Bait tank/bulk minnows

So I’m considering building a bait tank. I have a pretty good idea on how I want to build the tank and manage the water. I’m thinking 100gallons.

Before I start buying parts I want to look into a minnow supplier. Can I get someone to deliver them? I’m north of Wake Forest in Granville county. Will the same guys that sell to the bait stores sell to me?

I know I’ll save a little money in the long run, but I’m mostly looking at convenience. I like the idea of not having to drive all the way down to 98, I’m about 10 minutes to the launch, from home.

Thanks for for any help,
Nathan

I was told by the bait delivery guy here in Rock Hill that he could sell to me as long as the bait store agrees to the bill and the sale. The bill goes against the stores account. They deliver every Friday just about 3 miles from my house. You may be able to get the same deal or better. Just ask the driver. Good luck :highfive

I use to have a bait store in wilksboro that would get me 5 or 6 lbs when they ordered. I would just pick up still bagged from distributor. The bait store made a little off of them but not much. Much cheaper by the lb.

I had one of those 275 gallon chemical totes in my basement with the top cut off. Worked great. I had water plumbed right above it and a bulkhead in side near the top. I would just turn on the water and it would run out bulkhead and down water hose to the back yard for partial water changes. I was on a well so water was fine.

I use a deep freezer with a aerator and external thermostat. I keep minnows year around

Bet they dont eat much in that block of ice. lol.

I’ve seen the converted freezer tanks. Great idea for the extreme heat of the summer.

Where do you buy your minners? My local shops had no interest in helping out or putting me in contact with the vendors.

I usually set the thermostat at 40-50 and no I don't feed them either

I usually set the thermostat at 40-50 and no I don't feed them either. I get my minnows from Suffolk va. Place is Perry's minnow farm

Nater, let us know how this goes. I just cleaned out my garage and I live directly on Belews Lake and have had the exact same thoughts about having minnows in my garage. I also have a mini-fridge in there and thought about keeping a worm farm in it.

Would love to see pictures of your setup when you're done.

What type of aerator ?

Anderson Minnows or Visit Saul Minnow Farms Inc For Live Fish Bait Today! I think they ship world wide. I hauled goldfish to New York when a teenager for them. If not they may be able to get you in touch with someone over here

Anderson Minnow Farm in Lonoke, AR will ship them to you overnight via FedEx. Orders go out on Thursday and are delivered on Friday. Pretty hassle free, give them a credit card over the phone and a little info to set up your account.

Shipping’s gotta be pretty steep on something like that. Very interested to see how they ship them.

I messaged Anderson’s this morning for a quote. I’ll probably order my first batch from them.

My parents ran a campground/bait shop years ago & had minnows shipped by bus believe it or not. I remember as a kid going to the Greyhound stop with my mom and picking them up. They would arrive in big bags filled with water & oxygen. Not sure how they do it now.

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Originally Posted by Nater

Shipping’s gotta be pretty steep on something like that. Very interested to see how they ship them.

I messaged Anderson’s this morning for a quote. I’ll probably order my first batch from them.

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They ship in a card box with a styrofoam cooler, with more insulation around it in a bag with a high charge of oxygen. The little buggers are so hopped up they are doing back flips for several hours after you release them into your tank. Four pounds of #6 minnows runs me $115 to North MS. That's roughly 55 dozen minnows at around $2.10 a dozen. My local bait shop charges $3.99 per dozen. Sure the cost will be a little higher cause you on the east coast, but my guess probably not by much. Nice not to have to stop for bait when you wanna go fishing though.

If you can find someone to sale them to you by the pound that is the way to go. I use to have a guy that would do that. He would either weigh me a pound or if I called in time he would just buy an extra pound and leave them in the oxygen/water filled bag. I paid him somewhere just south of $25. Seems like we averaged around 20 dozen a pound. Been a while since I did this. Since I moved I am not aware of anyone in this area that will sale them like that. From around November until late April/May, depending on temps, they are not hard to keep alive. I kept mine in a 55 gallon barrel. I bought a cheap aerator that lasted close to 10 years. I installed a drain plug in the bottom and drain the water maybe 2 times a week. Add the water treatment stuff,on city water now, and good to go. I love not having to stop and get bait every trip.

I live in Granville County also near Kerr Lake I buy mine by the pound ! I am building a freezer type tank with a filter and aerator and all that.

Make sure what ever you build does not have square corners they will swim themselves to death needs to have some kind of rounding in corners .... been keeping them for years here find and old kiddy pool filter system and set it up cleans and airdates


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