How to Keep Bait Fish Alive

Bait fish can be tough to keep alive.

There is no doubt that artificial lures catch fish, but sometimes there is simply no substitute for the real thing. Live bait fish can give any fisherman a serious advantage, which is exactly why they are not allowed in most tournaments. But for a day at the lake, they are tough to beat. Bait fish are notoriously difficult to keep alive and lively, but a few simple measures can keep them feisty, and keep you catching fish longer.

Instructions

Keeping Bait Alive

1. Use high quality bait fish. Minnows you catch yourself will almost always be hardier than any you buy in a bait shop. Unfortunately, some states have regulations against catching and transporting your own bait fish. If you do get minnows from a bait shop, check a few different stores to see which ones have the best minnows. Minnows that are disoriented and loosely grouped are probably weak and won't last long. Don't be too shy to ask where the store gets its bait from and how old it is.

2. Give then fresh water. If you have a live well, install a pump to circulate clean, fresh water from a lake. If you are using a bait bucket, dump out part of the water periodically and replace it with fresh water from the lake. Never fill a bait bucket with tap water; use water from the body of water you will be fishing in whenever possible.

3. Fish need oxygen to survive, just like you and me. Bubble aerators are the best way to provide oxygen to bait buckets and tanks, as they keep the water oxygenated without the harsh spray of spray bar aerators. Look for an aerator that produces the smallest bubbles possible; the smaller the bubbles are, the longer it takes for them to rise to the surface, and the more oxygen will be dissolved into the water.

4. Keep them cool. Bait fish do not respond well to high temperatures, but bait buckets can heat up quickly in the sun. Keep yours in the shade if it is available. Ventilated bait buckets can be kept in the water, which is good to maintain a low temperature as well as high oxygenation. The best temperature at which to keep your bait fish is the temperature of the lake. Abrupt temperature changes can cause bait fish to go into shock.

5. Handle them gently. This includes when you transfer them to your bait bucket and when you put them on the hook. Minnows are delicate, and rough handling can cause them severe harm. Minnows survive longer on the hook if you hook them through the lip or the fleshy area at the base of the tail. Do not cast with any more force than is necessary to get your bait where it needs to be.

References

• Ontario Fishing: Keeping Minnows in Fish-Catching Condition
• Southern Charm: Guide to Understanding Livewells, Aerators, and Oxygen Systems
• Arkansas Stripers: Keeping Live Bait - Alive and Active