Inexpensive live bait tank

Thanks Kayote,

The 3.5 gallon tank looks like a great size. I'm curious why you went with a 12amp battery.  And where did you find a 12amp??

Thanks,

Rich

Rich,

A 6 volt 12 amp battery is smaller than a 12 volt 7 amp one, so it's lighter in the yak. A 12 volt will pump too much water through a small tank without a flow restrictor. When I use a 6 volt battery the flow is perfect. Plus, a Rule 360 pump draws 2 amps. You can run the 12 volt 7 amp battery for 3.5 hours and the 6 volt 12 amp battery for over 6 hours. I think the pump even draws less than 2 amps on 6 volt so you get even more time without turning the tank on and off. I buy my batteries from Hook1. Here is the link:

http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=4

Ed

Ed,

Thanks very much for the link. $20.00 is a good price for the 6V 12a battery.

I'm going to start the bait tank project after I get done with the rod wrapping project...

With a wife and 2 daughters that are clothes hounds, I've got 3.5 gal detergent buckets stacked up all over the garage and side yard.....

Rich

http://www.magicproducts.com/aerobait.htm

I use model 2101 - IMO: The best! They sell these at Fishermans Warehouse in San Jose.

I've given up on the electric, bilge pump, type bait tank. I cover a lot of water when I fish and cant afford the extra weight. Especially since I carry quite a bit of gear, not to mention I'm a big boy, 220lbs. I made a bait tank from a pre-cut length of "2 ABS with PVC end caps. A few rows of holes and holes on the end caps (i made the end cap holes 3/8"). I glued the end that has the line attached and just used PVC purple primer on the other end(it helps to keep it sealed and keep ur bait in). A length of rope to attach to ur yak. Just make sure u put your baits in head first so they do not drown. No batteries, no weight(except for an unnoticeably light drag), no problem. Keeps ur bait alive all day long.

P.S When I bought the ABS and PVC I had it assembled when I set it on the counter. I caught a funny/concerned look from the guy behind me. Thats when I realized it looked like I had giant pipe bomb. I didn't say anything to him to clarify. I wonder what he was thinking??

I caught a funny/concerned look from the guy behind me. Thats when I realized it looked like I had giant pipe bomb. I didn't say anything to him to clarify. I wonder what he was thinking??

 Ya should have seen them at the Airport as I Had them packed in my suit case!!!!!

  Bait tubes are " The Bomb!!!! "...

I use a 3 gallon paint bucket, with a smaller one with a zillion slots drilled into it inside it. That smaller one was from an old bait bucket.  The smaller inside one has a leash. When i'm drifting i pull it out and drop it on the water- and it acts like a tiny drift sock. When paddling i put it back in the paint bucket, with a bubbler going. Has worked well for chovies, shiners, macks...I can keep about a dozen shiners alive all day, a dozen or dozen and a half chovies for most of the day, and a half dozen little macks all day.