Minnow Keeper

[klbowe]

I wanted to share with you guys a easy to make Minnow Keeper I threw together.
The cooler worked pretty well for me and kept a scoop of Fatheads alive in the Hot Sun after two full days of fishing. I think they would have lasted longer but I screwed up and let kind sole dump his left over crappie minnows & lake water into the cooler.
The warm lake water killed a few of the fatheads.

Coleman makes a 16Qt. cooler with two compartments. Purchase 2 refreezable blue ice blocks one will fit perfect on the smaller side. The divider will have holes that are too large. You will need to make another vented divider to keep the minnows away from the ice or place screen over the large holes.

Fill the cooler with COLD water (unsoftend). Place one of the frozen blocks on the small side and minnows on the other. Leeches or crawlers can be kept dry and cold by placing them on top of the blue ice. Place your floating minnow scoop on the side with the minnows.

I have found that a single block will keep the water cold and the minnows alive and EXTREMELY ACTIVE after a full day sitting directly in the sun. Before going to bed I drop the second block of Blue ice in and clean and refreeze the first one. I did not use an aireator during the day because I felt the air circulation would tend to warm the water. I did use the aireator at night.

Mills Fleet Farm or probably any other store sells the 16 Quart Coleman Excursion cooler that has a plastic divider in it.
Any cooler that has a divider would probably work.

The final cost will be less than other Minnow Keepers that only use Aireation to keep the minnows alive.

[Northlander]

I use a easy troll bucket when on the water and a 5 gallon pail with a ice pack and airator at night in the cool garage. Works great.