If you are looking for a way to keep your bait alive, the best way to do so is by using an aerator on your minnow bucket or bait tank. A minnow bucket aerator is an incredibly useful tool when fishing with minnows or any bait fish for that matter.
These aerators are designed to keep your bait alive and kicking long after you’ve pulled them out of the water, helping you to reel in bigger fish than fishing with bait that isn’t live.
There are many different types of minnow bucket aerators, and some can be more helpful than others depending on your situation and location, but they all have their benefits and disadvantages that you should consider before buying one yourself.
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This guide will explain exactly how to use a minnow bucket aerator in order to ensure that your live bait doesn’t die while you are out fishing with it. They are useful for live shrimp, minnows, or a variety of other bait fish.
By following these steps, you can make sure that the money you spent on live bait doesn’t go to waste!
What is a Minnow Bucket Aerator?
A minnow bucket aerator is an attachment for your bait container which will keep your bait alive by keeping the water in the bucket moving and oxygenated. This keeps the bait from dying and provides them with more than enough oxygen for them to survive.
There are many different types of minnow buckets with excellent aerators that work well, such as the Frabill MIN-O2-LIFE Aerated Bait Bucket and the ENGEL Ultra Quiet Live Bait Aerator Pump & Bubbler but you should always research what will work best for you before purchasing one.
The oxygen produced by the aerator will prevent the minnows from drowning should they use all of the available oxygen. This is particularly crucial if you’ll be storing the fish for many days and won’t be often replacing the water in the bait container.
How does an Aerator Help?
Most commercial minnow sellers use an aeration system that uses either agitation or compressed oxygen to keep the water in their tanks oxygenated.
Aerating the water in which your minnows live is one way to extend their lives. This is because increasing the volume of the aquarium’s water or adding hydrogen peroxide may be quite stressful to the fish. When using an aerator, the minnows may remain in the water to which you have accustomed them.
The most common type of minnow bucket aerator is a propeller-type attachment that sits on top of the bucket. The propeller blades rotate, creating waves in the water which keep it mixed and flowing without spilling out of the bucket.
These attachments are easy to find at any hardware store or online retailer, as they are very popular among fishermen who use live bait. They can be purchased with several blade sizes and colors, so there’s sure to be something perfect for you.
DIY Live Bait Bucket
The next style of minnow bucket aerator is called an air pump tube. It hooks up directly to your air pump line coming off the fishing rod, pumping fresh air into the tank when needed.
An advantage of this style of aerator is that it doesn’t need batteries or electricity as other styles do. Just run a hose from your air pump (or tank) directly into this tube! If your bait needs additional oxygen because there are too many fish in the bucket or if you’re using live shrimp, this would be perfect for you.
What You Need
Before you set up your DIY minnow bucket aerator, make sure you have the following:
- Minnow bucket
- Power source such as an extension cord or battery pack
- An aerator fan (or two) and some wire to connect them to the power source
- Air stones that will fit in your bait container
- Timer for your air pump
- Air hose attachments for easy access
- Cool water
Putting it All Together
Now that you’ve got everything you need, it’s time to put it all together! Put one end of each air stone into the bait container and cover it with water so there is only about a half inch of space above the top of it so that it doesn’t get pushed out by fish stirring around in their tank during feeding time!
Take one end of each hose attachment and put it on opposite ends of an air stone then screw them into either side of the minnow bucket lid. Connect both air pumps together using wire from whichever length suits your needs best then plug them in.
Make sure the high setting is at 100% and the low setting is at 10%. You can change these levels later if need be! Make sure the switch on your timer goes to automatic so it will run continuously 24/7 until you turn it off.
After this, attach one end of each hose attachment to the respective sides of the minnow bucket. Turn on your timer to automatic mode and enjoy how long your bait will stay alive when properly cared for!
If you’re on the go and don’t have time to stop, but need bait, use a good minnow bucket aerator such as the Bravetroops Collapsible Bucket with Handle.
Follow these steps:
- Fill your minnow bucket with water.
- Turn the switch on and set it to the desired speed (low, medium, or high).
- Drop in your bait until it is completely submerged underwater, then close the lid tightly so no water spills out from around the lid edge.
- Take your minnow bucket with you as you go about your day – fishing by boat or casting from shore – and watch as your bait stays alive!
Conclusion
The minnow bucket aerator is not just for use in minnow buckets. In fact, it can be used for any type of bait you are using when fishing.
You may be wondering if the minnow bucket aerator will help your bait stay alive and fresh longer than if you don’t use it in a minnow bucket.
The answer is yes! The water that circulates through the aeration system will keep the bait alive and fresh longer even without being in a minnow bucket.
It’s important to remember that the minnow bucket aerator does more than just keep your bait alive-it also helps prevent slime from accumulating on your bait which is why many people choose to use them.
