minnow outside or inside

[coombia21]

got the first batch of minnows for the year but i am wondering if i should store them in the cold garage or warm house

[buckhunter21]

If you dont think they will freeze I always try to put them outside and keep them cool and change water on them every other day. In a garage they should be fine at least after this weekend when this cold snap is supposed to leave. Just make sure you dont freeze them into a block of ice.

[MJ1657]

As long as they don't freeze up I like to keep them in the garage. I run an aquarium bubbler in mine and it seems to help alot.

[Bassinbob84]

I use little buckets and keep them in the fridge. As long as your garge is above 25-30 they will be fine. The moving minnows will help keep the water open.

[gritsnham]

As long as they dont freeze in the garage they will be fine just make sure the low wont get below 20f and you should be fine. either way I would invest in an areator (you can get one for under $15) I buy one batch every 1-2 weeks and keep mine inside with an aerator. change the water every 3 days and you start to save alot on bait over the season

[mnguy152]

i do both i keep them in the garage until they start freezeing up then bring them in the basement for a bit then back out again. And change the water often.

[reelguy]

I put them in the laundry room by the outside cold air exchange tube. Keeps them plenty cool, but not frozen.

[Fredd]

Garage when not freezing solid and then the cold basement floor. Aquarium aerater helps ward off freezing to a degree it seems. I have well water, but I think that city water is not the best for minnows (especially touchy types of minners). I change the water on the lake before leaving and then am good for a few days in the five gallon bucket. Make sure to remove floaters ASAP.

[3littlemonsters]

I keep mine in one of those large insulated beverage coolers in my basement. It works really well keeping the water temp down, considering I've got a wood stove going all the time. I'll just dump a bucket of snow in to cool 'em down when needed. I also run an aerater. I have no problem keeping them for weeks.

[My_Key]

I keep mine in the fridge in an aerated minnow bucket. I run the aerator for 10-15 minutes in the morning while I get ready for work and then for about 30 minutes when I get home. Change the water every 2-3 days or whenever I was out fishing. I had shiners last over a month doing this. They may have lasted longer, but I used them up on the lake before I could test their longevity. I also "borrowed" the aerator from my kids fish tank after a while to save money on the batteries.

[Brad B]

I just use the styrofoam minnow buckets and keep it in the garage if it gets really cold it will skim over with ice even in the garage but to prevent this I change the water every 2 or 3 days. I have kept a scoop of crappie minnows for up to 3 weeks doing this. the sucker and shiners don't seem to last as long as the crappie minnows do. that is okay because I will use the dead sucker and shiner minnows on my tip ups for northerns or for catfish.

[Ed Carlson]

If you have an area in a porch or in the garage that will hold a temp of about 40 - 50 deg, that is ideal. You do not wish them to go from one extreme to another as that will stress them, a happy medium is best.

Add a aeration unit and they will do even better. Store in a Styrofoam lined pail and they will last longer, don't attempt to feed them, just buy enough to last 1 - 2 weeks and they will do well.

Minnows will age out in about two to three weeks in containment, so factor that in and you will waist less.

[paceman]

Like others said, keep them in the garage until they start to freeze and then bring them in basement. Changing water every couple days really helps.....