Can anyone give me some ideas or advice on getting started building a livestock trough into a holding/ raising tank for perch? First time at trying this idea. Would like to keep budget low. Thanks.

If you are talking about raising fish from adults laying eggs to bait size, you will need something swimmng pool size (or bigger), well planted and with little critters for the fish fry to eat.

If you are talking about just a tank to raising small fish (that you caught) until they are big enough to use as bait. The bigger the better. It will need a filter system. After all it is just a big aquarium.

The perch will grow slow and might take a couple of years to reach bait size, depend how much they are feed and how good a living space they have.

It's best just to catch them with a trap, cast net, or pole from the wild.

A tank just to hold left over bait until the next fishing trip can be smaller, depending how many and how big the bait fish you want to keep. Air bubbles (filter system is better) will be needed to keep the water turning over for oxygen.

Keep in mind that a livestock tank, trough or aquarium is small compared to a lake or pond and will over heat or get to cold easily.

Best way is to get perch for bait is to take a bunch of kids (wives do good too) fishing. If you know that many kids, offer to buy perch from them.

1/2 acre tank or bigger

Let me rephrase. A tank to hold
Perch in between fishing trips.

I've kept perch before in an old aquarium indoors before. Just the normal aquarium filter did a fine job. Let me also add that if you put perch in an aquarium with other smaller fish, the smaller fish seem to disappear. I'd set it up kinda like an aquarium. make some kinda filter out of a 5 gallon bucket and a bilge pump to circulate the water. You could even make the tank out of an old plastic 55 gal. barrel. Look at all of the bait tank videos on youtube for ideas. I'd definately put it indoors or in the shade this time of the year. Show us some pictures or a video when you get done. By the way, Welcome to the TFF.

Don't use chlorinated water. Use an aerator. Shade

Buy you one from Tractor Supply, then get a pond pump from Lowe's and a Pole light (street light). Place light up about 8 ft. to 10 ft. This draws bugs in at night and the perch has something to feed on. My wife placed a pond lilly pad on one side for shade.

Thanks.

I use a 110 gallon trough with a pump and canister filter. I keep bio balls in the pump housing and canister filter. I have it in the shade and feed them the same pellets my koi eat. After about a week they attack the pellets. Mine is just a holding tank really. Most will be used as bait this weekend but I have some that have been in there for over a year and are doing just fine. I have a couple of ricks and a clay pot on it�s side for cover

The big problem is Temp....esp in summer in TX...Just 2 hot and bait has hard time surv..I had a AC in shed and 55g barrels with areator and filter and light...they did well

I agree with the temp being an issue. I have had no problem with mine at all keeping it in the shade. I have a pump and canister filter with filter substrate and bio balls in it as well to keep the water all good. If you need pictures of how I have mine running just let me know and I can email them to you or something. Also, I have an 85 gallon rubbermaid trough that I am not currently using if you need to borrow it to try your hand at the bait business before you sink too much money into it. I'm in the Fort Worth area so if you're close by you're welcome to see how I am set up and take the 85 gallon tank to give it a try

Just use a non working chest freezer.