No Spill Minnow Bucket

Has anyone made a good minnow bucket that doesn't spill and is insulated well? I really like Clams insulated minnow buckets but don't want to pay $30 for one. I've heard of using a water jug with the spout on it but I think that would leak some. I would like to make one for ice fishing specifically but it would work for warm months as well if it's insulated. The water jugs I think would leak through the lid and freeze the lid...then you gotta mess around trying to get the frozen lid off. Any suggestions or pics?

Set a styrofoam minnow bucket inside a 5 gallon bucket and its rugged and works. This what I do when I ice fish Merritt in January.

Engel makes a great cooler for minners, I have a 30 quart and love it but they are a bit pricey. They make them in 2 smaller sizes as well. You can turn them over when closed and very little water will come out of them, that bring from the air line hole in the side up toward the top. They are built stout enuff to sit on if you like.

2nd the Engel. Its what I switched to and love it.

Grizzly Jig Company - Live Bait Cooler

Engel ..... very good bait bucket o ring seal will not spill if you remember to latch the lid
Bite the bullet spend the money you will be glad you did

Engel. Buy once, die once.

Anything else, buy lots of times, still die once. :biggrin

I ended up getting a 1 gallon clam minnow bucket. I was wanting one more for ice fishing and I got it on sale about $8 off with free shipping.

Cabelas has the Engel coolers on sale right now!!

Since you asked about building one. Here's mine. I have a smaller battery one for the boat, this is to keep them alive for a few days without having to make trips to the bait shop. Had the ice chest and the pump and hose was about $20 Attachment 175772

Anyone know how long the engle cooler/bait cooler has been in business? I have a cooler,it the same cooler but mines name is "cool liner",exactly as the engel,,had it 10 years or so

Engels. I have one for each boat.

The Engel looks to be the ticket to me. I bought a 5 gallon liner and cut 4 of the 8 tabs off of the 5 gallon lid. So I have the liner, the liner lid, empty space for stuff like nets, then the 5 gallon lid with a hole thru both lids for the air hose and a Frabill battery air pump that hangs on the side. Pleased so far for my needs. I have a fluid bed for powder painting that uses a 110volt air pump that I attach when they'll be around a few days. I use jigs mostly and the local minnow guys don't like me.

I got tired of using styrofoam minnow buckets after I broke one in the boat. I went to Wally world and bought an igloo 12 quart cooler I think It was $15. I have a couple of the bubbler aerorators already. I drilled a hole in the side of the cooler and ran my hose in it. Then just end attached it to the side. Works great. Keeps minnows cool and oxygenated. And the lid isn't flyin off running down the lake. And it won't break.

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Originally Posted by Dlogfish

I got tired of using styrofoam minnow buckets after I broke one in the boat. I went to Wally world and bought an igloo 12 quart cooler I think It was $15. I have a couple of the bubbler aerorators already. I drilled a hole in the side of the cooler and ran my hose in it. Then just end attached it to the side. Works great. Keeps minnows cool and oxygenated. And the lid isn't flyin off running down the lake. And it won't break.

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I converted the exact same cooler back in November. Ha. It works pretty good

Home made ....https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=2&theater

Engel for me. Best purchase for minnow I made. Sits in boat and doesn't move.

Hit a wave wrong at Washington the other day running about 50, Engel was on the front of the BassCat, rarely move it around just leave it where it is. the bounce of the boat turned the cooler over on its side, didnt worry about it at all, when I pulled into the dock it was laying on its side and had not lost a drop of water. Went through a lot of building this and building that before I bought one, cheaper to just start with the Engel and be done with it. Heck I stand on mine from time to time, very stout!!

Agree with Rees. I have the 30 qt. The aerator that comes with it is loud so I opted not to use it.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I converted the exact same cooler back in November. Ha. It works pretty good

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Hi Jack,,, How did you attach the air pump to the cooler?
THANKS

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Originally Posted by chopnchaneled

Hi Jack,,, How did you attach the air pump to the cooler?
THANKS

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Attachment 193488 I had a metal bracket I just screwed to the side of mine. You could probably make one pretty easy with a strip of metal and a vice

I used one of those belt clips that come with a battery tie down kit.

Thanks everybody, Just got back from walley world and about to put my bucket together, Hope to try it out
this weekend.
P.S.
Anybody using the rechargeable batterys? Kinda got sticker shock at the store :)
Thanks Again
Joe