Fishermen - Bait Tanks

[ceyko]

Probably completely the wrong place to be asking (am using boating/fishing forums too), but a lot of y'all are pretty well experienced in fishing, so I figured I'd ask.

Been catching shad in a 32 gallon trashcan I mod'ed as a live well. Truth be told, it is not insulated, the aeration sucks and the filtering sucks for it.

I'm getting tired of catching a few dozen shad and them being dead 3-6 hours later and they certainly are not lively.

I'm debating between the grayline bait tanks...

http://www.graylinebaittanks.com/ (30 gallon, oval, blue interior, removable filter)

....and the 26 gallon bait jacuzzi...

http://www.shop.baitjacuzzi.com/26-Gallon-Bait-Jacuzzi-26GBJ.htm

...does anyone have experience with the bait jacuzzi? It is a third of the price, but not popular at this point. I know you get what you pay for and that's true on one hand - on the other I think 600+ for a bait tank is a bitch much too.

I can avoid tax/shipping on the grayline tank though since it's just on Texoma where my boat is at anyway.

Edit: All of this is for striper fishing

[MILK]

Why not make your own out of an ice chest? They sell kits for them

[MILK]

Why not make your own out of an ice chest? They sell kits for them

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akyyg9R0E3o[/ame]

[ceyko]

Why not make your own out of an ice chest? They sell kits for them

I have one of the kits, but for shad they need to be either straight or curved on the interior.

I considered doing a cooler tank, but in the end it may not be effective and that would be another 100-200 down the drain. Also, most coolers have too sharp of a turn on their interiors. At least compared to an actual bait tank..

[ceyko]

Just saw the video too - shad have a way of screwing themselves up too. I'd want all/most of the plumbing/hoses..filters out of the water - as much as possible.

One time I left a 2' section of 3/4" diameter hose in the bottom of my trashcan one. About 14 of the dumb fish swam in there and died. Plus as much as they poop and with scale loss, it'll screw up any in water equipment without constant maintenance. I'm lazy and just want to change filters every 15-30 minutes until they get settled in. I do use a separate tank for initially removing them - so they can lose some scales/poop - but they still lose a ton afterwards.

My boat livewell will have a 1" coating of poop on the bottom from 30-40 shad in there at the end of the day.

[MILK]

Just saw the video too - shad have a way of screwing themselves up too. I'd want all/most of the plumbing/hoses..filters out of the water - as much as possible.

One time I left a 2' section of 3/4" diameter hose in the bottom of my trashcan one. About 14 of the dumb fish swam in there and died. Plus as much as they poop and with scale loss, it'll screw up any in water equipment without constant maintenance. I'm lazy and just want to change filters every 15-30 minutes until they get settled in. I do use a separate tank for initially removing them - so they can lose some scales/poop - but they still lose a ton afterwards.

My boat livewell will have a 1" coating of poop on the bottom from 30-40 shad in there at the end of the day.

lol!!




[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrPeVxw4C4k[/ame]

[ceyko]

That's basically what i have now already (trashcan one). It works better than the boat livewells, but not that well. I think with the colder weather coming it'll work better.

At this point though, I'm buying a better one. Just debating between those two brands.

[MILK]

That's basically what i have now already (trashcan one). It works better than the boat livewells, but not that well. I think with the colder weather coming it'll work better.

At this point though, I'm buying a better one. Just debating between those two brands.

I see. How much fishing do you do man? If you ever need a partner let me know. I have my own tackle and can help cover fuel etc...LMK

[ceyko]

No worries on fuel, I have a caddy and have to spend the money anyway for myself to go. I've been going every weekend and I camp on the boat (it's a 22' pontoon). However, I have not been since 2 weekends ago. Having cert studies to do, house stuff and holidays coming up. My wife is patient, but I need to get a bunch squared away. I guesstimate 3 weeks before I'll get out again unless I just can't stand it anymore.

You have rods/reels for striper or more crappie/smaller bass?

I'm a relative rookie to be honest, but somehow have ended up with 18 rods/reels in the last 6 months (nothing really high end, other than some used stuff). Mainly use round bait casters, MH rods and 20 or 30# line now though. I tried doing crappie fishing around my slip, but there were A LOT of snakes swimming around. I'm a bitch when it comes to snakes so I just went out to the main lake, anchored and drank until bait time.

[MILK]

No worries on fuel, I have a caddy and have to spend the money anyway for myself to go. I've been going every weekend and I camp on the boat (it's a 22' pontoon). However, I have not been since 2 weekends ago. Having cert studies to do, house stuff and holidays coming up. My wife is patient, but I need to get a bunch squared away. I guesstimate 3 weeks before I'll get out again unless I just can't stand it anymore.

You have rods/reels for striper or more crappie/smaller bass?

I'm a relative rookie to be honest, but somehow have ended up with 18 rods/reels in the last 6 months (nothing really high end, other than some used stuff). Mainly use round bait casters, MH rods and 20 or 30# line now though. I tried doing crappie fishing around my slip, but there were A LOT of snakes swimming around. I'm a bitch when it comes to snakes so I just went out to the main lake, anchored and drank until bait time.

I am a rookie too but love being on the water. I started fishing for bass and hybrid with a buddy but now I am trying to learn to catch catfish. I caught a monster kitty the other day with a guide at lake lavon and I was hooked.

I have a about 8 rods/reels. I use 3 for bass fishing, 1 for crappie/blue gill and 3 for catfishing. I also have a 12ft rod I just bought just to have to get into deep water or salt fishing.

[MILK]

BTW I also hate freaking snakes, I was at Joe Pool bank fishing alone had to bail because they were every where.

[Country cracker]

I just used one of my livewells and carry a little dip net. It also helps keep them alive if you add ice to the livewell. Also try not to touch them with your hands as much as possible. The oils in our hands do something to the the shad that make them die. I just throw the cast net and shake it out in the floor of my boat then scoop them up with the little dip net and toss them in the livewell. Shad are very hard to keep alive especially in the hot texas summer. I will catch as many as I can in the morning and use all the live ones first then the rest for cut bait.

[naynay]

anyone wanna fish with me?

[ceyko]

I just used one of my livewells and carry a little dip net. It also helps keep them alive if you add ice to the livewell. Also try not to touch them with your hands as much as possible. The oils in our hands do something to the the shad that make them die. I just throw the cast net and shake it out in the floor of my boat then scoop them up with the little dip net and toss them in the livewell. Shad are very hard to keep alive especially in the hot texas summer. I will catch as many as I can in the morning and use all the live ones first then the rest for cut bait.

Yeah, the goal is to keep them alive up to 24 hours as well. I'd like to fish with one good set of shad for 2 mornings or so. Or at least catch them one day when bored, keep them overnight and use them in the morning while working out a hangover.

anyone wanna fish with me?

heh, this is one of those deals where you may not be an asshole in real life - but you're one on here and that's enough for me. Maybe someone else will take you out fishing though. For a 125-150 dollars + tip a guide will take you out.

[MILK]

anyone wanna fish with me?

Still don tknow if serious or trolling.