About Minnow Bucket Aerators

It's frustrating to reach for the bait in your bucket and realize it's dead. Keeping your minnows alive is a priority if you want to use live bait. Proper aeration in your bait bucket is necessary. When proper aeration is not obtained, more than likely your minnows are going to die. Learn some basics to aerators to keep your minnows alive long enough to catch the big one.

Function

The main function of an aerator in your bait bucket is to keep your minnows alive. Think of an aerator as a snorkel to the fish. The aerator functions by producing oxygenated water in the bucket the fish are in, keeping them alive. If the aerator you are using produces enough oxygen for the fish to breathe, the size of the bucket won't matter. You can use a very small bait bucket and, as long as your aerator is working properly, your minnows will be just fine.

Types

There are several types of aerators, such as spray bar aerators, air stone aerators, venturi aerators and thru-hull. The types you would use with a minnow bait bucket would more likely be the air stone or venturi. The other types are made for holding larger amounts of fish in larger containers.

The air stone aerators are relatively inexpensive and generally work off batteries. These aerators work well in keeping minnows alive in small buckets. Another advantage with the air stone variety is that it is gentle and quiet. If you need to keep a large amount of bait alive, you'll probably want to go with another variety that produces more bubbles.

Venturi aerators are an old aeration technology. You can either find them in a style that floats or a bottom aerator with suction cups. The venturi is better if trying to hold larger amounts of minnows, as it produces larger amounts of smaller bubbles--more oxygen for the fish.

Significance

Why keep live bait, you may ask. If your bait is lively, the more your minnow is going to struggle at the end of the hook. The more the struggle, the more a fish is going to be attracted to it. If you have to transport your bait a long distance before fishing, an aerator on your bait bucket is a necessity. This way you'll be assured your minnows are alive and healthy when you go to use them.

Misconceptions

A misconception people have about aeration is, to sustain a large quantity of fish, you're going to need a large live well. Another misconception is that you're going to need a large aeration system to produce enough oxygen to keep the fish alive. Both of these are incorrect. As long as you've got the proper amount of aeration happening, you'll be able to keep your fish alive in a small container like a bucket. It doesn't matter the size of the bucket, as long as oxygenated water is passing through the gills. Think about humans. If you just had a snorkel to breathe through, you'd be just fine.

Benefits

Using an aeration device in your minnow bucket keeps your bait alive, giving you a better chance of catching a fish. A minnow kept alive until it meets its fate on the hook, means more action from your bait. The healthier and more active your bait, the better your chances at landing that elusive fish. Live bait only adds to a perfect day on the water catching fish.