Bullheads are Catchable - Get the bait tank setup!

[DTro]

That turned out really nice Shack. The mobility will be an added bonus.

You are going to need a long handled small mesh net to get them out of there. They will want to stick to the bottom, especially as soon as a net is placed in.

[goblueM]

One tip that I have learned from keeping lots of channel cats is that PVC pipe cut into sections makes great hidey holes for the critters

[Grant]

Josh- would you mind if I engage in a little blatant idea theft???

did you add a drain spigot? I didn't see one..

if not, that would be the only thing that i'd add, a way to bleed off water would make for quicker/easier water changes.

[aanderud]

Nice job, shack. I think you'll like the portability and small footprint.

I think the bullheads will be fine even with the reduced amount of surface area on the bottom. They don't need comfort, just clean, aerated water, which they'll get plenty of.

[Shack]

Thanks guys! It was this thread that lite a fire under my bottom.

Hey Grant, go right ahead dude. That is what I figured and this might give another option for F.M.ers. I though about a drain of sorts, that could come in the future. I figure it is easy enough to role over by garage door and use a hose to drain. I have moved it around a couple times now and it seems to move nice. I have been running filter and pump all night.

Next step: Getting the bait. I set minnow trap awhile ago and can not wait to see what I get.

Might do some seine in the A.M. with F.M. member KQ#1.

I tell ya, this stuff is almost as fun as catfishing it self.

[mplspug]

I know what you mean. I have a blast when I stop in at Moore's Bait and get my bullies.

[DTro]

yep it sure is a lot of fun

[SteveD]

OK now that you have your tank set up and you are ready to stock it here is one more piece of the puzzle you will want to master. Keeping your bait alive during transport from the lake or pond back to your house. Here is the system that I use.

Last summer during one of those 90 degree warming spells I had made a restocking run to one of my favorite bullhead ponds. I ended up having some trouble keeping my bullheads alive because of the heat and the time it took to get them home. I was transporting them in a cooler and when I got home they were pretty lethargic and sucking air in the cooler. If I had delayed at all in getting them home I would have lost most of my new bullheads.

My solution to the problem was to make myself a portable bait tank that I could use to transport bullies and then when I get home it can serve as my quarantine tank until they have regurgitated and crapped out all their crud before I put them in the big bait tank.

I made the portable tank out of a 35 gallon garbage can and equipped it with an aquarium pump and a 5” airstone. When I am transporting the bullies I plug the aquarium pump into a small 70 watt pocket power inverter in my truck and run the hose out the back window and into the tank. This way they are getting air during the entire transportation run. When I get home I just plug the aquarium pump in near the bait tank and keep air going in the portable tank. I normally quarantine the bullies for about 2 days to give them plenty of time to get cleaned out before they go in the big tank. You cannot believe the amount of crud they can put out. I put a drain on the bottom of the garbage can so I can change water easily. I will do daily water changes to get the crud out of the portable tank so when I net them out I am not passing crud into the clean tank.

This system works good and is easy to maintain for the couple of days the bullies are quarantined. I just use a bucket to empty the tank for water changes. I usually do 2 water changes a day while they are in quarantine mainly to get the crud out of the temporary tank. The bullies from this one pond must eat a ton of algae because that is what they are regurgitating into the tank. It really raises heck with the bait tank power filter. After about 2 days they are cleaned out and ready for the main tank.

Here is a photo of the Bullhead Transport Tank:

Here is a photo of the Transport Tank Drain:

I use a power inverter plugged into the truck to power a standard aquarium 110 volt aerator pump that has a hose from the truck out the back window and into the Transport Tank. Even on a 90 degree day this kept the bullies nice and healthy.

This completes the full setup for catching and keeping your own bait tank. Works like a catman's dream.

Time to go catfishing. See you on the water.

[Shack]

Again, great info Steve! I do like the 24-36 hour rule.

Mplspug,

Moores is a great place to get bait and bullies also. For some it might just be easier to purchase them in bulk from Moores and store at home in one of these tanks. I am leaving Moores as my go to place for frozen shad, bait catching equipment and gear purchases. I have a Moores list rolling and I have to get down town soon to fill it .

[mplspug]

I just happen to be lucky. Bob's is about a 5 minute drive for me. I usually buy just enough for the trip and the extras I can keep alive in a simple setup with a cooler and an airstone. So for me there really isn't a reason to set up a bait tank.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Nice post Shak...

Good descriptive, and the photos do good.

Again..... Congrats on your recent Promo.

[Shack]

Thanks LFC!

Just doing what you pro's have taught me , but throwing a little Shackbash twist into it.

Hope to see ya on the river again this year.

[Larry FlatCaster]

 Originally Posted By: shackbash

Thanks LFC!

Just doing what you pro's have taught me , but throwing a little Shackbash twist into it.

Hope to see ya on the river again this year.

I'm sure we'll be crossing paths somewhere along the way.

[mainbutter]

So I was looking through this thread and couldn't find an answer to what I was wondering..

How easy is it to keep a small number of bullheads(1-3 maybe?) alive overnight(caught in the afternoon or evening probably), to use as bait the next day?

I live in a dorm room, so aquarium setups really aren't an option. Kind of hoping perhaps just a bucket would work.

[Shack]

I have kept bullies alive for weeks in this set-up:

[DTro]

That would be fine. Just get a simple cheap aquarium bubbler and an airstone. They will be fine in a five gallon bucker or small cooler for quite a while.

[TMF89]

If I put a good aerator/filter system in, how often could I drain the water? would twice a week be fine? I'm thinking of just getting a bin from wal-mart, along with the filter and aerator, and leaving it in my garage. Would that work, even during the summer? What if I put ice/freezer bags in there during the day? I think if I do this the garage is the only place I'll be able to fit it, so I'm wondering if it's practical?

[DTro]

 Originally Posted By: TMF89

If I put a good aerator/filter system in, how often could I drain the water? would twice a week be fine? I'm thinking of just getting a bin from wal-mart, along with the filter and aerator, and leaving it in my garage. Would that work, even during the summer? What if I put ice/freezer bags in there during the day? I think if I do this the garage is the only place I'll be able to fit it, so I'm wondering if it's practical?

You will need to keep the water cool in the summer.

Depending how warm your garage gets, this could be a bigger chore than you think.

I originally had my tank in my post near the top out in my garage and I had a hard time with it. I always thought it was the water, or the nitrates or whatever. I moved it inside into my laundry room and saw a major improvement.

But for the most part yeah it will work decent.

You won't want to put ice directly in do to the chlorine, but 2 liter bottle would work good.

[Larry FlatCaster]

 Originally Posted By: TMF89

If I put a good aerator/filter system in, how often could I drain the water? would twice a week be fine? I'm thinking of just getting a bin from wal-mart, along with the filter and aerator, and leaving it in my garage. Would that work, even during the summer? What if I put ice/freezer bags in there during the day? I think if I do this the garage is the only place I'll be able to fit it, so I'm wondering if it's practical?

If you want bait at any time its practical.

If your willing to spend a little time at it you can make it work. Many of us have started there and continue to do it. As you work with it you will find ways that are more effective.

And the best part is you have bait when you want it and need it. And that is usually when its after the bait stores have closed.

From the cheap seats (loud and crazy)......" Go For IT!!!!"

[TMF89]

Thanks guys, I'm not thinking of keeping many in there, just between 10-30 so I have enough, how much do you guys take out per night anyway? So dtro, if I threw a few ice bottles in there every day, it should work? I know you basically already answered it, but I don't want to kill a bunch of bullheads because I wasn't prepared. I'd love to do it in my basement, but don't have the room.

[DTro]

 Originally Posted By: TMF89

Thanks guys, I'm not thinking of keeping many in there, just between 10-30 so I have enough, how much do you guys take out per night anyway?

About that many

I've ran out of bait a couple of times, and that is no fun.

That setup will be fine.

Nobody wants bait to die on them, but dying bait is an indicator that will help you monitor what needs to be done.

Just give it a try and see how it works

[crazyice]

Last year we kept ours in a cooler with about a five gallon capacity. Kept in our garage, with an air stone. Nothing fancy by any means, and kept them alive. Occasionally when the outside temp would really climb you would lose a few.

[Shack]

 Quote:

You won't want to put ice directly in do to the chlorine, but 2 liter bottle would work good.

Now, that is great tip. I have well water and a large ice maker, but with the 2 liter, you can refreeze it many times.

[DTro]

LFC, takes it one step further and uses 20oz bottles for the boat bait.

[ec30_06]

Put a stock tank in the dorm room and then a mattress on top of the tank to sleep on.