Author Topic: live minows (Read 2165 times)

cuznalfy · « **on:** Feb 06, 2008, 12:34 PM »

Never used live minnows before were i fish in Montana we cant use them but i going to a lake were you can use them. My question is I'm going fishing for a couple days whats the best way to keep them alive Styrofoam container or one of those fraiabill buckets any info / help would be gratefull.

MnSportsman · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 12:45 PM »

You'd most likely be best off using a hard-sided Lunch-boxcooler (like a Coleman) to carry the bait if this is a rare trip with live bait. Easy to clean up afterwards, & if your bait-dealer gives you plastic bags with Oxygen added, you can just put the bag of minnows in as a liner. Most folks have acooler like I'm talking about, sitting around. You could borrow one, if you don't have one already. If ya do decide to get a bucket, get a good "hard sided" one like the frabil. I've bought & broken enough of the foam ones, that I could have bought a bait shop with the money I spent on them. Even though, I still use them once in a while. But any "hard side" container would be better.
Good Luck with the trip!

bucketbass · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 12:53 PM »

fill a 5 gallon bucket of water (well water is best) and dont let it freeze yet if you cant keep it out side keep adding ice to the bucket
thats how i keep my bait for long periods of time

nbourque · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 02:06 PM »

Buy a portable aerator if you're really worried about them dying. Minnows in a 5 gallon pail can last days before they start to die off.

pooley · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 02:43 PM »

there is a product called U2 that takes all the chemicals out of the water, sold at gander mountain. you can change water without worrying about it. also, buy an aerator. good luck!

Geno · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 02:55 PM »

If you don't use minnows much then don't spring for an aerator. Your local tackle shop should have a oxygen tablets for like $2.00 and sometimes those are overkill; just cycle new water in every few hours. And remember as ice melts it adds oxygen to the water, so throwing a couple ice chunks in your bucket every now and again doesn't hurt.

jayswimmer09 · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 03:06 PM »

buy a cheap aerator

cuznalfy · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 03:56 PM »

thank for the info!!!

brookiebandit13 · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 06, 2008, 10:39 PM »

cool water and oxegen. buy a cheap battery powered aerator. they are only 10-20 $. just dont let them freeze up

PACKMAN241982 · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 06:30 AM »

I usually put a couple of cups of water into my bait bucket from the water that Im fishing on and a couple of snow ball. I have never had a problem with my bait dieing off when i do that. I wouldnt by an aerator unless your gonna use live bait all the time. The oxygen tablets work really good too. I hope this helps.

Mainehazmt · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 08:04 AM »

Mine survived 4 days in moosehead with little care inside outside? froze ect.. lived on to give away

BASSandICE65 · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 10:21 AM »

Frabill makes a nice 6 gallon bucket with a styrofoam liner keeps them from freezing and walmart sell a cheap aerator for 6 bucks. I've had my minnows for two weeks in this bucket evry 3 days I change half the water and they survive I also give them some fish food flakes seems to help. Good luck

Keith

taggedfish · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 10:24 AM »

i use a styrofoam bucket inside a 5 gal. bucket each time i go fishing i add some fresh water and they keep for weeks. adding fresh water as soon as the first hole is drilled, water in bucket needs to be same temp as the lake

miket. · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 10:27 AM »

i use an aerator while i am fishing and when i have leftovers, i have a tank in the basement that i keep all my hold over bait. as far as a bucket, either one you mentioned will work just fine. in fact if you have to, i sometimes give them new oxygen by using two buckets and empty them back and forth into each other a couple of times.when transporting, i use a five gallon bucket.and that's because it gives the minnows more room to breathe and you wont have any water spillage.

bridgedoctor · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 04:58 PM »

New York State eliminates all of the worry, work, and mess of keeping minnows alive. The State requires the minnows be certified disease (VHS) free and they have a 7 day expiration date. This info is stated on your receipt, which must be on your person or you become a contributor to the State's General Fund. After 7 days from purchase date just dump them on land and go out and buy some more. I LOVE NEW YORK!!!

MnSportsman · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 06:27 PM »

BAD law...with the expiration date crap. I do understand something has to be done about invasive species & viruses/diseases. Although, nightcrawlers are/were invasive species, & I haven't seen or heard of any laws about them YET. (<keyword, eh?)
In our neck of the woods, we can still trap minnows for our use, using them in the same body of water that we got them in.

But, that subject, is , i'm sure , worthy of it's own topic/thread.

But, I feel for ya, fellow sportsman.

So.... cuzn alfy , what have ya decided to do. I know that I'm curious about your decision, & I'm sure that the others would like to know what ya decided ?

jbscowboy99 · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 07:50 PM »

yea get an aroetor .they'lll keep your bait a lot longer than just throwing them in a bucket

DR.SPECKLER · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 07:55 PM »

minnow recipt only good for 7 days? i have a tank in my pond buy minnows in bulk so if i dont use all the minnows in 7 day its illegal?

bridgedoctor · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 08:05 PM »

DR.SPECKLER
Yep! They're illegal. Also, you can't transport non certified minnows in a motorized vehicle. All in all NY is trying to prevent the spread of VHS. 70% of the Muskie population died from VHS in the St. Lawrence River along the USA - Canada border.

basskiller46 · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 09:05 PM »

you can aerate your self by taking a cup and scooping water from your bucket and then pouring it back in and i did this 2 twice a day and lived fine for the weekend till i used them all.

GAMBELL · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 09:49 PM »

Keep the minnows in a cooler and change the water daily. Also keep them aerated when you are not on the ice.

musky8it · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 10:21 PM »

I didn't read clear thru all the post. But here is what i do.

For bass/walley/crappy minnows I use a small qt or 1/2 gallon Styrofoam container....The first thing I do is put ice or fresh snow in the water. This cools down the water so when you put minnow from warm bait shop water into the lake, it doesn't die.

When I get home, I always add ice cubes 1-2 times a day(pouring off water to make room for ice). The colder the water the longer they seem to last for me. I have kept walleye/bass minnows alive for weeks without losing any...The ice cubes also will put needed oxygen into the water so I don't need a aerator...

works for me, 2-3 dozen minnows in a qt or 1/2gal Styrofoam container stay alive for weeks if you keep it cold and oxygenated with cubes.

musky8it · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 10:25 PM »

I forgot to add, I keep then on the cold back porch. I never keep them in the house. Unless I put them in the fridge.

FishingNewEngland · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 07, 2008, 10:32 PM »

FWIW

I've had the same minnows in a 5gal. bucket for 2 weeks now in the basement. It stays pretty cool down there. I run an air pump on it and do regular water changes every day or two. I've lost 4 in 2 weeks out of 2 dozen or so in the bucket.

Hamilcarbarca · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 08, 2008, 04:30 AM »

I have an old orange igloo water cooler. I leave it in the garage and it seems to work pretty well. I change the water out every other day. No worries.

cuznalfy · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 08, 2008, 09:46 AM »

Thanks for all the info on the minnows I'm only going for 3 to 4 days soy I'm going to try the bucket trick i have couple laying around and keep changing the water i will let you know how it turns out once again thanks

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Author Topic: live minows (Read 2165 times)