The Halibut Hunter with her new bait tank and rocket launchers

[tacklebox]

So I finally got the motivation (the warm weather) to get my bait tank in order. I think she's gonna get me on some fish this year!
I still need to button her up with some clips and a little more swag but all in all shes ready to hit the water and catch my first legal butt!
I also need to get a 90 degree fitting for the outlet so it can drain through the scupper.

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[FishNinjaY]

nice!

Did you make this yourself? Using those Vittles Vaults containers? That looks like a decent size livewell! I want to make something similar that I can easily use every time I'm out there, either as a dry storage box, or as a livewell.

On a related note.. I was just wondering if it was OK to put a kayak in a chlorine pool. I was wondering if the chlorine water would fade color or make the plastic brittle.. but I guess if you have it in there such a short time, and rinse it all off.. it's probably not as bad as ocean saltwater! I wanted to put my kayak in my pool to test out rigging stuff, and to also let my 10-yr old son practice dumping, capsizing, and getting back in, etc..

thanks for posting pics..

[MrM]

Run an extensive amount of fresh or sea water through the tank before you throw any live bait in there. Someone passed that little tip along to me when I built mine, and I never would have thought of it.

Looks nice. Good luck out there!

[DanaPT]

"I was wondering if the chlorine water would fade color or make the plastic brittle.."

another good kayak ruined.

looks good. now get it salted, bloodied and faded.

[GregAndrew]

How are you priming your bait pump? You might want to think about a couple straps from your tank to the padeyes on your tankwell too.

[FishNinjaY]

Originally Posted by MrM

Run an extensive amount of fresh or sea water through the tank before you throw any live bait in there. Someone passed that little tip along to me when I built mine, and I never would have thought of it.

cuz your bait will complain all day about burning eyes and smelling like chlorine

[tacklebox]

Originally Posted by FishNinjaY

nice!

Did you make this yourself? Using those Vittles Vaults containers? That looks like a decent size livewell! I want to make something similar that I can easily use every time I'm out there, either as a dry storage box, or as a livewell.

On a related note.. I was just wondering if it was OK to put a kayak in a chlorine pool. I was wondering if the chlorine water would fade color or make the plastic brittle.. but I guess if you have it in there such a short time, and rinse it all off.. it's probably not as bad as ocean saltwater! I wanted to put my kayak in my pool to test out rigging stuff, and to also let my 10-yr old son practice dumping, capsizing, and getting back in, etc..

thanks for posting pics..

Originally Posted by MrM

Run an extensive amount of fresh or sea water through the tank before you throw any live bait in there. Someone passed that little tip along to me when I built mine, and I never would have thought of it.

Looks nice. Good luck out there!

fISHNINJAY - yes I made it myself from the vittle vault container from petco. I had to really think about it though. The tarpon 140 has scuppers in a weird place as opposed to the hobie. I looked at all the youtubes I could and also google image search for diy bait buckets and that really helped me. I also realized the outlet had to be bigger than the inlet or it would just fill up to the top.
As for the chlorine I have never had a problem. Whenever I make a mod to the kayak or add a holder or anything I always throw it in the pool to make sure its leakproof. Also I get the hose and spray it from the top to simulate waves and spray from the ocean, let the outside dry and check for leaks. You should just hose it down after to get the chlorine off.
If you do throw it in the pool make sure you dont have rods in the holders and try to roll it. You might end up breaking one like I almost did on the side of the pool. Another thing to look out for is hitting the sides of the pool with the tip and rear of the yak too hard. Excessive wear on the points can make them weaker.


MRM - I ran the tank for about 2 hours today testing it and making changes and in the pool running to make sure the tube was long enough to hit the water. You think thats long enough? I hosed it out after with the garden hose so no chlorine in there.

[tacklebox]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

How are you priming your bait pump? You might want to think about a couple straps from your tank to the padeyes on your tankwell too.

I just use my portable bilge pump until I can test out the paddle priming. The bilge fits in the pvc elbow perfectly. I had the bilge thats why I didnt get the primer. Its the same thing imho and Im cheap haha.
Yea Im still planning on straping it down firmly so it does not move at all when its back there. Just need to take a trip to southwind for some rivits, screws and nuts plus some other goodies.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by tacklebox

I just use my portable bilge pump until I can test out the paddle priming. The bilge fits in the pvc elbow perfectly. I had the bilge thats why I didnt get the primer. Its the same thing imho and Im cheap haha.
Yea Im still planning on straping it down firmly so it does not move at all when its back there. Just need to take a trip to southwind for some rivits, screws and nuts plus some other goodies.

Make sure you use stainless steel hardware all around

[mtnbykr2]

Now that is great yak porn...now all we need is a center fold...lol, looks great, should hunt halibut quite nicely and hopefully catch them just as well, well done.

[jorluivil]

You might want to reconsider the length of the rocket launchers. The rods may be easy to remove when you're not on the kayak but imagine yourself hooked to a fish and now you have to pull up and out on on the rod while the fish is pulling down. Most of the guys that I fish with use homemade rocket launchers similar to this

[tacklebox]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

You might want to reconsider the length of the rocket launchers. The rods may be easy to remove when you're not on the kayak but imagine yourself hooked to a fish and now you have to pull up and out on on the rod while the fish is pulling down. Most of the guys that I fish with use homemade rocket launchers similar to this

Yea I was looking at the pics and they seemed a little high haha. Was planning on trimming them a little but those pics of the home made launchers and , trolling extenders? looked great! What an awesome idea. Ill have to give it a shot.
Thanks!

[tacklebox]

Added the battery box on instead of having it flop around. I put the handle on the lid with some bungee cord and a piece of the tube by just tying a knot. The lid is on the same way. I can just toss it back there and it wont swing around.


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