Minnow Bucket

[Professional Edge]

What does everybody use as a minnow bucket when pulling a house out on the lake to prevent water spilling all over the place?

I have used a 5 gallon bucket with a top on it but to allow some air I cut holes in it....it still spills some.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Plastic Folgers coffee can. No holes cut in the lid. They will survive the couple minute trek accross the lake with the lid on. When I get set up and settled in I put in some fresh lake water.

[Gus]

I have a 2.5 or 3 gallon pail. Same size as a normal 5 gallon just shorter. It has a screw on lid. I just loosen the lid when I get to the spot. Works good and tucks down lower than a full size pail. Kept shiners alive all thanksgiving weekend with a couple water changes. I left the lid on tight all night one night as well.... only 1 casualty out of maybe 5 or 6 dozen over the night. (pike were really hitting)!

[swedishpimple]

I have the fraibli bucket and the frabil cooler. The cooler worrks great. I have lost some water, but it seals up pretty tight. The bucket works ok after the holes ice up in it.

I really like them because I can keep shiners alive in the summer or winter and they provide protection against freezing too.

[FishGUY]

I use an insulated water cooler/jug, it doesn't leak if tipped over and the water doesn't freeze if out side.

[CrappiesNeyes]

I second the Water cooler Jug, works great and you can use the water spout to let water out to check for depth on top of the ice before drilling. I have never had the screw on lid freeze up either.

[AHLHAWK81]

I am with pimple...frabil cooler works well, compact in size and I like the aerator.

[metrojoe]

You can see my minnow bucket in my avatar. It's a coleman water jug.

[Sandmannd]

I use a bucket with the foam inside and a lid. I moded my otter and have a place for it inside. Spills a little, but not too bad.

[buzbunni]

When ice fishing, I use one of two Frabill products:

The Kool Keeper Bucket (8 qt.capacity)

Or the Fish-N-Fun Bucket (4.5 qt. capacity)

I usually take the smaller of the two, as it will hold plenty-o-minnows for a day of fishing. With the cold temps, and the slowed metabolism of the minnows, they don't need much water. Still, it's not good to overcrowd too much.

To keep the water from splooshing throught the air exchange holes I cover the top with a small plastic grocery bag. Before I snap on the lid, I lay the plastic bag so it covers the top of the bucket, after that I simply snap on the plastic lid. The plastic bag will last all day (and more), and because it is thin, there is no difficulty snapping down the lid with the plastic laying under it. If you have some fish at the end of the day, you can use the plasic bag to store your catch. Or, if you're a miser like me (pennywise & poundfoolish), you can use the plastic to transport the minnows back to your truck; back to your house, and back into the coldest corner of the garage, where you will keep them alive as long as is humanly possible, so that you don't have to dole out a whopping 5 bucks for bait for the next 4 weeks or so .

[jigging-matt]

I have the minnow bucket with the foam inside also and the vented lid. I then place that in a 5 gallon bucket in my portable. I have a spot so the bucket can't move. If I am going a long way I can put a lid on the five gallon bucket so it can't spill

[Far-I]

I just put a cheap minnow bucket into a five gal. bucket AND THEN throw the water back in when i get to my hole

[zamboni]

You can see my minnow bucket in my avatar. It's a coleman water jug.

Don't drink the water!!

[slabchaser]

a buddy of mine uses a water jug as well. works great keeps minnows alive for a long time.

[BigWadeS]

I have a Fraill sit-n-fish with the drop in cooler which works, but have also used a plastic folgers can as well. This year I am going to try my insulated little worm/leech bait bucket that has styrofoam around it.

[Fredd]

Minnow bucket inside of a five gallon pail that I use to sit on and put my fish into.

[DTro]

Just a small lunch sized cooler

[PerchJerker]

I have a 5 gallon pail with a Gamma Seal lid. I put a small platic minnow bucket inside the pail and screw the lid on. Works great!!

The worst that can happen is if some water spashes up to to the gamma seal and freezes - then a few hits to the lid with a fist will free it up. Usually the lid doesn't freeze shut so you're good to go when you get to your spot.

[candiru]

I also use the plastic bucket with the ventilation holes in it. I just sealed the holes with some RTV silicone.

[anyfishaldo]

I use a small coleman cooler (white body, red lid and handle that locks when folded all the way around. I usually buy bait in a bag with air, drive to my lake and transfer before going out so I can use the bag for garbage on the lake. See, I guess I do care about my carbon footprint afterall!

[BpAki987]

little frabill cooler with aerator. works great.

[northernsportman]

I use the vented 8 qt. foam insert bucket. when i get ready to go off the lake i take off the cover and put a bag underneath it and put it back on. No spills that way and when you get home take out the bag so the minnows dont die.

[croixflats]

I'll use a small lunch cooler or a water cooler witch ever is closest at the time. And Zamboni that water is tasty, put a litle under the arm pits and your good to go. Whats great is when you get home after a long day and ya wanna nap no one bothers ya