Best Winter Bait Bucket??

[5-Horse]

Just curious what everyone uses for a winter bait bucket? I really like the Frabill 1469. What does everyone else like?

[DrJuice1980]

Plain old $5-$7 styrofoam one, once the rope break through or I forget the minnows in the garage I go buy another one.

[DLD24]

I bought the Clam insulated one...I like that one...Lol ever had the styrofoam lid freeze on there and you break it trying to get it off??? Happened to me twice last year so I switched haha

[DTro]

The 1469 is a great bait bucket, but seems a bit overkill for ice fishing to me. A small cooler has always worked well for me.

[JeremyCampbell]

I got the clam insulated bucket also.Works awesome.After trying a few different ones ,this one seemed to solve the problem with freezing or cracking in those rough temps.

[pike79]

A retired work cooler works great for me. In summer I use it for my worms.

[JSK76]

I really like the Frabill 1404.

[Brad B]

I have all 3 sizes of the Clam insulated buckets. they are nice but the one draw back to them is the seal that makes them so they don't spill also causes them to be air tight. I had a scoop of crappie minnows in the small one and left the cover on with in a few hours they were all dead. the bucket was clean but I think they ran out of oxygen in the water. from now on when I use them I only screw the cover on when transporting them to and from the lake(I fish lakes close enough to the house that I can get to and from the lake with out issues). I will take the top off when I get set up and when I store them in the garage between trips. one tip with these is if you are in really cold weather and the water starts to freeze in them you can take a disposable hand warmer and place it between the bucket and the insulated bag. this is not a issue when in a heated shack.

[JSK76]

I have all 3 sizes of the Clam insulated buckets. they are nice but the one draw back to them is the seal that makes them so they don't spill also causes them to be air tight. I had a scoop of crappie minnows in the small one and left the cover on with in a few hours they were all dead.

This has been my fear of them, I actually have one that came with my JM portable I've never used it because I figured that would happen. The Frabill 1404 isn't completely air tight so you can get some spilt water at times. I found putting the 1404 inside of a Colman Max cold soft sided cooler works great to catch any water that spills.I put the aerator in a side pocket a long with extra battery's, AC adapter, DC adapter for the truck and minnow scoop. Another plus is it gives it even more protection from freezing and a shoulder strap.

[pushbutton]

5 gal bucket and some slush....any "brand" will do.

[bigshooter23]

I like the igloo ice cube cooler. even has small compartment on top for waxies

[sjlund]

[Redlineracer12]

I use one of those Plano bait buckets with the yellow lid similar to this one for getting to and from the lake (or even in the bag from the bait store):

If I'm fishing overnight in the wheelhouse I will dump them into a 5 gallon pail of lake water so they have more water.

[TruthWalleyes]

That's awesome SJLUnd. I have a few of those laying around unused and they probably work great for minnows. Smaller and easier to transport.

[Benelli Bob]

That is a great idea !!

Thanks

Bob

[Gus]

I go with a cooler similar to SJlund's. Mine is shorter and fatter.

I sprayed some wax on the screw lid threads just to aid in keeping it from freezing, but not sure if it helped or not. Never had it freeze shut on me. I use it in the summer for leeches also. I create an ice bath around the leech container. Works great in August!

Under my permmie I use a bottom bucket. If you guys with perms haven't tried one of those, you really should. They work great.

[randerson]

I have recently sold a couple ENGLE bait coolers to friends for summer fishing but I think there going to be a goto for ice fishing as well durable with a good aerator runs on batteries or off a 12 volt plug nice to have the choice with both. I think i'm going to pick one up as well they have 3 sizes 13qt 19qt 30qt I think the 30qt would make a great live well too keep them fish from freezing or if you didn't want to deal with the DNR with water in the well in the summer use it and a block of ice

[sjlund]

Mine froze shut, I recommend the wax on the threads.

[bart14]

I use the same. Wax on the threads is a great idea, thanks!

[AlligatorDundee]

I custom mounted an Oxygenator

Into the lid of a Frabill min-o-life cooler

the 12 volt Oxygenator and Frabill areator both

run off an attached Vexilar battery or 110 volt.

Aerator breaks the surface tension of

the water to release amonia and co2 gases that the fish excrete.

[boe757]

agree completely, doesn't spill, doesn't crack used one for about 10 years. always had grief with styrofoam

[ice_medic]

I use what ever is cheap at the bait shop when i realize i forgot mine at home. This happens when i leave in a hurry when i get "well fine go out a freeze before i change my mind" from the wife

[Beaver15]

The best minnow bucket for ice fishing.

It's just the right size for a couple scoops of minnows.

It has a very strong handle.

The lid snugs on, doesn't screw on (freezing).

It's very tough, durable, and cheap.

I don't know how much money I've wasted on those styrofoam buckets over the years. To me this is the perfect minnow bucket for ice fishing. It's durable, easy, etc. I only wish that I had thought of it sooner.

[Rikkus]

I have Frabill Bucket with the Air Pump built into the Lid. I absolutely love it. A little LED Light when you open the lid. Best of all, I have an adapter with clips that I connect to a spare Vexilar Battery. It runs for a week without a charge. Our Group uses two of these for our week long ice fishing trip. We start out with quite a few minnows, both buckets loaded.

[ZachD]

I bought the Clam insulated one...I like that one...Lol ever had the styrofoam lid freeze on there and you break it trying to get it off??? Happened to me twice last year so I switched haha

spray the edge with pam cooking oil and that wont happen