A better bait cage.

After being completely fed up with the promar bait cages, I've decided to build my own.

Things I hate about the promar cages.
- The hooks to keep the doors on break after a while
- They make stacking the hoops a pain
- When bugs are thick, it's too easy for them to clear all your bait.
- They get stepped on and bend
- They're annoying to store
- Chunked bait falls right out
- Needs some sort of fastener

After seeing my friend do REALLY well on bait tubes, I got to thinking. What can I do to improve.


Here's what I've come up with.
These hold about 3-5 sardines broken in half. They lasted all night still packed with bait. Didn't need to do 1 bait change

Pros
- Cost 1/2 as much as a promar to make
- They slip right into the bait pocket in the bottom of almost all hoops
- Almost every hardware store carries them
- They are solid plastic/pvc, means no rust and nothing to break
- Smaller slits makes bait last a lot longer
- Requires no fasteners
- Makes stacking hoops much cleaner and easier on the back of a kayak
- You can fit all 5 in a 1 gallon freezer bag already loaded with bait for the next trip
- Easy to clean out and store
- They float, incase one comes loose
- Bugs can't eat them from the outside (ambush/ecplipse users), they need to get in the hoop
- SEAL PROOF

I know the biggest question everyone is thinking to themselves.... DO THEY WORK??
Well tonight, I put them to the test. See photos






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[lowprofile]

Genius!

so how many hoops do you run?

Originally Posted by lowprofile

Genius!

so how many hoops do you run?

5 from the kayak, 2 from a pier.

[skrilla]

That'll work!

[jorluivil]

Fricken smart ass.....I mean fricken smart idea!

I'll be making a few this weekend.

Bugs are definitely crawling this year....go get-em before they go to deeper waters!!!

[maui jim]

Sweet.

[Caffeind]

Nice job! Post in Shared Innovations thread too?

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Fricken smart ass.....I mean fricken smart idea!

I'll be making a few this weekend.

Bugs are definitely crawling this year....go get-em before they go to deeper waters!!!

Let me know if the halved salmon heads fit in these. I built some tubes with 3" drain pipe and they suck for halved heads.

Made a small modification to the nets to better accommodate the pucks.

One came loose last night so I wanted to come up with a better way to secure them. This is what I came up with.

I cut the string that holds the tag ends of the netting together which forms the opening. Then I weaved a short bungee in the loops and zip tied them to the lower ring. I cut the end off so they wouldn't rust and get hung up, then burned the tips to clean them up.

The bungees cost $2.94 from home depot.

Took about 2 minutes for each hoop.

[Brewman]

So how did your new bait tubes work...I like the idea..have been looking for a better alternative myself...thanks brewman!

[finyak]

Just bought a couple can't wait to try them out.

[ctfphoto]

Originally Posted by Brewman

So how did your new bait tubes work...I like the idea..have been looking for a better alternative myself...thanks brewman!

The Bait Pucks work fantastic.

Remember to knife them at every pull.

I have a second set that I clip on a couple hours into it. I leave the first puck in there as well.

I got my first limit the other night with them and even threw back 2 legals as I pulled up my last nets.

[jaws197]

Tried them out tonight, work like a champ!!!

Soo much easier and no hassels, Drake you are a true innovator! Thank you sir and hope your nets are always full of the right kind sir!

Originally Posted by Brewman

So how did your new bait tubes work...I like the idea..have been looking for a better alternative myself...thanks brewman!

Read the posts below I've hit limits everytime (6x) with them

Originally Posted by finyak

Just bought a couple can't wait to try them out.

Awesome, let me know how they work. Maybe they can be in a grab bag as a giveaway at yakfest 2013

Originally Posted by ctfphoto

The Bait Pucks work fantastic.

Remember to knife them at every pull.

I have a second set that I clip on a couple hours into it. I leave the first puck in there as well.

I got my first limit the other night with them and even threw back 2 legals as I pulled up my last nets.

NICE!!!! Yeah I've been sticking my knife through the slits at least before every outing. Glad they are working for you.
Did you find you had to keep rebaiting though, since you have a lot more access to the bait?

Originally Posted by jaws197

Tried them out tonight, work like a champ!!!



Soo much easier and no hassels, Drake you are a true innovator! Thank you sir and hope your nets are always full of the right kind sir!

Thank you very much! I'm super stoked for you. too

Did you guys do the bungee trick on the hoops too?

Please call them the "Drake Puck" to all your friends. I want to leave my mark any way I can haha

[ctfphoto]

Originally Posted by Drake

Did you find you had to keep rebaiting though, since you have a lot more access to the bait?

I just like to put out new bait an hour or two into it for even more scent. I do not rebait the Drake Pucks™ in place, I just put in an additional one.

I am thinking of trying scissors to cut up the bait in the Drake Pucks™ at each pull. I also have found a straight edge screw driver works great for opening them up.

The current will be strong tonight as well as foggy, sounds like a fun night to hoop as I am going out again this evening.

[Mahigeer]

I use those in addition to the homemade bait tubes.

Having seen a family at Mole (when it was allowed) get their nets torn by sea lions, I stop putting anything in the net pucket.

I use clips to attach the "bait pucks" to the upper ring and bottom net.

it provides scent and the seals leave the netting alone.