bait tube- the bait tank alternative

Hey guys, been looking at this set-up that they do down in socal.
http://www.plasticnavy.com/bait-tube.htm

basically its a bonito tube in the water.  i think that this should work really well for our smelt, chovies, and shiners. The key is to not go larger than the fish can turn around in-- about 2" diameter or so.  I've made two that are short- 18"....which seems to be good length for dozen shiners.

I read through the posts, article, etc, and have managed to come up with a slightly improved set-up (i think).

1) Use the black sewer pipe- it floats
2) Use a screw cap end - the one that has the square part
3) only one attachment at front (screw cap) end. Allows you to tow the tube behind, for nearly zero drag.
4) add holes along the sides every 6" or so toward the back end of the tube. helps move water through when your paddling fast.
5) make sure to add some super huge swivels to the tow line, as the thing has a habit of twisting like crazy.

so far, I've only towed the thing with shiners (yesterday) and they stayed alive and happy...

Right on... I'm all over this killer idea.  I'll be using one that next time I fish live bait.
Darn, why didn't I think of it

nice! Thanks for posting it Gotta love cheaper alternatives that actually work better than the original concept  

I read through the posts, article, etc, and have managed to come up with a slightly improved set-up (i think).

IMO: why not shape the front end of it like a missile - a pointed head for even better drag reduction.....and maybe put a fin so it does not roll (or spin) when in motion...

I like simple things and this is about as simple as it gets. Love the idea.

Mooch- the front end I used has a little square point to it, seems like the drag was minimal.

I was thinking of experimenting with a plastic coke bottle top to it, (cut about 2" off the top of the bottle, and thread it onto the running line) to make it a bit more hydrodynamic-- problem is, you need to poke a zillion holes in the thing, since you are trying to get water flow from the front to the back.  I think that even if you had a smooth shell, with all the holes you'd still get drag...

Why not cut a hole that covers nearly the whole end and replace it with plastic 1/4" screen using epoxy.  Then your drag would be minimized by letting much of the water go straight through.

I've seen something like these on steelhead rivers. Left in the water by DFG for fishermen to donate their catch in the name of science.

Andy the Iceman got this idea going over on bigwatersedge a while back, he posted his original design, and there is a lot of good feedback in the thread.  This is definitely what I plan on bringing to baja next trip.

I've seen something like these on steelhead rivers. Left in the water by DFG for fishermen to donate their catch in the name of science.

They have those up here too.  They'll leave salmon in them to ripen up before spawning them.

I've used tuna tubes before while marlin fishing.  Seem like a weird thing, but it works great.  I've seen them as simple as 2 liter bottles with a hose attached and a towel on top to as complex as devices built into the transom.  In a pinch, we've put a skippie in a towel and put a deck hose in it's mouth.  Hah!  The trick is to keep water moving through them.

I'm not sure how well these would work it you are just drifting.  I suspect chovies wouldn't do well in them even if you were moving ... they just seem to fragile.  Do the guys down south use them when slow trolling macks, in which case water is moving through them?

-Allen

Tried to link the search, but it doesn't work...just search BWE for mackeral tube

It seems to me, that the more resistance to the flow of water, the more pressure forcing the freshwater through the tube. If  you make it more hydrodynamic, less flow will go through and over the bait and more around the tube all together defeating the purpose. Just a thought, I don't have any experience with bait tubes to prove that. Also, wouldn't white plastic be better--black could heat up while while white would reflect the sun allowing the water in the tube stay at water temperature?

I just saw this post listed on the BWE site down here in SD.  Just curious about the screw on cap?  And the pipe, does Home Depot sell it this way?  I think it would work a lot better with a screw on end.  Any pics?  Thanks! Chris   

This is on my list of winter projects!! No more 5 gallon bucket and aerator!!

Chris, I hope this can help you.
I haven't completed putting everything together, but these are the items I bought at Home Depot.

2ft ABS ==  $1.68


The 2ft ABS did not have any threads to it so I had to buy an extension.
2 @ $2.08 == $4.16


Now the cap
2 @ $1.02 == $2.04


Lets hope this will work.

Smells like an article 

I love the random crap in the background of your pics man, it is like looking at clues of a madman or something.

"Your honor we should have called him in, I mean Half-life, candles and halibut rigs, something is not right