Troll bait bucket...does it work ok?
 

I am going on a mothership trip next month, and
need to have live bait. I am holding off on the hobie livewell, to see
if they update some of the bugs in the design for the next
revision.

Would one of these work OK for a temporary bait tank?

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...l?sfs=86efdf4e

homemade bait tube is better
 

buying the 4" black ABS pipe at home depot which floats is a good choice, buy a drain for one end and a screw cap for the other for ~$20.00 , glue together, drill holes all over, and attach a rope to tow. Macs stay alive all day for the most part.
I've been using one for 3 years

Thanks.

How about dines?

As long as dines are the only thing in the tube, they should do fine. I've mixed them with other baits and things didn't work out so well. My tube only has holes (~.25") in the caps, no holes in the tube itself. Both caps come off and the rope goes through both caps and the tube. Make a knot behind the back cap and tie the other end to your kayak. It's very simple and works well.

Go with the bait tube

The trolling bait tank thing is ok
if you want a really slow troll or to help slow your drift

The only thing good about it is that you can pull it out of the water and stow
it on deck with live bait in it when you make a move.

If you leave it in the water while making a move it will cause a hard pull to
that side.

here some info on the bait tube

http://www.plasticnavy.com/bait-tube.htm

Thanks all for the advice and the instructions.

I have not done a mothership trip yet, so I am just wondering
if I will be able to have enough bait in my tube, until
the tender brings more.

Any thoughts?

Heres a forum discussion on it also

http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/ka...it-bucket.html

Partner up......
 

It's hard to predict how much bait you will go through. When it's dead, you can drag one bait all day unmolested (one slow tired bait). Let's be optimistic and assume it's going to be good fishing and thus your dilemma. It's possible to go through all your bait in the tube in five minutes (argghhh). With out a doubt, you will be limited on bait supply with a bait-tube or Plano bait-bucket. Not too cool on an awesome trip like this.
My best advice would be to partner up (someone with a large bait supply, that doesn't mind if you come along "with your bait tube" to limit the inconvenience on your partner). If social skills hamper the opportunity to partner up (beer's on me works well) I would like to offer one more alternative (to the tube or Plano bucket). Get a five gallon bucket and another smaller bucket (like a kid's sand castle bucket .5 gallon). In cooler water conditions like Todos where the water has more oxygen the need to resuscitate is not that often (depending on amount of bait). You will not only have no drag or bumping noise (of the tube or Plano hitting the side of the kayak), but I find the bait stays in better condition (mucho importante). Just keep a close eye on the condition of your bait (happy bait makes for excellent reslts). Good luck on your trip.

What's wrong with the original old stand by?

5 gallon home depot fucket bait tank. Worked for many years while most of ya were waiting for the homeroom bell to sound. For less than $50 you can have a fully functioning bait tank. Sardines need constant water flow, 10amp 12volt, $20, pump $20 - bucket and hose $10.

Don't cheap your self out of the one shot you have at Todos. Fish move fasst in those currents and around the pinnacles. Why mess around?

Not sure about the Hobie setup, but a 3 gallon square rubber maid container will do.

Attached are pics of my tube. I made mine a little longer than most. I have had about 2 scoops of dine and chovies that have lasted for 2 -5 hours. I would have to agree with esdees that one over the other is better. A mix tends to die out too fast. I tie mine off close to the yak so as to create less drag while moving
I prefer the tube over a tank as I keep my extra gear in a bucket behind my seat.

This rig cost me $7.50 at Lowe's.

Good luck on your choice.

I found a 6 volt 12 amp battery works better and is lighter. It reduces the flow to near perfect.

http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/inde...ATS&Category=4

+1 thats how mine was set up when i used one (for about 3 years). Baits last all day long, but make sure you get the pvc that floats. it can get in the way real quick when it sinks 10ft down.

i haven't heard of that style......

Agree with Aguachico about making a cheapo bait tank. Bait tubes work fine for macks, but I find dines and chovies don't hold up as well.

Too often my sardines end up like this :eek: :banghead:

http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/f...2/IMGP0011.JPG

With the bait tubes, i have found that the bait in front seems to get their tails chewed on by the guy's in the back of the bus. Not sure how much this effects their swimming. Otherwise they seem to stay lively, if you don't overcrowd. Also you will never have electrical failure, or experience a battery that has run out of juice.

A quick note ,if you are going to use the trolling bucket, try to find a Flambeu(?) brand, they have a stronger handle to tie onto...just my$0.02.....:cool: H

"fucket" is what you say when you try stuffing 40 sardines down a bait tube tail first. :cool:

Thanks all.

I might bite the bullet and spend the $249 on the hobie tank.

Don't get many nice trips a year, and with dock diesel around $5.90 a gallon,
might not be able to afford another one for a while.:party:

$249!!! Wow, I just looked at it online, That's a lot of dough for an above deck tank. But it's ready to go so there's no work involved. It's still just a bucket on top of the deck though. Good luck at Todos.

Diesel prices suck. I'm a close personal friend of PEMEX.

I was down in Tecate this last weekend, and regular gas was
about $2.80 a gallon.

The fuel surcharge is going to be KILLER!!!!!!:(