Keeping minnows alive

[Houghton laker]

I have been playing around with ways to keep my minnows alive since I do not have a livewell for bait...I have come up with this system...I purchased a cube (igloo) cooler....drilled a whole near the top....I put a 5gallon bucket inside it which fits perfectand allows the top to close...I put a pop bottle filled with water and frozen inside the cooler but Outside of the 5-gallon bucket and through the whole in the cooler I have the airhose going to the bait from a aireator...this method will keep my minnows for at least 2-days without having any dead!

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Also change your water often with nonclorinated water. Make sure the water is the same temp. If too cold it will stun them. Pond or creek water works best.

[PITBULL]

If non-clorinated water is not availble easly you can purchase a bottle of treatment from any place that sells tropical fish that removes clorine from tap water in just a few minuites. It makes a big difference keeping them in clean water. I like the Idea with the cooler and bucket.

[Ed Michrina]

Great Idea H.L.

[notmuchtime]

Try adding a capful of hydrogen peroxide to the water before you put the minnows in. It adds extra oxygen to the water. Just found out about this on the DWF website.

[Tin Can]

Great Idea, HL. I also like to come up with little things to help make fishing easier.

Thus, I want to commend you on this creation

Tin Can

[Ed Michrina]

I know Eric (tincan) when you make one make 2 :) Just be sure it plugs into the boat or car bat. I'll help fund your project. The thing I like most about the whole idea is with bubblers guys bubble warm air into the water, heating up the water and killing the fish. this idea takes care of that. HL a photo would be great. If thats a prob . you described it pretty good. Call me Eric we'll talk.

[Houghton laker]

I will try to make it out to the boat tonight and take a picture...will have my son post it here....seeing I can barely figure out how this computer thing works! :) When my boat is in its well I have shore power and just use a $6.00 aquarium aireator...but i also have the one that hooks up to the boat battery or if you have you could use a invertor and the electric one

[Houghton laker]

Here are a few pictures, of the 'houghtonlaker minnow keeper' LOL
I also added a picture of my aireator attached to my flasher box for ice fishing. With it mounted on the box, it can be used on any boat.

http://www.foulplay2.com/fishbox1.JPG
http://www.foulplay2.com/fishbox2.JPG
http://www.foulplay2.com/fishbox3.JPG
http://www.foulplay2.com/fishbox4.JPG

[Ed Michrina]

Thanx HL :) I'm doing it. great photos.

[mallardtone-man]

Thats a good idea! I was thinking of doing something similar for the ice season. My problem is that I cannot keep my minnes alive during the wintrer. I dont have a garage to keep them in, they always die in my basement, and when I keep em outside they freeze. Here is what I was going to do.....

Get one of those BIG coolers, like a 50gal or something, then put a 20gal or so fish tank inside of it. I would have a water filter, and airator, and a heater attached to the tank, inside the cooler and out of the elements. Then, I am gonna drill a hole in the cooler, and run the cords through my kitchen window, as I am going to have it right out on my back porch. I am hoping that with the small fish tank heater, I will be able to keep the water just above freezing, keep it clean and airated with the bubbler and filter, that way I will rarely have to change the water. I have the tank, filter, and airator. All I need to get is a big cooler. Might even end up using a big styrafoam one, as my uncle is a fish dealer and I could get that free.

What do you guys think?

I like houghton Lakers idea, because I could just pull my buckett out and take it with me, but I am not sure if I could get my filter to work with it.


James

[Ed Michrina]

I'm going to try H.L.'s idea but I'm going to attempt to keep the airator inside the cooler to pump in cold air and cool the water.

I wonder if you had your airator inside you house during the winter drawing warm air and pumping it into the water if that would stop it from freezing??

In the winter I keep my minnows in a cooler and place them in the basement fridge when I get home. If there is ice in the water after fishing I set the cooler in the basement before I place them in the fridge.

[Houghton laker]

Just be careful not to get your pump wet Ed!..thought about that with my D battery pump but hate the noise it makes compared to how quiet the other ones are!

[Ed Michrina]

True H.L. the ice wouldn't be a problem frozen in bottles but the minnow water splashing around might be.