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| I'd like to reduce my costs on suckers this fall. Get's exspensive buying new ones every time out. Also, if this fall is like last, I'd like to have some available for later when the shops up north don't have any big ones anymore. Last year I could only get 8 inchers over Thanksgiving weekend. Remember, Greg?
What do you guys use to keep them in between outings? I was thinking of a large cooler, with an aerator. Would one of the big 128 qt coolers be big enough? How often do you change the water? Tap water ok? Where do you keep it?
Thanks for the help.
Tight lines,
Shep[:sun:] |
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| Shep-
What I have done in the past is keep the suckers in my live well. Instead of running the aerator constantly I hook up and aquarium pump to an airstone and leave it in the live well. I changed the water every 3 days or so with 5 gallons of fresh stuff from a local pond.
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| I keep them in my "sucker well" in my boat that I made a few years ago. I had the same problem as you, and furthermore, I can get suckers for under 2 bucks, where up north they are 3.50 or better. I bought a timer switch for my sucker well(many expensive boats come with one) for like 20 bucks. I have a recirculation pump with filter on my sucker well, and it goes on for 30 seconds every three minutes. This keeps my suckers alive all weekend, and into the following week for use back home(if I still have a couple left). I change the water once on Satuday night, and once in the morning Monday before work. Works good. The main thing is keeping the water somewhat clean and aerated. Clean, cool water is important so the suckers do not build up fungus, and get sick from consuming/breathing one anothers extriments. |
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| I put them in my 30" bait well in my Tuffy, change the water every day and keep the well running on 2 minute delay.
Keeping the boat batteries pluged into the charger is also a must in the case...[;)]
That system is great...but like walking the dog...you have to change the water everyday and take care of the injurred ones by feeding the local possium in the backyard.[:bigsmile:] |
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| I keep suckers in my livewell as well but I found that the tap water doesn't do them any favors - the chlorine is the culprit I suspect. The cure for that problem is at your local aquatic pet store. They sell a fluid that immediately removes the chlorine. After that just keep the water cool (I freeze pop bottles full of water and float them with the suckers) and they will last for a long time.
Craig Eversoll |
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| No livewell? I use a cooler (not all that big either) and an single tube cheap aerator. I change the water every other day and keep them outside or in the garage to keep them cool. Works great.
If you really wanted to go nuts, you could hook up a bilge and recirulate the water that way too. Lots of moving water then.
Jono
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| I use a 250 gallon Rubbermaid tank at the cottage. They are available at Fleet Farm. I use two large foam filter/aerators and a aquarium air pump.
I am able to keep them from the begining of October till the end of November, with water changes only every two weeks or so. Like mentioned above city tap water is bad and must be treated. Once again the best place to buy chlorine remover is at Fleet Farm in the pet section. The chlorine in the water doesn't allow it to hold any oxygen. I am fortunate and have well water up north.
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| The chlorine water treatment for aquariums is a must for suckers as well as smaller minnows too. For suckers I use a 36qt cooler at home with a fish tank aerator and stone, when I get to the lake I fill my livewell and put them in there with the aerator on. I find that I can usually make them last a week or so with frequent water changes. |
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| I went to home depot and bought their cheap plastic wash sink with metal legs. I found a wire mesh cover that fits into it and cut out an area for the filter. I bought an oversized filter. Make sure you change the water frequently. They really seem to crap up my tank. I use well water but I think I will treat the water this year. I seem to lose at least half the suckers by the next time I need them. |
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| I used ToddM's and JoMusky's approach. I went to Menards, got the big sink/washtub deal with legs, set up a cheap pvc drain into my sump in the basement. I got those foam aquarium filters (hard to find though, but they are the best). Don't clean those faom ones, the gunkier the better. I cant recirculate cuz my well pump would run all the time, so water needs to be changed whenever it gets mucky. I use raw water before it goes through the softener.
If I want to change the water, I just pull the plug, having 2 sinks side by side is handy for transferring bait.
I set this up last winter for shiners and suckers for ice fishing, whoahh what a saving on bait and it worked slick, havent tried yet this fall with big suckers, but dont see why it wont work.
I tried the cooler thing with bubblers, not enough room, was a pain in the arse.
See ya on Oct 20th as we make history and break the old record on it's anniversary date..[:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:] |
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| Some pretty good approaches to keeping suckers for prolonged times. Have to admit that I have never tried to keep suckers for more than a day or two and only a couple times at that, but I did change the water often and had no problems. Have kept minnows for really extended periods though, especially during winter ice-fishing months and there is one area of bait preservation I haven't seen mentioned here. If we're going to keep any bait for any extended length of time, we have to feed them. For minnows I have just used flake fish food like for aquarium fish and also cracker crumbs and this has worked well. But think we'll need something a bit better than that for suckers. What have any of you used for sucker food? |
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| Off to Homey Depot at lunch today, to see wat they have there. Maybe even get to an aqaurium supply store for a filter. Thinking of putting it under the eave of my garage. Then with a wire top, the rain water can also help to replenish the water.
Then off to Pewaukee for a couple hours. Jason, you up for it? Give me a call.
GregM, yes the 20th. I can't wait to see what Steve has in store for us. Not sure if I can make it that Friday. Gotta tell the wife yet. LOL
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| Well, I got the laundry tub, a sponge filter/aerator pump, and de-chlorinator liquid. Made a cover for it out of 4X4 hardware cloth. The tub holds about 22 gallons. Put in my suckers from Saturday morning. 1 wasn't doing well, and went belly up later that day. Checked on the others today, and they are doing fine. Water is clear, and the suckers are real fiesty. I'll let you know how they last through the week, and post a picture of the set up.
Any thoughts if I should attempt to feed them? If so, what?
Thanks for the ideas. |
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| I have been using a small aquarium pump with an airstone in the livewell for several years. About $10 at a pet store. Change the water often and use lake water when possible but I have not had a problem with tap water on occassion. The real key is to keep the bubbles flowing. Do NOT feed them unless you use a filter since food causes poop and makes the water toxic to the fish. They will be fine for a week or so without food. |
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