Minnow Bucket for ice fishing....

[Walleye71]

Does anyone have a good system for hauling around minnows while ice fishing? I always try to use a little cooler but the top usually freezes to the cooler which makes it tough to open.

Thanks.

[outdoorsman1972]

I have a five gallon bucket for sitting and a styrofoam bucket that fits inside with the minnow bucket. Take a rag with a heavy amount of cooking oil and rub the lip where the lid and bucket meet and that will work for a short amount of time to keep the two from freezing together. I used this trick when I used to work on overhead doors for the weather stripping on the bottom of the doors to keep them from freezing to the concrete. It is something to try. Water will repel off the cooking oil.

[Northlander]

Either a screw top water jug or a 5 gallon pail with foam liner and a snap on top for the pail. No matter what you use if its cold enough long enough it will freeze up. I just hit the top a couple times with the big dipper handle and they pop open no problem. Never not been able to open them and they dont spill in your house when traveling.

[Jim Hudson]

This system works well for me.. I use a Plano plastic minnow bucket that has a styrofoam insert, then place this bucket into a 5 gallon bucket. I have a screw on lid, that I drilled small holes into,which then seals the whole system up great while towing to my fishing spots. Have never had any freeze ups with this system and the 5 gallon bucket holds any splash water that may escape the main minnow container... Plus no water in my Fish Trap, always a plus!!!

[metrojoe]

Sounds like I have a very similar set up. Plastic minnow bucket dropped into a 5 gallon pail and snap a lid on it. I've had minnows and water all over to many times.

[pj4]

with the insulated bucket, i remove the yellow top, place a piece of plastic sheet over the bucket and replace the yellow top. this will be water proof and reusable. 3 mill poly works the best.

[Xplorer]

For smaller amounts of minnows i have been using the newer plastic coffee cans with the snap lid. That said, I generally travel with it on my back in my duluth pack ash packbasket with my vex and munchies/liquids, so its not subjected to the pounding like it would be in the otter. But so far it had preformed well, and hasnt froze up like my screw top jug used to. I have kept up to 4/5 dozen crappie minnows in it for a days exploring/fishing up on Red with good results. Just gotta change the water a little more often.

[Walleye71]

Thanks Guys. I bought a Plano insulated bucket and I will borrow PJ4 idea with the plastic sheet. Sounds like it has and will work well.

[Hookmaster]

I use an Igloo cooler with the handle that locks the cover on. With the cover locked down, no water splashes out. If it freezes, just pry it open. Doesn't chip like styrofoam.