I have a 100 gal galvanized oval stock tank that I'm not using. I've been wondering if I could use it to keep minners in. If so, what would I need? A filter? A pump to circulate water? How many minners could I keep in 100 gal tank and where do you buy them in bulk?

I don't think you can transport to public waters from your tank.

Do a search on zebra mussel regs/threads.

Check into the zebra mussel regulations.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20140522f

"...Live fish, including personally caught live bait, cannot be transported in a vessel in water that comes from the water body where they were caught. Personally caught live bait can be used in the water body where it was caught.

Anglers are allowed to transport and use commercially purchased live bait provided persons in possession of the bait have a receipt that identifies the source of the bait. Any live bait purchased from a location on or adjacent to a public water body that is transported in water from that water body could only be used as bait on that same water body....."

Gotcha, I certainly want to be within the law. I thought I had read on hear in the past guys who bought pounds of minnows to use for the white bass run/spring crappie. Relying on the bait shop frequently leaves you empty handed during the rush this time of year.

As long as the bait was never in lake water you can carry to and from the lake or creek with you... Wholesale minnows and most bait shops don't use lake water, you should be fine...

I just read that press release a couple of times; aired it out with my son here, and it sure seems that the restriction is moving bait caught in one lake and using it in another.

Purchased minnows would be in your clean tank with city water you've treated to keep them alive. You're tank water would be free of ZM contamination and thus be safe to use. They're still minnows purchased from a bait shop.

I think your good to go.

A friend in New Braunfels goes to a wholesale bait shop in Marble falls. It is on 281 in the middle of town.

A hundred gallon tank will support about 10 pounds of minnows(about 150 dozen). You need a pump to circulate the water and aerate it. If you use city water you will need chemicals to remove the chlorine, plus an electrolyte solution. This page will tell you all you need to know.

The minnow tank will require frequent cleaning. If you want to keep only a pound or so of minnows at a time you do not have to be so careful and you can just remove the chlorine and use a small bubbler pump like the ones pet shops sell.

Most large bait shops will sell in bulk for about $15.00 per pound. If you want a lot call Nored's Wholesale Minnows in Poolville at (817) 596-5400. They will also advise you and they sell the chemicals.

Would it need a filter of some kind?

And I have a pump that I used to use for a water feature in the tank. Will that probably aerate the water?

-Any relationship to Billie Nored that had Billie's Bait Shop in Benbrook for years? She had a dollar framed in her shop that my dad gave her during the off season. He told her if all the fisherman that traded with her would give a dollar or two during the slow part of the year it would surely help her out. Well somebody broke in and stole that dollar along with some other things, so much for helping out.

Yes, I think your going to want a circulating filter. I made one out of 4" pvc using a "y" fitting with a screw in plug on the bottom of the y for access to the inside and screen up against the inlet and outlet reducer fittings I glued into it. I used a nylon chore girl dishwashing pad for the first stage on the inlet side followed by filter floss and then activated carbon on the outlet side to take out the ammonia. Got the floss and carbon from a pet store but I bet online would be a lot cheaper. You want to wash the carbon good before you use it to get the dust off and keep the extra sealed up air tight. Mine was for shad and if it would keep those delicate things alive I'm pretty sure it would work for minnows. You will want a good high volume aerator also and be sure to treat for chlorine and get your water ready a couple days ahead of time. Should save enough on minnow cost to pay for all that in one season not to mention the convenience of just dipping out whatever you need anytime you want. Great idea I think.

Hope this helps. I have one I made at our lake house in Whitney out of half of a plastic 55 gallon drum. All I have in it is a pump I bought at Walmarts with a double hose on it for around $15.00. I do not use a filter , and change the water about once a month.It will keep up to 5 dozen or so minnows very well. My neighbor feeds them about twice a week with regular fish food. If you don't have any of the de cloranizer you can buy at Walmarts you can always use a little hydrogen peroxide.

I use to have large fish aquariums and used canister filter systems on them. They are not that expensive and handle large volumes of water. I have a large water trough here at the farm and had thought about doing the same with it. Fish truck came by the local feed store the other day and 1 pound of minnows was $10. They said 1 pound averages 250 to 300 minnows. At $3.50 a dozen here thats a big savings.