro-Thermal tipups, put a thin layer of wood for a shelf, and then maybe put my Ice-45 on top of that. And attach the cover. Then I would probably put eyebolts near the top and attach a strap long enough to throw over my shoulder so it wouldn't take up a hand when I was walking on.
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Think White Bear will be too shallow and overcrowded again this year...or is it worth the drive?
Good Idea Rebelss! Thanks. And I think I wrote you about this a month or so ago about you coming up to WBL? Sound familar? If not it was someone from southern MN who wanted to come up, and I wasn't too much help. Some people love it, but I just don't have much luck/good spots/experience on WBL. I haven't ice fished it much but when I have I didn't catch much but dinky northern, crappies, and walleye. So I'd say if you have spots that have produced through the ice then come on up. I'm sure I'll wind up there a few times this winter, although I live right next to Bald Eagle Lake and I have a few spots I'm dieing to try through the ice!
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Duh...I think you're right!!!! :whistle: Guess my mind was wandering...what were we talking about? ;D Talked to a couple people up there and they are saying exactly what you did...it used to be home of great perch, though. Glad I could help.
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i'll be doing a few mods and i'll try and get some pics up to show them. my big goal is to get some of the stuff i need out of the bottom of the bucket and get the rods out of the bucket because they are in the way when i'm trying to grab stuff.
i also want my rod holders a bit lower on the bucket.
i'm also working on a way to have 2 removable pvc dead stick holders.
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Here are my mods to my buckets. Regular 5 gallon, a 6-7 gallon and add on 5+ gallon one. I think the one on the left will be the favorite. Nice and tall compared to the 5 gallon. Fin
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr67/mrszyski/2009-10-18282.jpg)
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I was removing an old swing / play set and kept two of the seats from "the whirly-twirl" and a bench seat from the bench swing. The seat just so happens to fit on top of a 5 gal bucket nicely. Was thinking of hinging it on the bucket or even just leaving it sit on top. Right now I just put collapsing chair in the sled.
(http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn261/servocam/Fishing/IMG01540.jpg)
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Another good source for food grade buckets in 5 gallons and up sizes are hospital food service departments. they usually have piles of them in the back,and are more than willing to part with them. my local folks will give you dozens at a time, or save them for you if you ask.
The lab also throws out thousands of small trays each year that come as packaginf for phlebotomy tubes. These make GREAT loading blocks, if you are a shooter/reloader. It's all I have used for years.
See you all on the ice.
PAWaide
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the best 5 gallon bucket mod...
step 1: purchase 5 gallon bucket
step 2: turn it upside down
step 3: sit down, enjoy... ;D
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I wish I knew how to post pics from my phone I don't have a computer I would show you my bucket it has my fish tv ,my vex,3 rod holders and an ice scoop holder
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I get my buckets cheap from my local laundromat. They go through a ton of buckets of laundry soap each year.
They don't smell like pickles either. They also throw in the lids.
I actually have to buy them but they are cheap compared to buying them in stores. Not sure anyone in my area gives them away anymore. I usually get them for $2 from the laundromat. They want over $5 in the local hardware stores.
I might just have to play around with modifying a couple after reading this thread.
I usually just have one bucket of jumbled up rods on the rack of my snowmachine.
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If you don't mind blue buckets then the Napa auto parts store here have them for like $4 w/o a lid. Oh and if you don't mind it says NAPA on them. Not sure if Napa has them everywhere :tipup:
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I like all the replies/ideas/tips! I'm excited to start working on this, it should keep me sane until the ice comes to MN. I'm going to go and start looking for a 6-7 gallon around some local areas tomorrow and I'll see what I can find.
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Here is my bucket mods. Just zip tied the stadium seat to the lid of the pail and cut off most of the tabs on the lid so it is a little easier to get off. The other carries my gear. FL8 in pail, plano bucket top tackle box on top, frabill pail pak with tip ups, rods, small tackle boxes & skimmer
(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/sinx53/ice%20fish/IMG_3156.jpg)
(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/sinx53/ice%20fish/IMG_3186.jpg)
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The other carries my gear. FL8 in pail, plano bucket top tackle box on top, frabill pail pak with tip ups, rods, small tackle boxes & skimmer
(http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/sinx53/ice%20fish/IMG_3186.jpg)
I like the look of your second one! That Frabill Pail Pack, can that be seperated? Like to just take up half of the bucket. I'd like to put some PVC on one half of the bucket and have the pail pack on the other half. Just curious if that's possible.
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Does anybody know more about the Frabill Pail Pack (read my post above this one). Thanks!!
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Another good source for food grade buckets in 5 gallons and up sizes are hospital food service departments. they usually have piles of them in the back,and are more than willing to part with them. my local folks will give you dozens at a time, or save them for you if you ask.
The lab also throws out thousands of small trays each year that come as packaginf for phlebotomy tubes. These make GREAT loading blocks, if you are a shooter/reloader. It's all I have used for years.
See you all on the ice.
PAWaide
I get my buckets from the local car wash. The pretty smelling car soap comes in them. Price: Free to good home, or a free fish now and then.
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I like the look of your second one! That Frabill Pail Pack, can that be seperated? Like to just take up half of the bucket. I'd like to put some PVC on one half of the bucket and have the pail pack on the other half. Just curious if that's possible.
You can remove one of the fabric storage sides if you want. Just pull out the strap.
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I'm a taper and have a bunch of leftover 5 and 6 gallon buckets (used for drywall mud), I can just give you a couple. They are clean, no smells and ready to be modded. I can give you a couple so you can play with ideas and see what works and what doesn't. I'm headed out to Oakdale one day this week to pick up an outboard. I'm not sure what day, I'm waiting to hear from the guy I'm buying it from. If that doesn't work I'm sure I can meet you somewhere soon, I live out in the far west metro. That Frabill pail bag/pack is sold at Fleet Farm, I think they are around $10 or something. You just have to be careful when storing it in the trunk or in the back of the truck you don't crush your rods. It's nice though because they are all right there.
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the best 5 gallon bucket mod...
step 1: purchase 5 gallon bucket
step 2: turn it upside down
step 3: sit down, enjoy... ;D
Purchase? Go to your local Chinese rest. and ask them for some buckets. They still use the 6 gallon buckets. I have a bunch of them. They are taller so you don't have your knees in your face.
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I'm a taper and have a bunch of leftover 5 and 6 gallon buckets (used for drywall mud), I can just give you a couple. They are clean, no smells and ready to be modded. I can give you a couple so you can play with ideas and see what works and what doesn't. I'm headed out to Oakdale one day this week to pick up an outboard.
That would be awesome, Oakdale is a close drive for me! I have a bunch of 5 gallon's but if you could bring a couple 6 gallon's that would be awesome! I'll send you a pm with my email and phone number.
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the bucket i have my tilts in and jigging rods in has several holes in the bottom which allows water or snow on my reels to melt and to get out of the bucket while in the garage while waiting for the next trip out. in the salt water when i'm casting with eels for stripers, this bucket sitting in another bucket allows the slime of the eels to go into the lower bucket so the eels don't drown.
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I've always had 6 gal buckets. 5 gal are made for the vertically challenged (Short People). ;D
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Yeah, 6 gallon buckets would be nice. I've been using 5 gallons and I'm way too tall for them.
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Yeah, 6 gallon buckets would be nice. I've been using 5 gallons and I'm way too tall for them.
I suppose one could make a small platform on the bottom, or a seat on the top for a little height adjustment...........o r just use a cooler on a small sled like I use.
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I cut the bottom out of one 5 gal pail and pop rivet it in another 5 gal pail to make it the right height.
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I cut the bottom out of one 5 gal pail and pop rivet it in another 5 gal pail to make it the right height.
ditto, cut 2" off and it will fit right in. take off the 1 st. handle. raises you up 2-3". outdoor store had 6 gal. buckets for 14.00 . seal your black top drive way and get a bunch of 5 gallon buckets for free
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I used PVC and my rods fit nice and snug. I used a rotozip to cut the PVC where the reel seat is. I then attached my PVC to my bucket with rivets. One side holds my rod and the other has half of a Frabill Pail Pack.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu221/MNBassFisher/Photo0635.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu221/MNBassFisher/Photo0634.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu221/MNBassFisher/Photo0633.jpg)
I used a 6 gallon bucket for the extra height (less back strain when seated on it), there is plenty of storage room inside the bucket too for a flasher, tip-ups, tackle bag etc. I put an 8 quart minnow bucket in there and then a few things on top of that usually.
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I used a bucket for 25yrs before portable shantys became popular. There wasn't any mods that had to be done. We could only use 2 rods, so you only took 2,had a scoop to clean the hole out after spudding. Turned the pail over and sat on it while fishing. The fish that were caught went in the bucket for the walk back to shore.
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ok
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It's cool to see this thread resurface after 6 years! I still have this bucket but my new hole hopping setup includes a Striker Climate Suit, a Clam Drill Plate and a FL-28 with Rod Holders on the back.
(http://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1914362_1134737426539144_8692839359902351236_n.jpg?oh=4c1ea590d3b7dd15eff79a701e9c51c9&oe=59228E8C)
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Funny, this thread popped up on my facebook page this morning through the group "Saginaw hard water" and here it is! Saves me doing a search for it
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It's cool to see this thread resurface after 6 years!
didn't know the thread was so old found the post doing a search.
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Uncle Al - I have bad eyes and that avatar is awesome.
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Funny, this thread popped up on my facebook page this morning through the group "Saginaw hard water" and here it is! Saves me doing a search for it
Haha I pulled up Facebook this morning and saw the picture of my bucket shared by Striker Ice which I thought was funny too since it was 6 years old. Seems like someone did some old thread resurrecting last night!
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I've got a 4-gallon bucket from my local bakery (frosting) inside a 5-gallon bucket in my Glide-Lite. Works great, fish in the top, a few necessaries in the dry spot between (towel, tp, trash bags).
Dave
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Yeah, I've been trying to track down a reasonable 6 gallon bucket today. I have a bunch of 5 gallons, but I like the height of a 6 gallon. I can't really justify spending $20 on the Frabill Sit-N-Fish though, and I have a 3/4 seat already that I'd like to use. Hmm.....
Stop by your local Packy (Beer,Wine and Liquor store) and ask about 6 gallon buckets. Those who make their own wine buy the grape juice and it comes in 6 gallon buckets. If you were closer I'd pass a few on. Also the foam shiner buckets fit inside real nice.
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I got a few 7gal buckets at usplastics for 9.75 each,the same place alot guys get there UMHW They are gonna be a back saver this year.
X2-- shipping cost was high but worth it for a 7 gallon, everything fits
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You can also get 6 gallon buckets from people who have swimming pools. The chlorine that they use are in 6 gallon buckets.
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I use a 7 gallon (I think) bucket with a twist on lid made by M&M Industries. It's an old chlorine bucket used to ship chlorine tables for pools. It has a nice wide top which is perfect for sitting. I cut a 5" diameter hole in the center of the lid for my poles and scooper to fit through and for also dropping fish in the bucket. It works great and is super comfortable, I get asked about where I found that bucket all the time.
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Uncle Al - I have bad eyes and that avatar is awesome.
Thanks Sprocket, just a pic I found on the internet, I like it too.
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spray foam the outside, ugly but it works
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The handles on these buckets are always too small to be comfortable.
So to mine I added these orange bucket handles. Talso make it real easy to know which buckets are mine when out fishing with friends.
http://snappygrip.com/
They work well and make it more comfortable carrying my buckets.
I have put the threaded Gama Seal threaded bucket lids on a couple of buckets then add the snappy grip handles.
I place a few items inside then put my flasher on top and screw on the lid. This offer great protection for my flashers.
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Crazy that this thread popped up. I've been piecing a hole hopping bucket together out of a kitty litter pail. A few weeks ago I modified my LX7 case but it was still cumbersome jumping from hole to hole carrying that thing, rods, scoop, etc. I put a bracket on the side for the transducer arm, it has 4 rod holders (going to add one more), the LX7 is bolted to the cover of the pail, and I have two 9amp batteries wired in parallel. I'm going to add some lights, a cup holder, and insert two small round plastic containers into the lid. One will be a transducer cup for transport and the other will be used to bring two or three extra minnows along with me when I'm out moving around.
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thank for the link kasilofchrisn those look cool