How do you keep sucker minnows alive?

[ajmurf]

I've tried many ways to keep these hogs kickin' but they always die within the first 1 to 2 hours. I'm thinking about getting an airated minnow bucket. Do these work for them? I've tried to keep them in the bag so the water can warm up to lake temp and they still die. I've tried regular minnow buckets also, along with a couple more. But no need to get into failures any more than I have already. I don't have a livewell in the boat so that option is out of the question. Any help is appreciated and Thanks to all who reply.

[guideman]

I have found that the best way to keep them alive is to leave them at the bait shop.

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Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
aceguideservice.com
Lake Vermilion
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[riverrat56]

when i cat fish i just keep them in a 5 gallon bucket and i change water about every half hour, dont buy more than you need because an over population in the bucket causes them to die faster no matter how often you change water, in a boat i think a cooler would work well just keep the water fresh

[half2fish]

The easiest way that me and my dad found out is to put 3 or 4 suckers in a bucket and use about 3 or 4 buckets. keep them in the water as much as poss. and they should live a couple of weeks at a time. But we live on a lake so our bait is always in the water.

[The Grebe]

Try a chest cooler that you can lift, once it has water in it...less Suckers use up less oxygen, keep them cool, maybe throw one of those refreezable packs in with them and if you did'nt buy the oxegenator, change the water when you see them starting to slow down.

[Dan Thiem]

If you are using those yellow and white Plano troll minnow buckets,put a couple rocks in it so it sinks.That way they are in deeper cooler water.And the sun don't bake the bucket and heat them up.Also less minnows in the bucket helps alot!

[RK]

Hiya,
Get a good-sized cooler and a Frabill Aqua-Life portable aerator. The aerators come with alligator clips for running off a 12v battery, and they work great. I don't sucker fish, but I use an Aqua-life for walleye fishing and ice fishing. I can keep 3-4 dozen 6" redtails alive for days with one. A lot of WI sucker dunkers I know use them to keep their suckers happy.

And please: quick strike rigs and immediate hooksets if you're going to sucker fish for muskies...

Cheers,
RK

[SCUMFROG]

I do what Dan says and I've had them last 4 days or more. But if you take the rock out and put it back in don't drop it, cause smashed minnows don't work to well. LOL By the way I use those buckets that come out of a carring bucket. (Know what I mean?) Plano makes them. That way the water comes in the bottom and top.