BAM Bait Blog

I'm pretty sure Hi's doesn't have live bait?

(I hope I'm wrong, that would make life a lot easier).

Michael,  no, not really.  It's the most direct route for me.  Hi's Tackle is right off 101 (Or 19ave) slight detour.  CB& T is mouch more out of my way.  Not too concerned about being slowed down, I'm going fishing!

minnow fund?
hay ya'll    I am concerned that if I buy a bunch of minnows, they will just die since I have no aerator. . I am wondering if someone had a big fish tank or something to keep them alive all night? or something with pumps, I would consider a donation to ensure live bait.?? JeffE

Think I'll try getting a few minnows form CB&T and see if they last till Friday in my bucket with an aerator.

Al, when do you plan on getting them?  I've kept minnows in a bucket for up to a week and only lost 1 or 2.  Although I was using a $15 filter from Petco instead of an aerator.  It shouldn't be a problem.  Others on the board have kept them alive for months.

CB& T is mouch more out of my way.

I realize that CB&T is out of the way for you and wasn't trying to recommend them.  The places I was referring to are north of SF.

Not too concerned about being slowed down, I'm going fishing!

I can understand that!

minnow fund?
hay ya'll   I am concerned that if I buy a bunch of minnows, they will just die since I have no aerator. . I am wondering if someone had a big fish tank or something to keep them alive all night? or something with pumps, I would consider a donation to ensure live bait.?? JeffE

By all means Jeff if it makes you feel comfortable, go that route, however last year I bought my minnows for BAM the night before and kept them in a standard 36 qt cooler and didn't lose a single one.  I poured the minnows and water into the cooler and then filled it with water from an outside faucet and they were money.  I think I filled the cooler 3/4 full.

Michael

minnow fund?
hay ya'll    I am concerned that if I buy a bunch of minnows, they will just die since I have no aerator. . I am wondering if someone had a big fish tank or something to keep them alive all night? or something with pumps, I would consider a donation to ensure live bait.?? JeffE

Hey Jeff,I don' have a aerator but you can sell me some...



Kiel

I am wondering if someone had a big fish tank or something to keep them alive all night?

A lot of people just keep their bait bucket in the lake over night. Just anchor it to something in 2-3' of water to keep it from floating away or into shore.

Think I'll try getting a few minnows form CB&T and see if they last till Friday in my bucket with an aerator.

Al, when do you plan on getting them?  I've kept minnows in a bucket for up to a week and only lost 1 or 2.  Although I was using a $15 filter from Petco instead of an aerator.  It shouldn't be a problem.  Others on the board have kept them alive for months.

Well, I was just going to go get a couple and see if my bucket with aerator (like yours) will keep them happy till Thursday, then go buy some friends to keep them company   But since I have too much work to finish before leaving this week, looks like I will probably just go and get what ever I get on Thurs.  I'm not sure, but it didn't seem like my aerator was working well last time I used it, so probably get another to be sure they have a good chance.

Post up if you know where to get Minnows.
I called Petaluma Sport & Dive and let them know we are having a Tourney the Owner is away untill the 1st so they have about 5 doz right now and will be getting a delivery next Thursday. They open at 6am phone # is 707.763.0930. Directions below Washington St Off 101. They also said that the Stripers are on a tear in the Pet River.

9-30-08 Update  I was in Petaluma today and picked up a predetermined quantity (us and others) and they had
about +20 dozen  left in stock and are getting another 40 dozen in on Friday.
 Side note: they are currently out of kittens.........

Hours 6:00 weekdays
         4:30 weekends

If this were a competition amongst strangers this info would be ...............

 but being this is for NCKA/GWKC spread the word.

Thanks for the update Allen

Sweet.

hi's tackle in Sf does NOT have live bait. 
he did recommend jp bait on the wharf. but warned they would be dead without a large tank w/aerator. double whammy!

Just called Fishermans warehouse he said that there is Coyote bait and tackle and a "lee's near Capitol  n  McLaughlin... does any one know of that place. I guess Ill buy an aerator and risk the petaluma stop. hope they still have some left...if  I get there before troy I may have a shot! lol :smt044JeffE

Well, I was just going to go get a couple and see if my bucket with aerator (like yours) will keep them happy till Thursday, then go buy some friends to keep them company   But since I have too much work to finish before leaving this week, looks like I will probably just go and get what ever I get on Thurs.  I'm not sure, but it didn't seem like my aerator was working well last time I used it, so probably get another to be sure they have a good chance.

Two (instead of one) of those cheapo aerators do a better job of keeping the bait alive.

  Well then I won't be hitting Hi's on my way out, but instead will stop in Petaluma.  But before I do that, I need to hit FW for a new aerator.  The cheap one I got a while ago won't clear water from the air tube!  So Air certainly won't/can't make it to the air stone. 
  Hopefully FW will have a 12V powered unit I can use for my travel bucket.  Otherwise, I'll probably have to bring a huge cooler and fill it for them for the journey up.
 

I pier-fished for years before I got into yakking and got quite good at keeping bait alive. The best setup I have found is a 5 gallon bucket or a cooler with two Frabill Min-o-life aerators running in it. The aerators are sold at Sports Authority and Sport Chalet in the Bay Area for about $20 each. They are a bit expensive, but they last longer and work better than any of the 6 or 7 other models of aerators I have burned through. With this set up I can keep dozens of anchovies alive on the pier for a full day of fishing with hourly water changes. This is also the same setup I have used to carry minnows from Petaluma to Lake Mendocino in the past and it works great!  

If you wanted to get all kinds of crazy you could grab the Frabil Aqua Life Aerator for about $35. This one lets you choose between using D batteries, a 12 volt adapter, or 120 volt plug in. http://www.sportsauthority.com/sm-frabill-aqua-life-portable-aerator--pi-2038812.html

  The pile I have at home uses 2-D cells and it doesn't blow very well at all.  As mentioned earier, it can't clear the water from the air tube! Until I jumped with 12Vdc!  Then it pumped as I think it should have.  I can't see that tiny motor lasting very long running on 12Vdc though.  (Thought about wiring it up to cig lighter plug already)
  I'll see what FW has in stock.