James RickardKeep your minnows alive
March 11th 2008 01:33
When you’re out fishing and the sun is shining and everything seems right with the world, it doesn’t take long for your minnows to die. The warmer it is, the less time it takes.
Maybe they even started dying before you got your line wet! The hoopla of going from a big tank at the bait shop to your minnow bucket may be too much for them to handle. Something else to think about is the trip to the water hole. Minnows don’t handle the stress of a car’s constant vibration very well so, it’s a good idea to get your minnows as close to your destination as possible.
I’ve seen too many guys use a plain plastic bucket to carry their minnows or one of those plastic buckets with a perforated top, which is just as bad. You’re best bet is to invest in a minnow bucket with foam insulation, which helps to minimize heat transfer. Different companies make them—Frabil and Plano quickly come to mind. And you’re not going to be spending an arm and a leg! Better still, with a little common sense, one or two buckets are all you’re going to need your entire life!
If you can’t find an insulated bucket, take your “normal” bucket and stick it inside a larger bucket which should leave enough room that you can surround the smaller bucket with some ice.
While you’re at it, you really should try and pump some oxygen in there! You can buy an air pump designed to hang off the edge of your bucket and runs on flashlight batteries for $10 or less. Again, several different manufacturers make these pumps so there is no excuse for not having one. I’ve read that some pumps will last as long as 60 hours on a pair of batteries. Although I’ve never tested this statement, I can say that I’ve had mine pumping for around 20 straight hours and it never missed a beat!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
Maybe they even started dying before you got your line wet! The hoopla of going from a big tank at the bait shop to your minnow bucket may be too much for them to handle. Something else to think about is the trip to the water hole. Minnows don’t handle the stress of a car’s constant vibration very well so, it’s a good idea to get your minnows as close to your destination as possible.
Plano is one of the many fine companies producing quality minnow buckets.
You can shoot the works and get something like this set up that includes an aerator.
If you can’t find an insulated bucket, take your “normal” bucket and stick it inside a larger bucket which should leave enough room that you can surround the smaller bucket with some ice.
While you’re at it, you really should try and pump some oxygen in there! You can buy an air pump designed to hang off the edge of your bucket and runs on flashlight batteries for $10 or less. Again, several different manufacturers make these pumps so there is no excuse for not having one. I’ve read that some pumps will last as long as 60 hours on a pair of batteries. Although I’ve never tested this statement, I can say that I’ve had mine pumping for around 20 straight hours and it never missed a beat!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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Comment by tlcorbin
Comment by James Rickard
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