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Been wondering about this since my trip to crankfest and seeing all those boats spider rigging....
How do you MS guys keep the minnows aliver this time of year? I'm guessing that most of you use some O2, not just air with a bubbler but I don't think that alone would do it. I'm guessing you also cool them down too, but then I wondered if they'd live if you took them from a 65 degree bait bucket and put them in the 87 degree water?
So, please inform this AL redneck country boy.
Keep em aerated and cool. If you put ice in the water, put the ice in a ziploc bag.
I use a five gallon Gotta water cooler. I use two baby bubble aerators. You can freeze small water bottles if you need them. I fish Grenada all summer and lose very few minnows.
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The surface temp may show 87 degree, but you're fishing in the 65 degree range. Carry lots of frozen water bottles and swap out when needed.
I don't put the thawed bottles back in the cooler. I mark the lid with a sharpei when I get home for freezer use only. I read that you can freeze them once then drink from them, not after.
Thanks for the answers guys. Different mind set over here. There isn't a bait shop that I know of within 20 miles that even keeps minnows in the summer.
Straight medical oxygen and plenty of good water, no need for ice. I can keep em alive year round but can't stand fishing with them this time of the year
As you see Fur, hard to keep minnows alive when it's hot. Too much work for me. That is why I only fish with them in fall and winter. At least you can get tuffies over there. I'm stuck with these sorry shiners that will die before you get them out the door of the bait shop unless you have a well aerated bucket.
Fur. We getting most of our bites off jigs. The minnards are a lotta trouble this time of year. Fishing wil be good soon.
I wasn’t wanting to go buy some to fish with, I just wanted to know how they kept them alive. I spider rigged with Toughies in late May and early June and lost a bunch of them until I got an aerator and then I still lost some
I fish with shiners all year long. I have pretty good luck keeping them alive if they are good when I get them. During the summer they will be stressed when we get them so they don't usually do very well. My problem is only a few bait shops in my area keep them during the summer and I have to drive twice as far to get them as I would to just go fishing. I suppose I need to just jig fish this time of year. :dono
Welding oxygen works great and is cheaper too if you have troubling getting medical grade.
If factory filled, medical tanks are cleaner than welding tanks. They are light weight aluminum where the welding tanks are heavy steel.
I own a Semi Trailer repair and sales shop and we also do a whole lot of fabrication, so if I use O2, it'll be welding O2. I know a guy. :)
It's a tax write off.Quote:
Originally Posted by FurFlyin
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The small size tanks like the plumbers use are steel but they are small and not too heavy. Welding ox is cheaper and can get refilled or swap out at welding supply store. Minners never know the difference lolQuote:
Originally Posted by canebreaker
Crappie eat minnows as often as we eat bacon . Daily :biggrin
Do they eat them on tomato sammiches?Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle 1
Fur , I sent you a pm. I use jigs and cranks almost 99 % of the time. I hate using minners but sometimes in the winter I might tip a jig with them.
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