The past two times I have been out, my bait has only lasted a couple of hours before they start getting red and dying quickly once put on the line. I have a 20 gal. super bait tank and have been taking 3 dozen baits with me.

Am I getting bad bait or is something wrong with my tank or is it just the heat? I don't remember having this big of a problem in the past.

Are you cooling down the water or are you filling it straight form the surface of the lake? If the latter, then that's your problem. If you can keep the water between 65-70 degrees you'll have a much easier time.

I have a 20gal tank as well and have been carring up to 4 doz lately and have had no problem keeping them good all day.

This time of year I fill it up and put in a little defoamer and 3/4 bag of ice from the get go and add the other 1/4 within an hour and good to go with 0 problems.

I have been getting mine at the Oakwood bait store.

Sounds like hot water.

I'm going to start using pure oxygen. Just got my cylinder and stone. I believe using it and adding ice will be the trick. I'm going to leave all the pumps off - that way the scales will fall straight to the bottom and stay there instead of circulating through the water and winding up in the herring's gills. I'm gonna install the oxygen tank on the boat today.

Saturday I had 3 dozen in my 18 gal well, cooled it down to start and added some during the day. No casualties in 6 hrs. You can pick up a cheap floating aquarium thermometer at Walmart to monitor the temperature.

thanks for the feedback everyone. I got my bait and water from Hammonds last weekend. Didn't put in ice until around 930am (got the bait at 5am). I'll add the ice as soon as I get the water next time out.

thanks again.

Make sure you close your valve from the bilge pump. A few times I've been shooting across the lake, stop and open up to get a bait and the water be clear and warm from the lake water coming in.

I have a 48 gal bait tank. I get great bait from Oakwood Bait and Tackle. I had been adding about a bag of ice but the ice melts rather fast when poured into the water. I have found an inexpensive and very effective way to cool the tank. I put a gallon jug of water (not quite full) in the freezer overnight and when I place it in the tank it keeps the bait cool the entire time we are fishing. With the hot weather might be a good idea to take an extra jug along. Give it a try, works great. Thanks

Woody English
fourseasonsfishing.com
706-207-7756

Great idea Woody, I've been filling old water bottles with lake water and floating them in the baitwell,. I'll try the bigger bottle.