How to Keep Minnows That Are Caught
Catching your own minnows for fishing bait is fun and economical. Ideally the minnows should be kept in slotted minnow buckets in the lake, river or pond water where they were caught so they can feed on microscopic aquatic life. If that's not possible, they can be kept for about a week or so at home.
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Instructions
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Keeping Minnows Alive
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Put minnows in a container of water. Five-gallon buckets are ideal because they are readily available and can hold a lot of water. Don't overcrowd the minnows. You can keep about two to three dozen 1- to 3-inch minnows, such as fatheads, in a 5-gallon bucket. A dozen 5-inch minnows is about the maximum for this size bucket. Fill the bucket most of the way to allow the maximum amount of water and dissolved oxygen.
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Place the bucket out of direct sunlight and someplace cool, such as a basement or in an old refrigerator. Cooler water holds more oxygen, which helps minnow survival.
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Install an aerator. Aerators can be purchased at sporting goods stores. They start at around $20. Aerators put bubbles in the water, which creates more oxygen.
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Monitor the water. Change the water every day. A strainer can help you empty the bucket and briefly hold your minnows as you add new water to the bucket.
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Remove sick and dying minnows from the bucket. Sick minnows can infect your other minnows. The decomposition process is anaerobic, which robs water from the water and from the other minnows.
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Feed the minnows if possible. Placing them in a slotted container in lake water for a few hours is your best bet, even if you can only do it once a week. Large minnows might eat oatmeal placed in the bucket, but not smaller minnows.
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Take care of the minnows during transport to your fishing area. Oxygen tablets, available from some bait shops, will help keep minnows in good condition when placed in the water. Keep minnows out of the sunlight. Keep minnows cool by adding ice to their container if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Some minnow species are hardier than others. For example, fatheads survive well, while shiners can be more difficult to keep alive.
