Keeping minnows alive on the ice

[FishNovice101]

What is the best way to keep minnows alive on the ice when not fishing in a shelter?

[Grant Pearson]

I use a Styrofoam minnow bucket and I don't have a problem with them freezing or anything.

[Shack]

First keep them in clean/fresh water!

Second, use a bubbler of sorts (Crappies and fat heads only need this for long periods of time). If you do not get a bubbler and have a bucket full of shiners, ask bait store if they have Oxygen tabs you can drop in. This will keep shiners alive for a couple of days (almost) and does not cost much. This will help keep ice from forming also.

Like KF1 said, use a good insulated bucket and you should be good to.

Good luck!

[HuskerBen]

I used a styro bucket for some fatheads I got from Moore's on Friday. Once I was done fishing (about five or six hours later), I put the bucket in a cool spot in the basement. As of 7:00 this morning, they were still alive and kicking. That's with no aerator. I thought I'd just skim them off as they died and freeze them, but only a few have died so far.

[Lunker]

Styrafoam or plastic insulated bucket. You will have a bit of ice to skim off from time to time but the minnows will stay alive. I've had shiners live for weeks. If the minnows do start struggling, a big chunk of snow or ice into the bucket usually keeps them lively for a while.

[Chode2235]

I can keep shiners alive in Styrofoam for at least a week. I usually throw some snow on them, and empty out some of the old water.

I think the Styrofoam allows oxygen to enter the water through the bucket.

It is almost to easy to keep them alive in the winter. With all the fuss I have to give them in the summer to get them from the bait shop to the lake, it is nice that they seem so hardy throughout the winter.

Be careful the the styro buckets though, if they freeze they are useless.

[sjburnt]

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