Just thought I would share.. my new minnow hutAttachment 92063
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Just thought I would share.. my new minnow hutAttachment 92063
Made this exact one... well not exact. Drilled hole for hose just below the lip of the lid and I'm sure the brand of battery might be different... and my strap is thinner... other than that... exact. Used it yesterday and just looked in the garage at my minnows... still alive.
After purchase if one has a said air source such as the frabill or cool master aerator how long will the minnows last? I picked a few dozen up tonight and am hoping they are still lively by morning. I have the cool bubbles bucket and aerator.
Here is the best thing I have found to use. I bought this Dale Jr. cooler and drilled a hole through the back for the line and puut a frabill air pump on it. I buy 1lb of minnows when I go fishing and they live all day long and bring some home.Attachment 94384Attachment 94385
This is the best airator money can buy.
https://www.webtrix.net/shopcart/hyp...cat=Mino-Mizer+
I use a foam liner that fits inside a 5 gallon bucket and the airator above. 100 degree days and I lose only 1 or two minnows an hour. No ice, no water changes, just the cooler and mino-mizer.
$5.00 insert and your own bucket . and a pump . 3 doz. will keep all day with a little ice . never tried any more than three doz . works great .Attachment 95935Attachment 95936
That is what I used to use and it works real well and with several sizes of plastic pails, too, especially with a little ice, even for delicate species like shiners are up here in the summer, provided you don't crowd them and promptly remove any deads. Don'y skip the ice and don't let the aerator churn up the foam from any deads.
Be aware that water seeps through the foam eventually lowering the water inside the insert and floating it up in the pail. You have to disassemble this set up once in a while and let it dry out good. That improves the insulation of the foam which tends to get poorer as it gets saturated. If you have a leaky bucket this also will make a mess whereever it sets.
But now my best "minnow bucket" is a box of plastic tails. Haven't bought a minnow for crappies for 4 or 5 years and don't miss the mess at all.
I buy lunch buckets on yard sales and mount a fraybill aerator on the side it keeps the water cool and with a little dab of ice every once in awhile minnows will keep in it a couple days even on hot days
Go by your local tractor supply or pet store and ask for one of the foam coolers they get medical supplies in,They throw them in the dumpster anyway,They are tight,heavy duty and food safe and come in a variety of sizes,,Just don't use them for a seat,And be sure to put a strap of some sort on the lid while hauling,,,works great,and cheap