Bait Tank Users

[wooduck26]

For you guys who use a bait tank to keep your bait on hand, What do you feed your Bullheads to keep them allive? Worms? Corn? Minnows? Small Children? Ideas?

[Larry FlatCaster]

nothing. It just dirties up the water alot quicker. If I were keeping them more than 3 weeks then a scoop of minnows would probably be best.

[hanson]

I've been keeping mine for about a week or so at a time and don't feed them. Water change every other day and they stay kickin' with good aeration.

[AQUAJOE]

Depends on there size I go with fat heads for larger ones or crappie minnows for the smaller ones. Once a month.

It really depends on how long you keep them. I have had bullies on hand since September 06 and what I have found is every 3 to 4 weeks(closer to 4) Any longer then that the get real sluggish and not very lively.

Hmmn I wonder why??

[harvey lee]

Good to see you are still around Joe. I havent noticed you posting as of late.

[AQUAJOE]

I am still here. We need to get out again!

[harvey lee]

Anytime it works for you Joe. I have a bit bigger boat and we will be much more comfortable now.

[ec30_06]

I have used minnows and worms. If they are good and hungry there won't be anything left to dirty up the water

[169Sportsman]

You should be good up to 4 weeks or more without anything. What dirties the water is what we could call doodoo.

[big musk411]

How big are your guys bait tanks? I had some crappie minnows in a 10 gal and they died right away stinking up my garage. I suppose Bullies will last a bit longer?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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How big are your guys bait tanks? I had some crappie minnows in a 10 gal and they died right away stinking up my garage. I suppose Bullies will last a bit longer?

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Do you have city water? Any chlorine at all will kill crappie minnows in a hurry. Use a water treatment to remove any chlorine and they'll last a lot longer. Also, make sure the water isn't getting too warm and have some type of pump/filter to agitate the surface of the water so oxygen exchange can take place.

[big musk411]

I think I did have city water in there. My girfriend said that she always used tap water in her fish tanks, but I guess she probably had well water. I have an airator so I'll have to get some good water/chemicals and fire it back up. Thanks!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Yeah, I have tried with city water and their little noses turn red and they die pretty fast!

[AQUAJOE]

The biggest thing you have to worry about is sensitivity to temperature changes. This is a huge problem for minnows.

Have you ever bought minnow from the bait shop like crappie minnows, shiners, chubs or Red-tails? There water is usually between 50 to 60 degree's depending on the bait shop.

Ever notice that when you bring them down to the boat and dump them in the water in your live-well then start recirculating the water thinking you are helping them out with fresh water and aeration. Well unless the water in the lake is the same temp as the water in the minnow bag you put the minnows into shock and some may die. Or even all of them.

So besides dechlorination of the water in a tank watch the water temps. Especially for minnows, the water in the tank or live well need to be within a few degree's. 3 degree's is a good limit to follow.

So floating the bag of minnows is key. And if they are not in a bag and in a bucket take a cup full of the tank water and dump it in the bucket and wait(10-20 minutes). the time really depends on how far the water temps are apart. The more degree's difference means more time to wait.

Then keep doing that until the water temp in the bucket is close to the temp in the tank.

Some are saying dang that is a lot of work. Well with the price of minnows now days(example..$9.oo for a 1/2 dozen red-tails) I think it is worth the time.

The key is gradual temp change. So for putting minnow in the live well. Dump them in minus the lake water. Let them sit in the bag water for 10 to 20 minutes. Then turn on the live well for lets say 2 seconds. Just adding a bit of water to the existing water and let that sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Keep doing that process until the live well water is close to the temp of the lake water.

You will have much more success with keeping your expensive minnows alive.

Another way to do it is fill your live well with lake water and add ice and cool that water down and float the bag in that water. This is the better way of doing it being that the minnows prefer the cooler water and it adds a lot of oxygen to the water. This can be a much more gradual warming of the water which is better. (This can be more expensive way of doing it if you have to buy ice.) I prefer this method.

It also doesn't hurt to add a stress coat to the water. You can buy it at any local pet store. Even the big chain sporting goods store have these types of chemicals.

As for the bullheads I have done 30 to 40 degree water differences and they get well Upset!! But usually are fine. I have not lost one yet doing that. Tough little buggers.

This is way more info then anyone would want to know. Sorry I used to own a fish tank maint. service.

Just my $1.25 worth.

[audemp]

Thanks Joe! definately good info that people should follow!

[dps]

If you dont want to float the bag and your not in a huge hurry.. you can just leave the bag out to warm up for a while too. I wont even think ofbusting open a cold minnow bag into warm water. If you get your minnows close to the water temp they will be exposed to, you can grab a minnow bucket and leave it partially filled with water, and pour the water from your air bag(and bait) into the river/lake water in the bucket and the water temp will stratisfy the last few degrees pretty well and your bait will survive.

Most bait shops try to maintain 50 degrees for minnow water.. most rivers are from 75-80 degrees right now... way too much of a jump unless its a bullhead.