Thread: If you are thinking about the Engel bait cooler.......

Originally Posted by Snubbys

Stay on topic Slab

Hey now, I have an opinion on keeping minners too . I only ice my minners, no aeration. I simply use those thick Styrofoam coolers that Omaha Steaks come in. The Styrofoam is about an inch and a half thick. I throw a frozen 2 quart block of water in it once a day and it'll keep minners alive for weeks, even down here in Florida. I never change the water either. I think the minners go into hibernation mode in the dark of that cooler and don't do much, don't need food, and don't dirty the water much. Just my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by Slab

Hey now, I have an opinion on keeping minners too . I only ice my minners, no aeration. I simply use those thick Styrofoam coolers that Omaha Steaks come in. The Styrofoam is about an inch and a half thick. I throw a frozen 2 quart block of water in it once a day and it'll keep minners alive for weeks, even down here in Florida. I never change the water either. I think the minners go into hibernation mode in the dark of that cooler and don't do much, don't need food, and don't dirty the water much. Just my 2 cents.

But I've always heard not to ice your minners, something about them going from really cold water to warm water will kill them instantly?? I take it this is not the case, your way sounds easier than aeration, may give it a try sometime.

Edit: Maybe take them out of the ice water and let them get used to the rising water temps slowly rising before fishin' with them, think I may have answered my on question, maybe.

Originally Posted by Snubbys

But I've always heard not to ice your minners, something about them going from really cold water to warm water will kill them instantly?? I take it this is not the case, your way sounds easier than aeration, may give it a try sometime.

Edit: Maybe take them out of the ice water and let them get used to the rising water temps slowly rising before fishin' with them, think I may have answered my on question, maybe.

When I go out fishing, I'll take a couple scoops of minners out and put them into a Styrofoam lined bucket. And I'll throw about a trays worth of ice into the minner bucket's water when I go. The Styrofoam bucket just has a plastic lid (no insulation on top), so it'll warm some with time, but the water is kept cool for the most part. I take them out of the cool water and stick'em on a hook. They seem fine, super lively, and live fine on the hook. Here's a pic of my minner setup.



Granted I'm not fishing with 30 dozen minners each trip out like rees, and my minners are not Mississippi sized mutant monster minners. But it works for me and I can keep all the minners I need alive for weeks.