how is the best way to keep minnows alive i got about 6 dozen the other night and half of the had deid befor i got to the lake. i had a bubble maker in the water they was in just wanderin if i could do any more
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how is the best way to keep minnows alive i got about 6 dozen the other night and half of the had deid befor i got to the lake. i had a bubble maker in the water they was in just wanderin if i could do any more
hole, i put my minnow bucket with airbubbles pump in a 54 qt cooler and put ice around the minnow bucket.i then throw my fish in the cooler. minnows will last a long time!
Add "Better Bait" to the water and keep it cool with ice. Keep them out of the sun.
Along with "Better Bait" get a 20 oz bottle, fill it 3/4 full and freeze it. Then take the frozen bottle and keep it in the bucket.
This has been working for me for years. I always take extra bottles of frozen water. Plus as they thaw out and you get thirsty you can drink it.Quote:
Originally Posted by turkeyfootnc
ok so yall are puttin the frozen water bottle in a little plastic minnow buckett or are you usein a 5 gallin bucket.
I use a five gallon bucket and never turn the bubble maker off. I add ice if necessary, but with enough water in the five gallon bucket they seem to survive ok. That is what I do at night, but in the hot days I think that ice is really needed.
When it's really hat or if I need to keep minnows for a few days I put them in a 32 qt. ice chest with a aerator pump. Keep water between 50 and 55 degrees. Change water every 3 days and add a couple cap fulls of hydrogen peroxide.
I have crushed ice in the fish cooler and scoop some over into the minnow bucket. To me, the temperature change seems to kill more minnows than lack of oxygen.
I agree with these guys, temp change kills minnows. Check the water from your bait dealer...it's probably cold. Make him fill your bait container with his water so there's no change. I use a large ice chest for my bait chest, take it right into the store and have them fill it at least half full. Most of time I buy 10-12 dozen. Put the chest in the boat out of the way at the store and start a battery powered bubbler in there right then. When I get to the lake and my spot I grab about a styrofoam minnow bucket, fill it halfway with water, throw a few pieces of ice in there to try and make the lake water about the same temp as the cooler then put only about a dozen minnows in the styrofoam bucket. It stays beside my chair. I usually can use the dozen minnows before they run out of oxygen in the small bucket. The idea of putting a plastic drink bottle previously frozen in my large ice chest is a good idea...will start using that. Trick is too keep them at the same temp and not shock them. Course dropping them on 85 degree water on a hook kinda kicks their butt but at least they're kicking high when they go for the swim.
here is a trick i picked up from the baitman who delivers bait to the stores in my area,
do keep the minnows cool as in the other post but take i little rock salt about a half a
teaspoon and put in your bucket or ice chest before they add the water it works have you ever notice how the minnow gets red around mouth its from lack of oxygen the rock salt to a minnow is like kitty litter is to a cat.you will not believe how it works until you try it.if i use my 5 gallon bucket i put about 1 teaspoon and in my small minnow bucket i put 1/2teaspoon.
strmwalker
Ive used the frozen bottles for years but I like the idea of putting them in the cooler also. Had'nt thought of that. Thanks fellows. I LOVE this FORUM.
I've also found the medium sized minnow seem to be able to handle the hot lake water a little better too.;) If youre adding ice, make sure its not made from (chlorinated) city water.
all these ideas will work but if you are tired of messing with ice and clumsy coolers that take up too much room and checking to make sure that the water is cool here is how I keep mine alive for weeks hit the yard sales or go buy you a new one you will need a construction type water cooler you know the ones that are orange they come in all sizes ,some stay alive minnow salt,and a 12 volt aerator and be sure you tell the minnow salesman to give you as much water out of the minnow tank as he can and last but not least if you are adding minnows to water already in a minnow bucket carry a large plastic tournament bag in to get your new minnows in then you float the bag in your bucket until you get to where you are going then release them into your bucket that way they do not become stressed because of a sudden water temp change,just like they do at the pet stores.
Sounds like you just got some CRAPPIE minnows.