in the bait bucket

[Wa113y1c3]

does anyone know how to keep the fish in the bait bucket longer because i get them outside and they die really quick 

[fishingking]

dont keep them inside in 70 degree weather all night put them in a cooler area when storing them (ie. basement, cool garage, cool entrence way, next to a door  where its cooler) try putting your bait in a cooler or in a syrofoam insert for a 5 gallon bucket this will keep the water temp up a little and your bait from freezing also a bubbler helps as well. If you dont have a bubbler put a little bit of snow in them (theres oxygen in snow) or keep replacing water with lake water.

good luck

[Wa113y1c3]

thnks for the advice 

[Lobes]

There are also several versions of bait saver tablets you can throw in with them. If I have minnows longer than a day or two I throw in a handfull of snow now & then to help keep oxygen levels up. They really need clean water since they also swim in their own bathroom. Their own waste is rough on them.

[Wa113y1c3]

  thank i never though of giving them those tablets before but going to ice fish this friday so hope there still alive  8)

[blue mule]

does anyone know how to keep the fish in the bait bucket longer because i get them outside and they die really quick 

  i've never had this problem ice fishing. only in warm weather, they die before i get to the fishin' hole. their metabolism slows down in cold weather, so keep 'em cold. i don't even use a minnow bucket. i was at work the other day, planned to stop at the bait store on the way home to get ready for the next day. no minnow bucket, so i grabbed a 2 1/2 lb. plastic coffee can/lid. got home, kept them on the back porch, no heat, next w/e same minnows, never changed the water. ran out, got more, kept them 2 weeks, never changed water, just add snow. sometimes there was ice frozen on top. last time out, when i got done, i dumped the rest down the hole. only lost a couple. b.t.w. the fish wanted waxies that day, or i'd have ran out.
 keep your minnows water temp. as close to where you're gonna fish. that way the temp. change causes less stress and they live longer.

[BillP]

I have this bait bucket with a pump that runs on a D battery and it keeps them alive for a while but i found out that if you use a black bucket (black inside the bucket ) they will satay alive longer....I had this one shiner in this black bucket. that you would use for a garden or something and it was in there for a week and it was still alive and there was still cold water in the bucket JMO     

[Auger]

An aerator goes a long way.  You can also try some of the ammonia/chlorine drops from the pet store.  I can keep a dozen shiners for a couple days as long as as I keep them as cold as possible, use the aerator, and add some of those drops.

[ifishhi]

keepem cold i have a big cooler with air and i put frozen water jugs and just rotate them with more kept in the freezer. my buddy put his in the fridge in a bucket either way can last all season.

[MikeVT]

All good ideas - I also scoop a little lake water into the bait bucket from time to time - adds good oxygen plus gets them acclimated to the water temperature. 

[Wa113y1c3]

shouldn't you just like bring something with you to put water in and something to take the water out of the lake and fill the extra bucket then take your bait out and put them in the lake water bucket would that be better so they are already use to the water 

[ifishhi]

it's more about the temp, than the water even if you bring home water only add a little at a time let the get used to it.

[Wa113y1c3]

i have a 60 gallon tube that i put my fish in now when I'm down icefishing take one bucket of water out then put one bucket of fresh water in the bucket the water in filled up half way work awesome