Thread: Tips, Tricks and Money saving Ideas Sticky Post

Excellent idea!

Want to save your money, don't take up fishing or hunting lol!

I also use frozen water bottles in the summer.

When I was younger, I had a laminated "check off list" to use before I left on a fishing trip. It had things like , check trailer tires, lights, tongue latch and chains. Boat: oil, gas, rods, tackle, DF , cooler, ice, ETC, ETC. I am finding I really need another now, I left DF at home last trip to Anna!
I blame it on meds,, because I know its not age ... Anyone got one they would care to post??

BTW, I use frozen bottle on crappie boat, but in SW boat I use 3 frozen milk jugs for Ice in fish cooler( at least one normally 2, gallon jugs of ice is busted up to help keep fish colder). Has been many a hot day, when other beverages on board just wouldn't do-- that I hold jug over the side of boat- washing off fish slime/blood, to get a drink of ICE COLD water!

If we can get some more participation here I would be glad to make it a sticky. In the summer time when it is hot I do similar to what Charlie said. I take several bottles of frozen water and keep one in the minnow bucket. When it thaws out I replace it with another and now have very cold water to drink. You can keep the minnows alive all day doing this regardless of temperature.

One of the things Corker taught me--- Take a magic marker and put lines around your cork/bobber. ( like bumble bee stripes) This help you notice more subtle strikes when they are hitting very light, and even when they are "pushing cork up".

Got tired of chasing my drink bottle around on the deck so strapped a PVC coupling to the post of my rod holders. (soda can in a huggie takes a 3 inch and a 16 oz plastic water bottle takes a 2 inch) When in doubt take a sample drink with you to verify prior to purchase.

Originally Posted by HeyCharlie

BTW, I use frozen bottle on crappie boat, but in SW boat I use 3 frozen milk jugs for Ice in fish cooler( at least one normally 2, gallon jugs of ice is busted up to help keep fish colder). Has been many a hot day, when other beverages on board just wouldn't do-- that I hold jug over the side of boat- washing off fish slime/blood, to get a drink of ICE COLD water!

I learned this from Corker: he one-upped the frozen bottle of water: Fill up a bottle with lake water for next time, then freeze it. When you put it in the minnow bucket, take the top off and release cold, fresh, oxygen-laden lake water into the bucket.

Here is something a friend of mine did to his boat. Yes he is a bass guy but would be good for crappie jigs etc..

His instructions:

So I went to Lowe's and grabbed just a few items, namely 2 pcs of Aluminum corner brackets and some safety pin hook clasps. In all, the materials for the bait racks i made probably ran me anywhere from $7-10. You could go online and purchase same systems for $12-20 depending on brand, but I like to build and manufacture whenever I can! If you're not handy with a drill, I would suggest going to The Bait Bar - Tackle Storage System and ordering a set already assembled.

For the project I used:

2 - 36” aluminum brackets
24 - wire safety pin hook clasps
11 - 3/4" self-tapping screws (SS if subject to moisture/humidity)

Basically, I created 3 bait racks. I kept one piece at 36” and cut the other into two (2) 18” pcs. For the 36” rack I measured out 12 equally spaced hook slots and drilled holes in the aluminum on one edge, then drilled 5 equally spaced holes for the screws. The support bars in my compartment lids are metal so it was easy to drill with the self-tapping screws once I got past the carpet.

Did the same for the two (2) 18” racks, measuring 6 equally spaced holes for the hooks, and three (3) equally spaced holes for the screws and voila! I painted the bars with a Rustoleum auto finish paint, mostly because I thought the paint would adhere to the metal better, plus it’s a fine spray from the can. Of course metal on metal scratches, and I don’t expect the paint around the hook holes to last very long, but it’s a rough job anyway!