Bait Bucket Question for Otter Mod.

[Shack]

I have a question of all you “ice fishing” guys. You all have helped me once or twice now and I figure I would shout out a question I am asking my self.

Bait Bucket!

I am rounding third and heading to home plate on my Otter Mod. and I at the point of Rotto Zipping my recessed minnow bucket hole. I have been pondering which bait bucket will be my last for my Otter Mod, before I take the plunge and cut the hole to size.

I was looking for a bait bucket with no slot holes on top (to minimize splash out of water). After pulling all the bait buckets off the shelves at a couple different store and comparing them together , I decided on this unit.

I could not find a bait bucket with out these slot holes on top. I left my self asking “why do they have these slot holes on top”. I figure, no one would use these buckets for trolling. I thought a little harder and I figure it is for pouring out water during a water change. That’s all I could come up with. Now the question is, is there any style bait bucket out there that has inside insulation, large capacity and a completely seal lid. I could not find one in the last week of searching.

Thanks for any help in this matter. I am cutting hole on Tues. night and will make a change if someone can direct my in a different direction.

Thanks.

[Sandmannd]

Shack, I was at Fleet on Saturday and they have one that is insulated inside, but still has the holes on top. Don't know if you can get away from that unless you just by a styrofoam bucket. Maybe we need to invent an ice fishing minnow bucket

[Shack]

Sand,

I am hoping to get some replies form other fisherman. I know I owned a bait bucket 5 or 6 years ago that was blue and had a sealed lid. I do no think it was insulted thought.

If not, it is a thought for the manufactures to think about. I think I always remove lid to change water anyways, so I think this feature could be pardoned on one model. Good idea though.

[MNbrewer44]

This past spring i bought a frabil minnow bucket at fleet farm. It is insulated and the top is almost identical to the top of your bucket. During the summer the minnows rode in the boat to the lake. I never really noticed any water spilling from the bucket. If your really concerned about the water splashing out you could just cut a piece of Styrofoam to fit under the lid. Cut a smaller circle in the middle so the trap door still works. You would probably have to bevel the styrofoam behind the hinge to get it to open.

Also some holes are going to be needed to allow air in and out of the bucket unless you use a aerator

just another perspective. hope this helps

Brian

[deadeye]

You could always get one of those cheap insulated styrofoam buckets and put it inside a 5 gallon pail with a lid on it. I have one of those lids with the spin seat on it (got it at fleet farm for like 8.99) and it has yet to spill. Plus you got another seat if you need it.

[hawkeye43]

I have been using a 6 pack iglo cooler forever. That is all I use in all the fish houses.If it freezes shut, give it a rap on the top to break it loose. Yhey clean up very well with warm water. It is insulted and can't be destroyed.

[Mainehazmt]

I use a 2 1/2 - 3 gallon igloo water cooler for my bait bucket I also replaced the water spout with a adapter tube to hook up a air pump to it keeps em lively and stops it from freezing up and no leakage!

[iffwalleyes]

Quote:

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You could always get one of those cheap insulated styrofoam buckets and put it inside a 5 gallon pail with a lid on it. I have one of those lids with the spin seat on it (got it at fleet farm for like 8.99) and it has yet to spill. Plus you got another seat if you need it.

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Ding ding that is what I have done. I had a buddy buy on like what you have in your picture he strapped it to his 4 wheeler and by the time we got to where we were to fish he had a very wet rear end. The good news was it was cold enough so that the water had froze in the slots and no longer was splashing . Nice minneow bucket but not for in an otter. The bounce around way too much for it to work well. I would keep looking if I were you.

[fivebucks]

One of the things you should consider is letting the bucket breath. The plastic buckets do not breath like the styro ones do. If the bucket is brought inside all the time where ice does not form a seal on the top, then the one you have is fine. If the top ices over, the minnows will last much longer in a styrofoam because it will still allow oxygen thru the walls of the bucket. I use a styro in a five gallon bucket. I go thru a few each winter but they are fairly cheap.

[Shack]

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I use a styro in a five gallon bucket. I go thru a few each winter but they are fairly cheap.

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This is a good idea everyone to all who brought it up. They have one of the best systems out there (also for summer bait as well). But this is just to big for what I need. I should have stated this in my first post, but I need something with around a 9" diameter on bottom. I am putting this into a cut hole and flush mounting it. Anyways, it sounds like this one I have is the best out there right now..

Most of you guys stated that the hole are for letting the bucket breath. I would have never guess this. I figured holes where for straining water out with minnows in it. Good idea I guess.

Thanks for the help!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Another vote for a small cooler.. not a minnow bucket.. I myself use a cooler.

[jwhjr]

I bought the same bucket for my otter, but I haven't used it as of yet. I'm hoping there aren't too many issues with it spilling over. I'll be pulling the sled out by hand so that should minimize the bumps.

[reelemin]

Diddo on the small cooler. I modified mine to alow an areator.

Drilled a hole in the side for the tube, caulked it, hung a tool pouch on the outside for the battery case. I then glued and screwed ( small sheet metal screws ) a heavy piece of velcro from the main body to the lid to keep it shut tight. I also cut a think piece of foam for the inside of the cooler to minimize waves and slashing, haven't had a splash of water outside the cooler yet!!!

[Shack]

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Another vote for a small cooler.. not a minnow bucket.. I myself use a cooler.

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Deitz,

Great idea, but I am a little to far gone for change in design right now.

Amazingly I have incorporated a small red lock top igloo cooler to fit into one of the storage compartments. I forget where I got it, but it’s big enough to hold like 6 cans of pop. I read in one of the previous year’s mod. posts about you needing a cooler for ice. The ice is to be used in mixed drinks. I think I read this from a post Paul W. had wrote.

Any who. I have a cooler drawing into the mix, just not for bait, but you have got me thinking.

jwhjr,

[Fishing_Rookie_123_]

Just take any insulated bucket and drop in one of those plastic minnow bags from the bait shop. When you are fishing roll the edges of the bag down for easy access to your bait. When you need to move or pack up and go, just seal the plastic bag with a rubber band like they do when you buy the minnows in a bag (trap some air in the bag). Very effective and you don't have to use a 5 gallon bucket to put your spilling bait bucket in.

It works really good and I think it actually helps keep the foam part of the bait bucket clean and in new condition. Before I started doing this the foam in my bait bucket was pretty dirty and beat up.

[Shack]

Fishing Rookie

That is pretty much what I have done other years and it does work. At least during the drive to lake, unloading and pulling out to first spot, I will leave air bag closed up in bucket and go from there. A little water never hurt anything, anyways