LIVE SPOT????

[C YENSEN]

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO KEEP LIVE SPOT ALIVE WITHOUT A LIVE WELL??? I HEARD IF YOU KEEP THEM IN A MINNOW BUCKET AND CONSTANTLY IN THE WATER THEY WILL STAY KICKIN???

ANY SUGGESTIONS??? AIRSLOT???

[C YENSEN]

DOES ANYONE ELSE USE LIVE SPOT?

[Airslot]

How long you trying to keep them alive. They'll last a fishing trip in a 5 gallon bucket. If you can change the water every few hours even better. For season long storage we keep them in a bait pen in the canals. Damned otters got 200 from me last year, cleaned out my pens twice. Anybody like otter meat? I'm running behind this year as I don't have a one in the pens yet. I hear that up in OC that spot are the center of an organized crime ring?

Airslot

[Mac_Attack]

OK for us Great Lakes members what is live spot? We have spot tail minnows here that are used for perch. Billy Mac ;D

[C YENSEN]

5 GALLON BUCKET???

LAST TIME I TRIED PUTTING THEM IN A 5 GALLON BUCKET THEY LASTED 5 MINUTES BEFORE THEY STARTED FLOATING. MAYBE I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG.

MAC, THEY ARE BAIT FISH USUALLY IN THE 3" RANGE THAT ARE A DELICATESSAN TO STIPED BASS.

[reelapeelin]

Cy, ya need a bait tank that's areated, insulated, circulated and fitrated...especially in warmer weather...in colder it may be that you can get by with areated tank only...have ya ever put a ''bubbler" or some type of areator in something a little larger than a 5 gal bucket?... ;) ...

[C YENSEN]

HAVENT GONE THAT FAR YET THAT IS THE NEXT PURCHASE, JUST CUTS DOWN ON FISHING SPACE FOR THE 3 OTHER GUYS I USUALLY TAKE FISHING.

[Stinky_Hooker]

OK I will write this once more and save it for future endeavors. 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..... :D


The following 3 things your bait/fish:

1) lack of oxygen in the water

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

3) high water temps (causing oxygen depletion and putting ammonia in the water)



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

If you *have a reciculating 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. 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 baitshop) will die almost instantly....if caught, not long after.

I have an icechest that is about 72 qt and works great for up to about 120 BIG shrimp or 8 dozen or so finfish baits. I have an aluminum bar bolted to the side for my "Bubble Boxes" to hang on. I drilled two holes into the side just under the lid for the airline tubing to pass through. Here is a picture:




The icechest insulation helps keep the temps down for the following steps as well. :)


If I am not on the boat I use two of the portable pumps for pier fishing and such. When onboard the boat I have a 12 volt "Bubble Box" that puts out way more air and uses only about 1/4 amp draw. It is on a switch and mounted in a good "dry" location. It really helps save batteries bigtime. Here is a picture of the 12 volt boat setup:






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

Please excuse the sand on it. *::)




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 dont breakup so badly.


You should fill the cooler about 2/3 of the way full of water. Use water from the tanks if purchased from a baitshop or from the source if caught. Before the baits go in you should have air going and you should also treat the water with the recommended amount of "Pogie Saver" or "Shad Saver", whichever one is available to you. I use this brand and it works very well. I am sure others are available and will work the same. The purpose of these products are to remove the waste from the water. You should treat as recommended for the water quantity on the label and then refresh as needed throughout the day. This is a VERY important step...DONT skimp here!!! *::)




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 baitwell. 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 icechest 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 oxygen turns into carbon dioxide and kills the bait. Put it IN bags and dump the freshwater overboard as it melts...trust me. 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!! ;D

I also like the bags in that they dont beat the bait up as badly as the bottles do in a chop.


I know there are lots of more expensive ways, like using oxygen tanks and such, but I dont have the time or $$ to invest in that kinda thing. These methods have never failed me and I garantee you they will work for you if followed correctly.

NOTE: There is nothing wrong with an existing recirculator in a boat, but when bait is purchased or freshwater is high around here this method is a must. As I enclose the transom this winter Ill be building in a permanant livewell in the transom. I am excited about gaining the extra room and Ill definitely add a recirculating pump to it. However, Ill keep the Bubble Box setup for more delicate situatons where an excess of freshwater is an issue. This way I can use either or both. ;)


Hope this helps someone!!! 8)

[reelapeelin]

Areated, insulated, circulated and filtrated...keeps 'em alive as long as ya wannna ...



Just fill'er up and plug 'er in 8) ...

[Stinky_Hooker]

Ver nice. 8)

Mines cheaper!! ;D