03-29-2006, 12:04 AM
Out on the west coast, the most practical bait holder is the good ole 5gal bucket. We use Pacific Sardine, Anchovie and Smelt in them. They are good baits for Halibut (east cost Flounder).
Many of the tackle shops sell the little aerators to oxygenate the water. The problem is that those 3 types of bait tend to throw off alot of slime and foul up the water in a hurry.
The holes in the bucket is a good idea. It is a little difficult from a pier though since most of our piers are from 20 to 30 feet off of the water at hight tide. You will go home looking like Popeye when you are done. ha ha. I guess that could be resolved with more holes up to 4inches from the bottom so that there is less water in the bucket when you draw it up.
I was a real Pier Rat for quite awhile. I would end up using a Minnow Trap. That would draw more bait into it and the water would always be around it when I dropped it back.
My minnow trap subs as a chum bucket too when I am out on a boat. I can put my frozen chum block in it on a slow troll.[cool]
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Many of the tackle shops sell the little aerators to oxygenate the water. The problem is that those 3 types of bait tend to throw off alot of slime and foul up the water in a hurry.
The holes in the bucket is a good idea. It is a little difficult from a pier though since most of our piers are from 20 to 30 feet off of the water at hight tide. You will go home looking like Popeye when you are done. ha ha. I guess that could be resolved with more holes up to 4inches from the bottom so that there is less water in the bucket when you draw it up.
I was a real Pier Rat for quite awhile. I would end up using a Minnow Trap. That would draw more bait into it and the water would always be around it when I dropped it back.
My minnow trap subs as a chum bucket too when I am out on a boat. I can put my frozen chum block in it on a slow troll.[cool]
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