Custom Bait tank - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dsafety · 03-30-2010, 08:27 AM

Somewhere in the archives here on BWE there is a thread from a guy who used a pet food container to make a bait tank. The finished project looked good. I can't remember if there were any reports on how well it worked.

If I were working on the project, I would model the water intake and drain system on the Hobie LiveWell which has a similar shape. Just make sure you design it so the water will not drain out when the power is turned off, (a flaw in the current Hobie design that is easily fixed).

The OEX stores are currently selling a bait tank similar to what you are planning to build. Here is the link. http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...it-Tank/Detail

It does not have a through-scupper intake system but probably works very well anyway.

Bob

Geoffkoop · 03-30-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsafety

Somewhere in the archives here on BWE there is a thread from a guy who used a pet food container to make a bait tank. The finished project looked good. I can't remember if there were any reports on how well it worked.

If I were working on the project, I would model the water intake and drain system on the Hobie LiveWell which has a similar shape. Just make sure you design it so the water will not drain out when the power is turned off, (a flaw in the current Hobie design that is easily fixed).

The OEX stores are currently selling a bait tank similar to what you are planning to build. Here is the link. http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...it-Tank/Detail

It does not have a through-scupper intake system but probably works very well anyway.

Bob

Bob-how is the Hobie water problem easily fixed? Mine drains out. I never thought about fixing it...now i want to!

dsafety · 03-30-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoffkoop

Bob-how is the Hobie water problem easily fixed? Mine drains out. I never thought about fixing it...now i want to!

Geoff,

Check out my post in the Share Your Innovations thread. Basically you attach a 90 degree elbow to the pump and put a piece of hose on the end of the elbow. The hose should be long enough to extend above the water line in the tank when it is full. This way, if your tank gets turned off, (I do it all the time by mistake), the water will not drain out. The mod costs pennies and takes just a couple of minutes to install.

If you have specific questions, please PM me.

Bob

stairman · 03-30-2010, 08:54 AM

I built this ones in an hour out of seven ply water proof glue plywood ,stainless screws.and gorilla glue.It's two years old and there has been no matenance at all.If the water level is too high you just keep adding holes till it stabalizes where you want.I have had twenty nice greenies in and the only ones that died were those that were injured while being caught.It will hold a couple bass for those release tourneys too.Cost was less then ten bucks but then I did have the plywood laying around....a 4x8 sheet should build about six of these.

Aquahunter · 03-30-2010, 09:04 AM

Will that plywood swell up or put heavy weight on the yak?

sandydiego · 03-30-2010, 09:17 AM

I beat you to Pet Mart. I bought the new bait tank for $20. It's on sale now. I added some stainless loops/screws to tye down the tank. I added marine goop to the inside of the screws to keep the bait from getting torn up. The tank combined with the 500 keeps the bait perfect. For my drain line I went to Home Depot and bought a 2 ft section of pool/spa hose in plumbing and got the matching white pvc pipe with threads and a threaded cap. Use a rotozip or dremel to carefully cut drain holes in the cap. The only thing I have not done was make a angled base to keep the tank level. The tanks sits at a slight angle in the yak. It still works at the funky angle. I take some photo's of it when I make the base.

stairman · 03-30-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquahunter

Will that plywood swell up or put heavy weight on the yak?

It's not light,compared to me just a feather weight, but the price was right for me!Once it is wet it just kinda stays wet and salt water keeps it from rotting...probably get another two or three years out of it.The next one I'll make about two inches shorter.

Jason · 03-30-2010, 11:50 AM

Pet food container bait tank. I don't use the lid.

Rob929 · 03-30-2010, 12:01 PM

I have been meaning to post my projects in the innovations tab.. but for starters..

I used a standard 5 gallon bucket. I put that inside a mik crate. My pump sits inside the crate (in the front corner) and goes through the scupper just like the hobie tanks would. The crate makes a great housing to work with and mount the pump, hoses, drain, and battery box in.. And keeps it all contained, but not inside the actuall bucket. I have also mounted rod holders to the back of the crate. There is room inside the crate still to stick waters, lunch etc.. its very versatile. The pump has a $5 "check valve" from hom depot mounted to it. This prevents backflow when turned off, and eliminates the need to re-prime once turned off/on. See pics..

Dan · 03-30-2010, 12:46 PM

that angled pet container is tits -- got mine at petsmart. OEX has all the hardware to trick it out and make work nice. holds 20 greenbacks easy.

03-30-2010, 12:01 PM	#9
Rob929 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 134	My $.02 I have been meaning to post my projects in the innovations tab.. but for starters.. I used a standard 5 gallon bucket. I put that inside a mik crate. My pump sits inside the crate (in the front corner) and goes through the scupper just like the hobie tanks would. The crate makes a great housing to work with and mount the pump, hoses, drain, and battery box in.. And keeps it all contained, but not inside the actuall bucket. I have also mounted rod holders to the back of the crate. There is room inside the crate still to stick waters, lunch etc.. its very versatile. The pump has a $5 "check valve" from hom depot mounted to it. This prevents backflow when turned off, and eliminates the need to re-prime once turned off/on. See pics..

03-30-2010, 08:27 AM	#1
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	Somewhere in the archives here on BWE there is a thread from a guy who used a pet food container to make a bait tank. The finished project looked good. I can't remember if there were any reports on how well it worked. If I were working on the project, I would model the water intake and drain system on the Hobie LiveWell which has a similar shape. Just make sure you design it so the water will not drain out when the power is turned off, (a flaw in the current Hobie design that is easily fixed). The OEX stores are currently selling a bait tank similar to what you are planning to build. Here is the link. http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...it-Tank/Detail It does not have a through-scupper intake system but probably works very well anyway. Bob

03-30-2010, 09:04 AM	#5
Aquahunter Crazy Deaf Cuban Redneck Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Descanso, CA Posts: 158	Will that plywood swell up or put heavy weight on the yak?

03-30-2010, 09:17 AM	#6
sandydiego Rum Pirate Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wilds of Mira Mesa Posts: 388	I beat you to Pet Mart. I bought the new bait tank for $20. It's on sale now. I added some stainless loops/screws to tye down the tank. I added marine goop to the inside of the screws to keep the bait from getting torn up. The tank combined with the 500 keeps the bait perfect. For my drain line I went to Home Depot and bought a 2 ft section of pool/spa hose in plumbing and got the matching white pvc pipe with threads and a threaded cap. Use a rotozip or dremel to carefully cut drain holes in the cap. The only thing I have not done was make a angled base to keep the tank level. The tanks sits at a slight angle in the yak. It still works at the funky angle. I take some photo's of it when I make the base.

03-30-2010, 11:50 AM	#8
Jason Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 80	Pet food container bait tank. I don't use the lid.

03-30-2010, 12:46 PM	#10
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	that angled pet container is tits -- got mine at petsmart. OEX has all the hardware to trick it out and make work nice. holds 20 greenbacks easy.