keeping minnows?

[minneman]

this works great, but instead of droping the thing down a hole in your house, drill a hole on the outside of your shack, right outside a hole on the inside of the shack as close to the house as you can drill, tie it off on something and let it freeze in the ice, (use about 10 ft of line if you stay in that spot a long time), then whenever you return and your holes are froze in the shack, you wont cut the rope when redrilling, just reach under the ice with a long wire bent to hook the rope and pull it in. only down side is you have that rope to deal with in that hole while fishing.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Not so sure any of these will come back to life.

I think the one in the middle might.

[andrew chadwick]

I just use a frabil sit'n'fish. I got a 110 bubbler for 15 4. change water when dirty.

[shizzy]

In all reality, Im just needing to keep them for 2 days. Using parts from wally world, Ill only be in about $12 including the bubbler.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Here is the setup I have in the basement. 10 Gallon tank setup from Wal-Mart.

Durring the summer I have a bait machine 2 blocks from my house where worms, wax worms, crappie minnows, and maggots are sold out of. Nice having a machine like that. However in the winter it is shut down and minnows are an hour drive.

[LuresAndTours]

Hi noticed you mentioned Lake Simcoe. Is there a firum for Lake Simcoe Ice Fishing?

[Hawg]

I did like minneman for years and it works great but the hooks seemed to find the rope when pulling in a fish, even pulled in tight, more times that I wanted. Take the next step and look at Bottom Bucket, you don't need this product but it works great. There are 1000's of ways to make your own.

[gwiff100]

i've been very interested in the "bottom bucket" device, however also been very concerned with a fish getting wrapped up in the line. decent walleye or norther could really cause a headache under the ice.

[Hawg]

You pull it up when you're fishing. It's for overnight or extended periods when you're not there. Minnows stay alive forever this way.

[gwiff100]

yup just had one of those slap your forehead moments... of course you'd pull it up.. hahaha

[Hawg]

Gwiff, glad you said that, you sure had me slapping mine

[chris63]

Just went to check out pvc parts to do a home version of the bucket and seems the cost will be more than buying one.I wonder how big of an air pocket it will take to float an 18by6 inch pvc tube.Any speculators?I was thinking about a 4by6 inch air pocket on one side should do it.c63

[Hawg]

Don't use air, use foam. you can't build one for the price of a bottom bucket but a Lindy bait bag for a live well works good alao.

[chris63]

I've seen a few different home made jobs and found that the foam ones get water logged after some time and sink.What kind of foam do you suggest using?The bait bag sounds interesting.I thought a portion of the pvc could be cut out and replaced with heavy screen so you can see the bait better than just holes drilled in the plastic.c63

[Hawg]

Mine is probably 7-8 years old and hasn't sunk yet. Foam doesn't soak up water. Why do you want to see your minnows under the ice when you're not there? This isn't for when you're fishing, it's to keep them alive untill you come back to your house.

[chris63]

What kind of foam did you use or do you have the bottom bucket.When we add or remove minnows its quicker to make an assessment when you can see whats left.More than one group uses the minnow keeper.c63

[Hawg]

I've made them from any kind-pink-white-even spray foam. I did get a Bottom Bucket because they are light, easy, and cheap. A Lindy mesh basket has the foam built in already and goes up and down the hole easy, you just need a string/line and an anchor weight. Sorry Chris, I'm not understanding your question. When fishing I pull the bucket up and put the minnows in a pail. Then put them back in the bucket and sink it when I leave. I'm not getting the need to see into the bucket.