After catching them, i drop a pump in the bucket and make sure it aerates the water, but the little suckers die soo fast.

What the best way to keep them alive or atleast for 3-4 hrs? do i add ice to keep the water cool ? I've heard of using salt, but what kid of salt?

thanks

Fish P. R.

I have not found a way to keep them alive very long in a bucket. Everyone who keeps them alive have shad tanks with all kinds of add ons. If you do a sight search you will find some that have been made out icechests and the such that others say work.

I use water softener salt. 40# bag about $5. The best way to keep them alive is to use a tank designed to keep them alive. This is the toughest time of year.

Get ready to be pounded with the "go buy a bait tank of XXXX brand". Which is true. If you want to be a serious bait fishermen, you need a bait tank.


To keep shad alive using buckets, keep changing the water. Others may have to chime in on salt and ice. But seems to me that wouldn't be cost worthy to add salt and ice every time you change water... This time of year.

Hotter water holds less oxygen and right now surface temps (the temp of water you would be putting in your bucket) is in the upper 80's.

My live well seems to keep them a live very well. They stay alive for hours. I used to use a bucket and airator, but they still died quickly. I guess the live well is insulated and I do run the recirculator once in a while.

I like that cooler idea. i'm a do-it yourselfer so i might give it a try, looks like i just have to keep the water cooled, cleaned, and adding salt.

good links guys. thanks

Where do you live? I used to make some real good 25 gallon tanksfor 30 bucks or so that will keep 2 dozen 5 inch Gizzard shad kicking for days.. I'll be glad to show you how I make 'em.
Your enemy isn't the heat, it is ammonia, shad emit a lot of it when under stress and it will kill them quick, salt semi-counteracts it, but to keep shad alive without changing the water every hour or so, you need to limit your shad to 1 per gallon, then you still need to change the water every 4-5 hours at the outside....
Yes this is my first post on the forum, but I been fishing live shad for 20 years and practice makes perfect.

you can also buy a product called AMOLOCK (SP)it eliminates ammonia from water....used in aquariums. you can get it in rock form and put it in a stocking and it will last for a longggg time.

i've never had trouble keping gizzard shad alive. but threadfin arent as easy to keep as gizzard shad ive noticed. with gizzard shad we just through them in the livewell & they stayed plenty lively

This is new to me. Where can I get this?

You have to control the temperature, ammonia, and the shed scales. If you can figure out how to do this you have a good chance of keeping them alive for a long time. Ive kept shad alive in my livewell for three days, I have no idea how but I do.

When buying your bucket or cooler, remember that surface area is your friend. Higher surface area equals more shad. Your goal should go beyond keeping them alive, when kept properly they will be as lively as they were when you netted them.

Look Here

Try this ...

http://picasaweb.google.com/leewitte/TankNew#

Ok, I have a big shad tank that is a hassle to carry around. That homemade one would be great to throw in the back of the truck and go. I assume that the cotton batting is for a filter but how does water pass through it if the pump intake is routed down to the bottom of the cooler?