Be sure minnows are alive and kicking

While minnows are not that expensive in the overall cost of fishing trips, the last thing an angler needs is to arrive at his favorite crappie hole and find half if not all of his “shiners” in his bucket have died.

And, yes, the cost can add up. This spring, minnows were averaging $1 for seven big ones, $1 for eight small ones. It’s not uncommon for partners to spend $10 or $12 at the bait shop when the bite is on. That’s wasted money if the minnows die before they are offered up as meals to hungry crappie.

That’s why most hardcore crappie fishermen, and even redfish and speckled trout anglers invest in aerated systems. Some boats have live bait wells built in, but most of the time fishermen use buckets or converted ice chests to protect their bait.

Failure to keep them fresh and kicking for a day or an extended trip can be a pain in the keel. Just ask Kerry French, who learned how quickly shiners can expire.

“Last spring we were headed to Grenada Lake to fish for crappie,” French said. “I wanted to use fresh minnows and we finally found a gas station/convenience store not far from the lake with a good stock of minnows in different sizes. We bought three dozen just to be sure.

“It was a hot day and humid. I had the minnows in two Styrofoam buckets made just for holding minnows, but within an hour or so dead minnows began to float to the top of the water in both buckets. I had forgotten to hook up the battery-powered aerators. I got them hooked over the sides of the buckets and aerator hose bubbling out fresh air into the water. The minnows lasted a good bit longer, but I just got the aerators working too late.”

There are two keys to protecting fresh minnows, cool containers and working aerators with a backup supply of batteries in the boat.

Insulation is important, especially in warm to hot weather. At the very least, have a Styrofoam bucket designed and sold for live bait storage. If there is adequate space in the boat, a converted ice chest works well, especially for a two- or three-day trip. The bigger containers give the minnows more room. Fishermen can transfer shiners a few at a time from the bigger container to smaller ones that can be stationed within easy reach.

Then it is crucial to have a quality aerator, with the size and power adequate for the size of the container. Dissolved oxygen is just as important to fish as fresh air is to humans.

Bait aerators are little air pumps that defuse air bubbles through what is known as an air stone. The air coming out of the supply hose makes bubbles, keeping the water stirred up while maintaining a higher dissolved oxygen level. Keep the lids closed so the water will hot heat up from direct sunlight. On warm days, adding a little ice to the water can keep minnows fresh.

You can find good commercially made bait buckets and battery powered aerators at most fishing tackle shops. Most use D batteries so buy some spares so the aerator pump can run constantly. This should keep your minnows alive and fresher longer.