| Obviously you can't live bait if you can't keep it alive, | | | | A 50 litre tank of water in summer warms up very |
| and this can often be quite a task. Keeping your baits | | | | quickly, this is very important to remember when you |
| happy, healthy and kicking can be approached in many | | | | don't have any circulation in your tank. The |
| ways, so I have put down a few key tips to | | | | temperature problem also relates to colour, try and use |
| remember; and some good alternatives to fully | | | | white tanks so they don't attract more heat. |
| plumbed live bait tanks. | | | | FRESH WATER |
| I will start with problems that affect even perfectly | | | | Without having the tank plumbed you will have to use |
| plumbed tanks and go from there. | | | | a bucket to constantly refresh the water in the tank, its |
| COMMON PROBLEMS | | | | hard work but often worth it. You can also purchase |
| If you have a fully plumbed, top of the line bait tank, | | | | small bait pumps that will help but I've found that you |
| then you are well ahead of the game but will still have | | | | still need to use the bucket but just not as often. |
| fish dying. If the tank becomes overcrowded fish will | | | | When you pour water into your tank don't try to be |
| start to die. | | | | gentle, this is a mistake, it is best to do it from a good |
| Remember the bigger the baits the less will survive in | | | | height and create a lot of foam, this is oxygen mixing |
| your tank. Baits so big they can't freely swim around | | | | with the water and benefits your baits. |
| the tank will have a high mortality rate. Once fish have | | | | OXYGEN |
| died make sure to remove them from the tank as it | | | | Another key point is the shape of the tank. Ideally a |
| will affect the remaining survivors. | | | | high surface area is great which again is why most |
| When you are catching bait make sure to handle them | | | | eskies work well and so do 'kill boxes'. |
| as little as possible. If possible catch bait with long | | | | The higher the surface area the more oxygen can |
| shank hooks then hold the shank of the hook and | | | | dissolve into the water, this is also why little kiddy |
| shake the bait off and straight into the tank. That way | | | | wading pools are perfect when fishing from the shore. |
| you never touch the fish. | | | | THE BASKET CASE |
| ALTERNATIVE TANKS | | | | One last useful tip for boat fishos is to have a laundry |
| If you don't have an inbuilt tank, or room for this, the | | | | basket that is deep and narrow in shape. Put some |
| next best thing is to use an esky. In a good sized tinnie | | | | weight in the bottom of the basket and flotation |
| I have even plumbed a good quality esky with great | | | | around the top of the basket. |
| results, the next best thing to an esky is the good old | | | | When you are at anchor simply put this in the water |
| fashioned 'kill box' the ones commercial fishos use for | | | | and tie it of to the side of the boat. Transfer your |
| storing their catch. | | | | livebaits from your tank into the basket while fishing at |
| Eskies work very well as bait tanks because one | | | | anchor and they will stay healthier than in any livebait |
| major problem for keeping fish alive is change in water | | | | tank. Always have a small net for transferring the baits |
| temperature. Not only are fish very sensitive to | | | | so as not to damage your baits. |
| temperature change but when water warms up it | | | | Remember the better you handle your livebaits the |
| loses its dissolved oxygen killing the fish. | | | | better baits they're going to be. |