Adding A live Well
 

I have finally figured out how to add a live well and want some opinion if this will work. I added a wash down several months ago and figured I could use the same pump for my live well. I was going to used a 5 gallon paint bucket and first wanted to know if it was big enough to keep small bait like ells and spot alive. I was going to add a quick disconect to the side of the bucket which I could plug the hose from the wash down into. Then i was going to add a fitting at the upper half of the bucket with an outer hose which I could stick into the drain **** where the bucket will sit in the back corner of the boat. I would cut an opening in the top of the buck for the access door which I will hing and add a latch. This is the only thing I could come up with as all my other storage is pretty much used up and a portable live well was my only option. So, does this sound like somethng that will work and will it be big enough to keep the bait alive? Thanks for any imput.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

You could always just try the 5 gallon first and if it doesn't work out just find a bigger container and switch it out.

I used to have 2 of em that I got just by asking around. One was probably 20 inches diameter and 30 in. tall with a lid. The other was 30 in diameter and 18" tall.

I think the smaller one held some type of liquid and the other held some type of pellets or something.

Good luck and take pics 8) You might also consider one of those bubblers with the little blue stones. I think they help ALOT. Reel is the baittank man. I'm sure he can give some GOOD advice.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

I am headed to the boat tonight, I will take a pic of the one I made. ;)

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Thanks for the ideas. Do I need one of those bubble things if I have a pump? The reason I liked the 5 gallon bucket (it might be 6) is that it slides right into the rear corner of the boat between the splash well and the side of the boat. My V has the type of splash well which sticks out in the boat like the one Hammer cut out of his boat as seen three pics down
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...6359;start=0#0
The bucket fits in nice right beside the splash well and I can stick the drain line right in the drain hole like you see to the right of his splash well. Also my wash down hose is mounted inside the right side of the splash well which I can just quick connect to the live well.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Well just to clarify - I'm not the expert - but allow me to think out loud...

Three things I'm thinking about.

1) clean water
2) water temperature
3) oxygen content

The pump could buy you 3 of the 3 in the cooler months. That is if you leave it running or put a timer switch in that will come on intermittently and replace the water (shouldn't take long with 5 gallons). But some of the baits might get sucked up to the outlet screen when the pump is running. ???

When its hot you would want to add ice. Occasionally to cool the water.

I think the bubbler would add more oxygen to the water and maybe keep the bait alive longer.

Let's just wait and see what Cy shows us and wait for Mr. 'apeelin to come along ;)

My short answer is "heck if I know?" ;D ::)

Re: Adding A live Well
 

mine is a fancy bucket with aerator in it that i wire to the battery while in use. no system for fresh water other that dumping it out and putting new in. used it last night though and it kept about 25 mullet and menhaden alive for over 4 hours :-/ ;D

i will get some pics tonight ;D

Re: Adding A live Well
 

well here is my $15 dollar live well ;)

started with a clear garbage can from Walmart and added a aerator. drilled some holes in the lid, extended the wires so it would reach the battery and filled her up with water. the only problem with mine is you have to hold the lid on and drain it once or twice and replace the water so the bait dont fry.

but last night it kept 30 mullet and menhaden alive for over 3 hours, almost 4. ;D

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t/DCP_3045.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t/DCP_3043.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t/DCP_3044.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t/DCP_3047.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t/DCP_3046.jpg

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Good work there Chris. ;)

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Thanks for the pics. The one I was making would hook up to my wash down then have a over flow fittiing toward the top with a drain hose which I'm going to stick in my rear drain in my boat. This way I can pump freash water in as needed. I'll take some pics of how its made and try again to post them so far I have not had any luck posting pics.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Cool Cy! ;) :)

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Hey Still,

If you have a swim platform you can put a rig like you are talking about out there so that you don't have the water sloshing in the floor and it saves that space.

Just a thought.

I think it depends on what bait you are trying to keep alive. Mullett seem to tolerate pretty poor conditions, poogies (menhaden) die if you look at them wrong.

I would think eels and spots would last pretty well in what you describe.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

lol RB

I think mud minnows could live for a year in the toilet or a mud puddle. ;D

Re: Adding A live Well
 

My buddy puts them on wet paper towles in layers and then throws them on top of ice and they last all day. They are easy to handle this way and after a minute or so they warm up and are kicking strong.

Thanks for all the ideas guys as it gave me some ideas to work with. I'll try the pic thing again and get my daughter to help me post them.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Stillrunning, this is a post I put together for another board a while back. This method is not as expensive and complicated as some using oxygen tanks and so forth, but it works well for me. I very rarely loose a bait at all much less show up at the fishing grounds with a pile of them dead.

I have put it on several sites and have had MANY people thrilled with their ability to keep baits alive after trying these methods. Here goes.....


The following 3 things kill your bait/fish:

1) lack of oxygen in the water

2) the bait's waste (aka urine/ammonia) in the water

3) high water temps (causing oxygen depletion)



I can keep ANY fin fish, minnows and shrimp alive with this method for MANY hours even days. It will work in fresh or salt water.


Problem #1 (lack of oxygen)

If you have a recirculating livewell you can use it to continue pumping fresh water onto the baits and that works ok sometimes, but for me it is not always an option. Also, if that worked as well as boats manufactures would like it to, I don't think you would be reading this. The reason being is that sometimes there is a alot of fresh water on top of the saltwater (after heavy rains) and the bait (if purchased from a bait shop) will die almost instantly....if caught, not long after. Also, depending on where I launch and where I am going I may be running through fresh or salt water intermittently.

I have my livewell on my boat setup both ways. I have a livewell pump that pumps raw water in and an overflow that takes the excess out. I will use this if I pull a trawl and catch my bait and I KNOW the water quality where I will be fishing is consistent to what the bait needs. I will also use it on bigger fin fish that are caught for offshore as they tend to tolerate it better than smaller minnows and/or shrimp. Also, when running offshore generally I will stay in VERY salty and consistent waters.


I also have a 12v dual outlet bubble box onboard my boat. I use this when I am fishing with store purchased live baits. I get enough water to sustain me through the day from the bait shop tanks. They generally don't mind you take a couple bucketfuls of water from them.

Here is a the type bubble box I run:

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com...es/25006_f.jpg

I also like these bigger "Air Biscuit" type air stones too:

Please excuse the sand on it. LOL

http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com...091406_003.jpg


Either these or the longer green aquarium style air rocks are much better than the small stones that come with most bubble box setups. They last alot longer, put out more air, and don't breakup so badly.




Problem #2 (waste/ammonia in water)


Once the bait is purchased then go ahead and treat the water with pogey/shrimp/croaker saver. They come is various types for different baits. I use this product made by "Sure-Life" that I purchase from Academy or Walmart or most any other sporting goods store. You can also buy it in bulk on line from good tackle retailers. As I mentioned before it is species specific as labeled. I have, however used each one for species other than it was intended for with the same results...all good lively baits. Some time ago I spoke with a representative from Sure Life about my cross species experimentation success and he was pleased. I was under the assumption that the different labeling was a marketing ploy and that each bottle essentially contained the same ingredients. He assured me that it wasn't a ploy and the chemical compositions in each type were definitely specified for that intended species. He still didn't argue that they "could" (as I found out) work across the board.


http://www.sure-life.com/



http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com...mages/4_71.jpg



Anyways, as I said before, treat the water with the product as soon as the bait goes in. Depending on how long you fish you may have to retreat throughout your fishing trip. I like to refresh the chemicals every 2-3 hours.



Problem #3 (high water temps depleting oxygen.)


The last (but very important step) is the water temperature.


As we all know cooler water holds more oxygen than warm or hot water. This is why fish concentrate in deep holes when the summer heat sets in and avoid the shallows in the heat of the day. On the hot days (most of the year around here) I keep plenty of ice and quart size ziplock bags on the boat to fill and let float in the bait well. You can also freeze bottles, but I prefer the bags because I can keep refilling them as they melt. You can put the bottles back in the ice chest for cooling, but they wont get near and cool as the ice bags and obviously wont refreeze in there either. DO NOT just throw ice in the water with the baits! As the ice melts the trapped air turns into carbon dioxide and kills the bait. Put it IN bags and dump the freshwater overboard as it melts. You can also use the melted water to wash hands, or splash that hot ugly mug on a hot summer day too! Thats my favorite thing to do!! You should also bear in mind that the baits should be kept cool enough for health but not TOO cold. If there is a dramatic difference between baitwell temp and out side water temps it will often shock the bait once thrown in the drink and thereby killing it. I try to keep the difference no more than about 10-15 degrees.


Well thats it...I far from know it all, but this is what I have learned over time as I fish with live baits often.





Good luck...hope this helps!!

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Great info Stinky!

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Thank ST for the info as its always good to know why stuff happens. I will keep this all in mind this weekend as I buile my live well. I have been fishing for years without one so anything I put together will be better than what I have.

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Nice right up stink!! There you go guys, he is not only smart but wears thongs also!

Re: Adding A live Well
 

Hey, dont be lying bout me! >:(


;D