Keepin' minna's kickin'

[swmoDukR]

Is there any suggestions on keepin' minnows alive and kickin'. Got about 3-4 doz. creek minnows today and by the time I got home more then half had kicked the bucket on the 15 minute drive home. Figuring it may have been the small bucket and too many in the bucket. put the rest in a cooler and have a bilge pump circulating the water. Seems to be working for now 6 hours later. Thinking of getting a cheap aquarium and pump w/ filter for keeping them in until it's time to use em for fishing instead of having to run to the creek everytime.

[Bruce Carpenter]

Put minnows in a starofoam buck, put ice cubes and or aspirin and they should last until you run out! 7-10 hours.

[swmoDukR]

Thanks Bruce but looking for a little more long term maybe a day or two or more. Thinking a bait aquarium is the way to go, just pull out what you need and go.

[DShootnstGentemn]

swmo, Long as they are cool and under crowded they oughta stay alive that long in a styrofoam bucket. If'n ya use one of those little areators, won't they die from oxygen poisoning if the water isn't recirculated? Not sure. It's been a long time since I carried minnows around.

[JimDog]

Ice will definitely keep em on those hot summer days - lots of ice. I also have an aquarium right here in my basement. It is a 45 gallon job that I have had for years. Couple of years ago, my son struck it with a hard object which created a long horizontal crack about 8" from the top. So I can't fill it all the way. But I have it filled to the crac, and have goldfish, shiners, and crawdads. I am guessing I have about 3 dozen shiners, 2 dozen goldfish, and a dozen crawdads. And I don't think I am at capacity, and have only lost a couple of shiners since last fall. They'll definitely keep in an aquarium...

[gman]

I keep mine in a cooler with a bubbler for a aquariam(sp) and will keep for weeks at a time.

[Hellbender]

SWMO maybe a big garage sale cooler with your aerator would be the ticket.

[Bruce Carpenter]

gman said it best. Make sure not to overcrowd the bait and they will last forever in the manner mentioned.

[Swamp_Fox]

Is your bilge pump a 12v?

I use an old cooler and one of those 12v pumps with some PVC with holes drilled in them to recirculate and aeriate the water. The evaporation helps keep things cool.

Those creek chubs drive the bass nuts.

[Billy Boy]

I use a Fountain Pump...Any kind of pump will work....its the Bubbles and food that makes the Difference....as well as temperture....

What you do is at Home git a Good Size Tank....Size is what constitutes the amount to Keep...on the Pump....any pump will work...just below the Output...put a small air tube that will allow air to Suck into the Line as it is expelled into the Tank......This causes Mucho Air Bubbles...Also...if you do not Feed them...they start real soon attacking each others Tails for food...Pretty soon you end up with no fin on the Tails of your Minners...also Canning salt is Excellant ....1 cup for 50 Gal...if you use a Smaller tank....just give acordinly...I use Cornmeal for Food....Works Great......

Salt makes them Build up the Slick Slime on the Bodies...Fights Infections too...if you've got a Bunch...you'll need to change the water everymonth....There Pee..will burn em after while...

if you can keep the Water temp close to 50...you'll have no Problems...The Minnows you use are the Same as mine....they will not live very long in 60 degree..thats where the Ice Comes in...

i've been doin this for over 20 years....a fellow in our Tournys use to Fish Live bait all the time...(Not in the tournaments) hehehe...But he lived on TR...I've seen Pictures of His Bass.....Un real....he Showed me his Set up back in 82...His was a Ice Box...so was Bobbys my best friend....He has one of those Big Ice Boxes ya get Bags of ice out of in front of Stores...Thats the Real Deal.....Mine ..is a Cattle Waterin Tank...I use to use a 5'...now i'm using a 4 footer...The Fountain Pump i Picked up at a garage sale for a Couple Bucks...they're over a Hundred New...

Any Questions ....I'd be Glad to show ya or tell ya More about Keeping them alive...I use my live well to keep them ..that way you keep them aireated Good....Put A frozen two litter Jug in a Cooler for Your fish if yer Keepin some...

Thats the BEST way i've found through all my Experience...

Good Luck...

[swmoDukR]

Thanks BB. Thats sounds about what I'd be lookin' at doing in the long run.

swmo

[Billy Boy]

its Killer....I've seen lots of setups over time....Bobby my Buddy has the Best....Those Ice Chests are the Ticket....Fully Insulated...just Silicone the inside Seams...with a good Pump....Cats Meow....