Saving Bait ??

OK. I know this is a site loaded with “plastics experts.” For you, please avoid responding to this. For anyone that fishes with bait (minnows), I have some bait saving questions for you.
I have been trying to determine what to do with the new DNR Laws on transporting bait – changing out my minnows into “fresh” water once I’m back on shore. Last year, many people apparently attempted to save one law while violating another by dumping their unused bait out on the shore. Many of the accesses just stunk from the dumped minnows. I’ve tried buying just the minimum, but have gotten burned by this a few times when I ran out on the water. Bait is expensive, so I’m trying to plan ahead this year. Spring is my live-bait go-to time, so in my preparations for this I’m looking for some good ideas on how to save my bait in all weather conditions and be compliant with the law at the same time. Having said that, I’ve looked at the many pumps, insulated buckets and coolers, and many other options, but I am at a loss as to how to best handle this when temperatures get to the warm point. Trying to keep stored water temperature neutral for the bait is going to be hard. Especially when it is sitting in my truck for 6 hours while I’m out on the water. For those that are ice fishing, I’d also like to know what you guys are doing when you come off the ice too? How is everyone planning to – or currently coping with this law? I want to save what I can when I can. If anyone has found a product or made something work really well, I’d like to know more. I’d really appreciate your thoughts and ideas on this one. …I’d also like to know how anyone (i.e., DNR) is going to know if or how I changed out my water too? Especially when they pull me over all the time now to check me for weeds, zeebs, fleas, gobies, ruffies, and other exotics all the time now too.

I don’t know much about what laws I break when I keep my bait.
But all I do to keep em alive is when I get to the truck I stick the bucket in a cooler with ice in it and run a frabill pump on em. If it’s suckers I use 2 pumps. And I keep jugs of water to change out for the ride which I also keep in that cooler of ice.
When I get home I have found I don’t need air to keep em alive I just put the bucket in my beer fridge and change out the water every 2 days.
The key is keepin that water cold.
I haven’t lost a minnow doin this.
It gets trickier in the dead heat of summer though.

This may be different than MN regs but being from Wisconsin I have a 5 gallong buck of bait on the water with well water from my house. I never add fish to this bucket from the system. I can take it off the water. I return to that same body of water again, all is legal. I think as long as I don’t add water from the lake I could go elswhere with the bait too. Not sure? I can keep shiners/suckers alive for at least a month sometimes more. (usually use them up by then) I have a wash tub in my laundry room that I use for bait. I have an aerator that I plug into an outlet. Bought that aerator and some tubing for around $10 bucks. I clip a weight to the tubing to get it to sink the bottom of the tub, otherwise the tubing itself is to light to generate any oxygen sitting on the top of the water. I’ve done the batter powered route too but to expensive to change out D cell batteries every couple days. I’ve been on the same aerator for 3 years and it runs nonstop 9 months out of the year. I’ll use the battery livewell operation in the boat during the summer months, seems to extend there life. When I”m pike fishing in the summmer I’ll plug my livewell and fill it with well water to keep them alive. I’m not keeping fish anyways and this keeps them shaded and gives them plenty of water.

I used to save them in the baitshop water,and give them to the oscars and clown knife when I got home.That clown knife had no problem putting down a dozen of medium fatheads.

If you know someone that has fish like them,they would gladly take them off your hands.Sure beats dumping them onshore .Or all over the parking lot

Is this a issue while ice fishing to? You take a bucket of minnows out on a frozen lake do you have to dump the water or minnows before leaving?

The only time you need to dump the water is if you used the lake water in your minnow bucket, or put them in a bait well that uses lake water.

I keep all my bait in my garage in an old 20 gallon fish tank. throw in an aerator and some aquarium bacteria to take care of the ammonia and waste and youll be set for a while. Ive had bait lasting me for a few weeks now.

Check your PM’s

I’ve spoke with numerous DNR officers as well as a couple of members of Sea Grant regarding this issue.

The consensus recommendation was to keep a fresh bucket of water in your truck to transfer your minnows into once you reach shore. As long as your not transporting lake water off the lake, you’re fine.

I just leave water in the truck and change it when done. I thought it was illegal to transport any water off the lake whether it is lake water or not, Being as it could get transfered from handling fish then getting a minnow etc. I was told even water in a cooler you had aboard should be dumped

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I’ve spoke with numerous DNR officers as well as a couple of members of Sea Grant regarding this issue.

The consensus recommendation was to keep a fresh bucket of water in your truck to transfer your minnows into once you reach shore. As long as your not transporting lake water off the lake, you’re fine.

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Justin: How can a guy do this when it’s warm outside thogh. This is the part that I can’t really figure out how to do (keeping water in a system in my truck when it’s hot out). …Water that will not kill the bait – if you know what I mean.
I did not know the laws read the way some state with regards to not taking water off…. so no big deal. How the heck do they know this too?

Just to clarify my question, it’s my understanding that you cannot take or transport water off a lake or river. I don’t believe the law specifies whether it is summer or winter out. My understanding is that once I hit the shore, I have to get rid of all my water, transfer my bait into something else that has “fresh/clean” water, then I can drive home – legally. My understanding is that this (infected/bad) “water” means bait water, including minnow buckets, leech containers, bilges, livewells, etc.
Am I wrong on this?
If I am right, this is my question. How are you guys keeping bait alive once you transfer bait – especially when its warm out. I’m looking for a good system that works for this condition. …Sorry for the confusion otherwise.

From MNDNR East Metro Rivers, our MN DNR Biologist on 7/06/2010….

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I wanted to give everyone a heads up about the new invasive species laws that went into effect this past legislative session so you’re not caught off guard. If you transport live bait in your boat, this applies to you. READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY. For most MN catfishermen, the 2nd scenario will apply.

According to the new law, when fishing state waters, all water must be drained from the boat, including livewells even if they were only used for bait you hauled to that waterbody. Portable bait containers can be removed from the boat and put back in the vehicle.

When fishing INFESTED waters (which basically means any catfish river in MN) you must drain ALL water from the boat’s livewells and bait containers, INCLUDING any portable container you put on the boat with live bait. Bottom line is that once you put a portable bait container in your boat on infested waters, count on it being drained. If a Conservation Officer catches you with a bait cooler with water in the boat, or putting that container back in your vehicle, that’s trouble.

To prevent yourself from getting a ticket and costing yourself time and money on getting bullheads or suckers, here is what I would recommend…transport clean water in the boat (in your livewell or bait well or whatever), keep a portable bait container (cooler or similar bait container with a lid) with clean water. Before you leave the boat ramp, transfer your bait into the clean water on your vehicle and drain your boat’s livewell, bait well, and any portable bait well on your boat before you leave. If you plan to save bait, always keep that fresh cooler of water IN YOUR VEHICLE. And remember that you can’t collect bait from infested waters.

This is going to mean a little more work for everybody, but reading this now and planning ahead may keep you from losing your hard earned bait at the very least and possibly getting a ticket. If you don’t have access to well water, pick up a bottle of chemicals to treat tap water from a pet store. You want something to remove chlorine and choramines.

Last thing, don’t kill the messenger.

Joel

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Link to Catfish Forum Discussion<<

As he (the DNR Biologist) says,… I’m trying to plan ahead.
To me, this means minnows (of any kind/size/type), leeches, frogs, salamanders, or even crawlers – if you place them in water – summer or winter.
So back to the good plan/ideas when you hit the shore.
Anyone got any that really work well?
Thanks.
Splitshot

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Anyone got any that really work well?

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Well? No.

Unfortunately, I’m being serious.

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I’ve spoke with numerous DNR officers as well as a couple of members of Sea Grant regarding this issue.

The consensus recommendation was to keep a fresh bucket of water in your truck to transfer your minnows into once you reach shore. As long as your not transporting lake water off the lake, you’re fine.

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Justin: How can a guy do this when it’s warm outside thogh. This is the part that I can’t really figure out how to do (keeping water in a system in my truck when it’s hot out). …Water that will not kill the bait – if you know what I mean.
I did not know the laws read the way some state with regards to not taking water off…. so no big deal. How the heck do they know this too?

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Best thing I’ve found when temps are high is to use an insulated bait bucket and freeze a few bottles of water to place in your spare water before you leave the access in the morning.