Name the minnow bucket

[Hawg]

I have a yellow plastic bucket thats about 18 inches deep, about 5-6 inches accross and has a top that screws on. It's a store bought bucket similar to a piece of PVC pipe with a cap. We use them for floating bait under the house when you will be gone for a while. The paper label is gone and I can't find them anywhere. Anybody know what I'm talking about and who makes them?

[Hawg]

It's called a Sub-Bucket and it's made by Northern Advanced Products in Eagan Minnesota. I can't find the bucket or the company on the internet. Any of you city guys know if they still exist?

[Great Outdoors]

Are you sure it wasn't a Leech King, last handled by KassWinns out of the cities, but may have been manufactered for them by Northern Advanced Products.

It has been sold under three diferent names, and is out of production again because of increasing costs.

The large one was about 18 inches in length, had a screw on lid, and resembled a yellow buoy.

They fit through an 8 inch fish hole, and have a hole on the lid to put a rope through.

Many have used them in their fish houses to hold minnows.

[Hawg]

That sounds like the one and explains why they come and go. It's great bucket, I was looking to get one for a friend. Thanks for the help.

[mtbucket]

I named my minnow bucket Dorothy, because it smells like a girl by that name that I used to know.

[Ed Carlson]

Are you sure it wasn't a Leech King, last handled by KassWinns out of the cities, but may have been manufactered for them by Northern Advanced Products.

It has been sold under three diferent names, and is out of production again because of increasing costs.

The large one was about 18 inches in length, had a screw on lid, and resembled a yellow buoy.

They fit through an 8 inch fish hole, and have a hole on the lid to put a rope through.

Many have used them in their fish houses to hold minnows.

Bingo..that is it.

There may be a few floating around in the Gander Mountain stores yet. You could have a GM fishing associate try a inventory search and see if any are still available. I have not seen any in our store this season. Mills Fleet Farm also had them at one time, as did Scheels.

Two other options for holding bait under the ice are the Frabill Leech Locker, good for a couple scoops of minnows...and the weighted Lindy Bait Tamer tubes.

[cavalierowner]

For people like me who are too cheap to buy something, here's what I did years ago when I had a permanent on the ice all season. Used a 2# (I think) coffee can drilled full of holes. Run a very thin rope thru the plastic top and tied to the bottom. That way you could lift it up without the top coming off. I then drilled a hole just outside the house and dropped it down the hole. To retrieve it, I used a straightened out coathanger with a hook on it to grab the rope from a hole inside the fishhouse. What that did was allow me to drill my holes inside the fishhouse without interfering with the minnow holder. I used to keep minnows all winter long with almost no minnows dieing.

[whitebassman]

what do you do when you need to redrill holes that have frozen over? I like this idea of keeping minnows under the ice.

[Hawg]

There is a company that makes a similar product that has a video on utube. I'ts basically just a minnow bucket(most use the PVC pipe with a cap) with a little foam in it and a weight that goes to the bottom connected by heavy line or rope. You set the line so it floats the bucket a foot or two below the ice so you don't tangle it when you redrill a hole. Reach down with a broomhande with a hook on it and pull up the bucket. Minnows last forever.

[Hawg]

Here's the link to the concept.

[jerk bait]

just remember to take it with you when you move the house

[bobber2400]

quality bait in detroit lakes has them

number is 218) 844-2248

[Hawg]

Thanks Bobber, I'll be going thru there in about 10 days.

[Great Outdoors]

They are making the Bait King with screw on lid again, and we should have them within a few months.

I was told this was a one time order (for this year anyway) so there will not be made again until who knows when.

KassWinns in the cities will also have them in stock.

[whitebassman]

Thanks for this post! I just made my own minnow bucket using a leech bucket. It's the perfect size too! Drilled holes throughout the sides. Used the metal handle of a fly swatter for the loop handle on top of the bucket. Grabbed an old marker buoy and used the 6 oz weight and string to attach to the top of the leech bucket which has a nice loop there, perfect for it! A small bit of styrofoam on the inside to keep it afloat correctly, and voila!! homemade minnow bucket.

It did take me a few minutes to get the depth correct. I have it in 22 fow now, and left some extra line on it in case I move to 30+ fow, which is the max depth for my lake anyways. what do you recommend to do with the extra line? I just left it hanging.

For retrieval I thought about using a gaff hook, then realized when I was setting it up, that I can easily use by jigging spoon to snag the handle and pull up!

We'll see how well it works. I hope it is still there next time I get out!

[Hookmaster]

My dad used to use the inside perforated bucket of a metal minnow bucket. Hung it from a chain centered in the hole so you could chop around it.

[gonehunting]

Might want to check the legalities of putting something under the ice that is unattached. Litter?

[walleyehunter80]

gonehunting, is a trail cam-deerstand-minnow trap-ground blind litter?

[Love2Cabin]

There is a guy on (that site) selling them called bottom bucket for $20.

[whitebassman]

when i pick up and move my permie, if i take my minnow bucket with me, it shouldn't be littering. besides who's gonna see it under the ice? even if I forget, I no doubt can find it in the spring or if it gets loose, it'll float to the surface and be easy to find.