keeping suckers alive

[muskiemanAD]

Going up north this weekend sucker fishing for Muskies. my question is what is the easiest way to keep them alive Friday afternoon till I start fishing Saturday morning. Put them in big coolers, keep them in the bag with oxygen? Just looking for a little advice here, thanks!

[goblueM]

cool water temps, making sure not to shock them by transferring between water with large temp differential, keeping them aerated (oxygen, an air bubbler, etc)

the more water per sucker, the better you'll keep them alive and frisky

[10,000 Casts]

I would try and buy them the morning of. One idea would be to get a fish basket and take them to an access and tie it to the dock overnight. I have a tough enough time keeping them alive when I buy them the day of, I have never tried overnight. they won't last long in a bag with oxygen. A large cooler with an airator may work..

[Rebel9921]

Definitely a large cooler full of clean water along with having an aerator running... There are 120V and Battery version of Aerators that works great for what you are asking for... IMO, they're worth every cent of the price tag... usually under $24...

[clm]

+1 on the large cooler and aerator. we have had good luck keeping them alive for days doing this.

[20lbSloughShark]

I'm not sure on muskie sized suckers (big baits seem to die fast). On pike sized suckers I keep them for about a week sometimes two in a bucket with an aerator. Make sure to replace the water every day. Thats with a dozen 8-10" sucker, I'm assuming you might have more (and bigger)? I think the large cooler sounds like a good idea.

[brmuskie]

Just make sure you put unsoftened well water in the cooler. I know of one guy this year that killed some with city water, then the next week he killed some with well water from a kitchen faucet that was softened.

Use your outside spigot or other unsoftened water.

Please don't be bringing lake water to other lakes....... we don't need to be labeled as transporting invasive species more than we already are.

Go crazy and put an old deep freeze in the back of your truck with well water in it. Just the sloshing around of the water should add enough oxygen to keep fish alive for a while. If you park overnight, add an aerator or 4.

[Nick Kuhn]

City water has chemicals that will kill fish, and well water is often high in dissolved metals. Collecting rainwater or melting a bag of ice is usually the best way to get water.

[50inchpig]

i've been using instant water conditioner for aquariums and had good results this year so far, otherwise i just fill up a bin with hosewater and let it sit for a day.

[goblueM]

City water has chemicals that will kill fish, and well water is often high in dissolved metals. Collecting rainwater or melting a bag of ice is usually the best way to get water.

if you have the aquarium water treatment stuff it doesnt matter what water you use. cheap solution, and way easier than collecting rainwater or melting ice

[muskiemanAD]

Well I was able to keep most of the suckers alive all weekend and still have a half dozen alive. Used city water but put water conditioner in it and a bubbler for oxygen. Kept them in a rubber maid tote. Seemed to work alright, just wish the fish thought that they looked as good as I did!