How To Make A Clear Plastic Bait Tube!

 This is a rebuild of my first Bait Tube design using a clear plastic tube you can purchase at TAP Plastics.  Recently lost my original in Santa Cruz, just after filling it with bait for the day    It's pretty easy to build and very easy to use and cuts right through kelp without a problem.  I've kept anchovies and sardines alive for many hours using this design. 

Items you will need to purchase:

Clear Plastic Tube from Tap Plastics:10$-20$ (Either 3" or 4" model (4" can be used to create two!)
Some thin bungee material (West Marine: $0.66/Ft)
Plastic Funnel $0.99 - $2.00 (Kragen, Etc)
Barrel Snap Swivel: $Free - $0.25
Float or Pool Noodle: $Free - $2.00
Paracord, or other thin rope: $Free - $4.00

I wanted to make two, so I purchased the bigger 4" model from TAP and cut it in half:



Then I used a sharpie and made dots where I wanted to drill the holes. I marked rows of dots about 1" a part and make the rows go about 3/4 of the way around the whole tube:



 Notice I also stopped marking holes about 6"-8" from the bottom of the tube.  This leaves a reservoir of water in the bottom where your bait is when you pull it out of the water:



Drill out the spots you marked with a sharpie.  Put a little pressure on the plastic before starting the drill and the bit will not move around on you.  If you run the bit through the hole a few times you can clear any burrs inside the tube pretty easily, or just run your finger nail around the inside of the hole and it will come off easily as well:

 

Notice how there is a channel down one side of the tube.  Have this side down when you tip the tube twards you to pull bait out and less water will drain out while they slide twards the front of the tube easily:



Now to create the opening in the top to fill the tube with bait.  I've come up with two patterns that seem to work for dispensing and inserting bait pretty easily without harming the bait much:



Before cutting the pattern out, drill out the corners first.  Helps keep the "incision's" from going farther than you want them too when flexing the opening:



Then cut out the remaining parts to the pattern:






Next drill two holes on each side of the tube, about 1/2" below the cap.  You also want the holes to be OPPOSITE the direction you squeeze the tube to open the cap.  Make sure the holes are only as big as the diameter of your bungee cord.  Run the bungee's on the outside of the tube, and tie a knot on the inside to keep it from pulling out.  NOTE: You want it to have some tension in the line, but not a lot, when you tie the second knot.  Trim off excess bungee after you finish assembling the whole thing, because you may need to adjust tension later.






Next, your going to assemble the rest of the tube.  First start by connecting your paracord to the swivel and then the swivel to your bungee cord:




Next, slide on your funnel and washer/nut.



Now you want to tie a knot in your line, or around your nut/washer.  You want it to be as close to the swivel on the other side of the funnel.  Your creating a tension here that will keep the tension on the bungee cord and downward pressure on the cap, holding it on top of the tube without having to have any sort of latch. 

It's very difficult for me to describe it... but basically when you have the tension right, the cap will feel like its pretty solid on top of the tube, but still easy enough to slide the funnel off to one side while you fill or dispense your bait.  The funnel will also have a "natural" tendency to want to go back on top of the tube when you pull on the cord.  So to put the top back on, just toss your bait tube in the water and give the main line a tug and it should just "POP" right into place!



Add the float to the line a foot or so above the funnel and tie on the caribeaner and your pretty much done!




And don't forget to GOOP your end caps on!   

And give them a few days to cure, or your bait may die from the fumes 

Best tube I've seen yet.  May have to make one of these!

Very nice but we need a more "economy" (read cheap) version    Thanks for sharing Al.

brilliant work AHO!  I really dig the funnel. I was considering using the top portion of a plastic 2 ltr bottle but I believe youve changed my plans. thanks for the solid documentation.

Nice work there Al!! 

Nice job, Al. Simple, clean & functional.

Very nice but we need a more "economy" (read cheap) version    Thanks for sharing Al.

You asked for it, Sonny!
In fact, the example below is so cheap, it should be an example of what not to do. 
On the other hand, a 2 liter bottle can quickly be made into a quick emergency bait tube if you forget or break your real one (like Al's).

Behold the ghetto-azz mini bait tube:

Very nice but we need a more "economy" (read cheap) version    Thanks for sharing Al.

You asked for it, Sonny!
In fact, the example below is so cheap, it should be an example of what not to do. 
On the other hand, a 2 liter bottle can quickly be made into a quick emergency bait tube if you forget or break your real one (like Al's).
Behold the ghetto-azz mini bait tube:

I rememberred seeing a live bait tube made of 2 2-liter bottles cut & glued together somewhere. 

Very cool Al.
Nice to be able see how your bait is doing at a glance.

Super cool bait tube Al. Thanks for sharing. By any chance the second bait tube you made is already spoken for? 

Jedmo

look at AL with the fab skilllz!!!! Nice one dude!  

Awesome job Al - great pics and descriptions. I see a trip to TAP in my future

Being a fat guy paddling a Drifter, if I use bait I can just let them swim around me in the cockpit.

Slick design, tho!

Thanks for the ideas fellas.

I'm just getting into kayak fishing and am going to make and use one of those until I can make a tank.  I was wondering how many average size dines will fit it the tubes you make?

The Aquafina bottle is compatable.