|
|
Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | What are ya'll using to cage suckers at the end of your docks? I was thinking a pet porter dog kennel. Any better ideas? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | That's what I use. Works great. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 19
Location: antigo | The metal drum that is in a washing machine works really good for storing any size bate. I went to my local appliance dealer and they gave me a junker. I think they were glad that I took away a eye sore for them. Just have to make a lid for it and your all set |
|
| |
|
| I'll take some pictures of the one my bud built two years ago, that we take on our trips. I'll trade you guys for some pics of some good garage storage ideas, shelving, rod racks etc. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 208
Location: musky waters , WI | What are guys using to keep suckers alive if you live off the lake. Not talking about transporting suckers from lake . But purchasing say a dozen from bait dealer and keeping them in alive and only taking 2-3 suckers out fishing when I go out. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | I use a big cooler, drill a small hole on the side towards the top and run the hose from an aerator for an old fish tank in the side, plug it in and done. Once the temps drop a little, it's not hard to keep them alive for weeks. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 293
| Do you feed them at all? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 334
Location: Madison, WI | I kept 4 dozen suckers alive for 2 months last winter. I used them as time progressed but that original crew that didnt get used held up until march. I was told at the bait shop to keep them cold and they dont need food. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | Ya, I threw a little dog food in there but I can't say they actually ate it. Change the water once in a while and you should be fine. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 999
| Not to highjack the thread but add to it. I dont have a dock that I could keep a pen in the water so I was thinking about getting a big cow trough filling that with water and heavily aerating that. Do you think they would stay alive if I could only change the water on weekends? Say a dozen suckers? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i've been using the 50" cabela's livewell and just running lots of air in it. every 3 or 4 days i change out about half of the water. it's dark grey and covered ... started doing this to help out my traveling buddies when suckers were hard to come by and it's worked out really well. we're going on about 5 seasons now i think.
i fill it with suckers when they get delivered on tuesday or wednesday and the boys grab em on their way through.
never had to feed and have never lost one ... keep em dark, cold with lots of air and they are pretty happy. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Mr Musky - 9/20/2012 4:09 PM
Not to highjack the thread but add to it. I dont have a dock that I could keep a pen in the water so I was thinking about getting a big cow trough filling that with water and heavily aerating that. Do you think they would stay alive if I could only change the water on weekends? Say a dozen suckers?
I think that would work pretty well and I've heard of other people using stock tanks. If you could only change the water once a week I might want to look into a water filter. I think if the weather was cool enough and you had a way to keep the water from getting too dirty (maybe there's even an additive you could put in the water), they would keep pretty well.
What I am looking for is an old freezer. One that works would be a plus, but even if not working, my theory is the insulated freezer would keep the water temp from changing very quickly. I think fast temp changes are tough on any bait. Add in a good aerator and filter system and I think you could keep suckers as well as a bait shop.
The ultimate: Get a cheap working freezer and (hopefully this is possible) change the thermostat to a refrigerator thermostat. Now you could keep the temp at 50-60 degrees or whatever the preferred temp is. If the thermostat is too hard or expensive to change, maybe putting the freezer on a timer to run for 5 minutes every 2 hours or something would keep the water cold without causing too much of a spike in the temperature.
Back to the original question: If I had a dock to keep them in I would think a mid size dog kennel would work well, and it might even be like baiting muskies. 
Tucker |
|
| |
|
Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | I keep minnows for crappie and have been considering something similar for suckerfish. I've got some nice 12" suckers in the creek by the house and I'm sure a big musky would love them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 376
Location: On the River | I use a rubbermaid storage container and drill a equel number of 1 inch holes in the sides and bottom dont drill any holes in the snap on lid it will float. cost is under ten dollars. I have used the same one for the last six years. |
|
| |
