My boat dosn't currently have a live well. Any suggestions on these 12v setups i've seen in the stores? I'd like something easy to setup and that works well.

How many gallons? There are some real nice comercial ones out there.....

For a small boat like yours you can easily fit a 32 or 42 gallon rubbermaid roughnech, the gray ones, and get a small rule 12v pump that hangs off the back of the boat. A must have from early May thru June in our area for the macs.

I use the 42 gallon and have the big 1100 gal washdown pump which is nice when your catching boat. After I establish a good bucket of bait it is a bit overkill. Of course I have a big overflow too, 3".

For a small boat like yours you can easily fit a 32 or 42 gallon rubbermaid roughnech, the gray ones, and get a small rule 12v pump that hangs off the back of the boat. A must have from early May thru June in our area for the macs.



How do you bait a live mac?

Mr Hunters, Not sure what your asking? The macs are for bait for bass, not bait for the macs.

When catching macs when they are spotty sometimes I do chum as I drift with ground macs.

I made a nice set up with an 1100 gph pump on my thru well, two overflows and I did all the plumbing to bring the water in.]

Check this out.

http://www.baitwells.com/shopping/browse.aspx?cat=33&SiteID=1

I got the 40 gallon oval, its sweet.

Mr Hunters, Not sure what your asking? The macs are for bait for bass, not bait for the macs.

When catching macs when they are spotty sometimes I do chum as I drift with ground macs.

right.... my question was when you use the macs for bait how do you hook them..? havent done much live bait fishing but would like to give it a shot this spring. after all i do have a shiny new live well that was pretty much just used for storage last year :)

sorry bout that.

ps.... didnt mean to thread hijack

MarshCappa,

What size tank are you thinking of or can you fit and where in your boat would it fit best in the back or front?

I think the best part of this thread is that knowing you don't have to break the bank to keep bait alive. A livewell trash can type doesn't have to stay on the boat all year. Once the macs are gone and if you don't hunt down some pogies you can throw it in the truck.

Van, I really would love an oval tank. I want a fifty Gallon but the only 50's I see are round so I stayed with my rubbermaid.

I think my washdown pump now that I think of it is not 1100gph but 3000 something, quite the flow. Not something I like to run too long without the engine going.

Mr. Hunters. Boy there are allot of ways to troll Macs and hook them. If you want to be sporty just a single 7-8/0 threw the nose. Some like the circle hooks. Sometimes a harness rig with a single thru the nose and a treble near the tail using heavy mono. Or if you really don't want to miss a treble in the nose and tail. Weighted heavy or not weighted. It's all good and just takes practice when to set the hook depending on the type of rig your fishing with. If you want your trophy, 40/50 maybe 60 pounder, if you live on the South Shore it is during mac season. Can't wait.......

Thanks Beamie! I sent PM.

thanks beamie... :)

its amazing when i think about how much i fish and how much i don't know:kewl:

thats because your method is tried and true......:kewl:

buddah will help us this year. he does well with the macks

thats because your method is tried and true......:kewl:

buddah will help us this year. he does well with the macks


so he says :jester::jester:

how true

MarshCappa,

What size tank are you thinking of or can you fit and where in your boat would it fit best in the back or front?

I think the best part of this thread is that knowing you don't have to break the bank to keep bait alive. A livewell trash can type doesn't have to stay on the boat all year. Once the macs are gone and if you don't hunt down some pogies you can throw it in the truck.

Van, I really would love an oval tank. I want a fifty Gallon but the only 50's I see are round so I stayed with my rubbermaid.

I think my washdown pump now that I think of it is not 1100gph but 3000 something, quite the flow. Not something I like to run too long without the engine going.

Mr. Hunters. Boy there are allot of ways to troll Macs and hook them. If you want to be sporty just a single 7-8/0 threw the nose. Some like the circle hooks. Sometimes a harness rig with a single thru the nose and a treble near the tail using heavy mono. Or if you really don't want to miss a treble in the nose and tail. Weighted heavy or not weighted. It's all good and just takes practice when to set the hook depending on the type of rig your fishing with. If you want your trophy, 40/50 maybe 60 pounder, if you live on the South Shore it is during mac season. Can't wait.......


ON THE NOSE !!!!:kewl:

John my boats only 21 and I put the 40 gal. oval in front of the slash well so i can get around it on either side. I have 1100 going in , and two 1.2" overflows go out over the transom. Keeps over 40 macks alive and kickin all day for MAMA, (hopefully). Last spring suked so time was limited.:af:

Van,

40 Macs is a nice number. Mine does good with the regular sized macs but when you get the macs on roids in there the numbers obviously go down and the ability to swim harder.

The dual overflows are a good idea. So many set ups I've seen lack in the overflow area. If your pumping in....gravity out takes a bigger dia. My set up that I use now is a bit tall but the overflow goes right over gunnel so no need to go out the scuppers or drill any holes. The one thing I still have to remember is I have no check valve in the supply hose, so if I shut the pump off I must yank my hose out or a few minute later tails be slappin the barrel :crying: I am sure this is the case with most set ups. Makes a good start to the morning turn crappy until more livies are caught. Actually dead trolled works wonders too, sometimes easier. I haven't been able to fix the problem of a weak bait getting stuck to the overflow outlet and then the tank starts overflowing in the cockpit yet.

I made a nice set up with an 1100 gph pump on my thru well, two overflows and I did all the plumbing to bring the water in.]

Check this out.

http://www.baitwells.com/shopping/browse.aspx?cat=33&SiteID=1

I got the 40 gallon oval, its sweet.


Thanks Van. Good link. I just want to find something that can hold 20 or so Macs, Pogs, etc, dosn't break my bank, and dosn't fry my brain tying to install.

I shoulda taken a pic of the tank last year, as this topic has come up a few times. I pump in from the bottom, and there is a 90 elbow so the water goes "spinny" that line is 1" and I have a plastic ball valve to isolate it. Then the two overflows easiliy keep up with that flow.
I used a rule pump that has an extra outlet for the washdown and then the line from the pump itself, that way I only have one thru hull.
I will remember to take a pic this season.

MarshC it was not too much $$$, but i did all the plumbing myself no factory installed stuff.

I have a 18 Foot Parker, found a used Aqua World UT 29 that fit perfectly under the leaning post (don't even have to tie it down), Rule Submearsable pump mounted on a bracket out side the transom. Ran the hose over the transom and right along the floor,zip tied the drain hose along it dumping right at the scuppers. When I am done just pull it out of the bracket and store it right in the tank. Hoses are a very slight trip hazard, but when not in use I can the entire setup out and no thru hull fixtures.Check out Live Bait Larry's web site has all the parts and great photo's

this is a 60 gallon well, I have it in a 18' Jon Dory center console...

this is a 60 gallon well, I have it in a 18' Jon Dory center console...

Is this boat in Tiverton? Looks like the Sakonnet River Bridge in the background. I grew up in Middletown and my uncles sailboat is at Brewers accross the river. I know the marinas in that area well.

I have a 18 Foot Parker, found a used Aqua World UT 29 that fit perfectly under the leaning post (don't even have to tie it down), Rule Submearsable pump mounted on a bracket out side the transom. Ran the hose over the transom and right along the floor,zip tied the drain hose along it dumping right at the scuppers. When I am done just pull it out of the bracket and store it right in the tank. Hoses are a very slight trip hazard, but when not in use I can the entire setup out and no thru hull fixtures.Check out Live Bait Larry's web site has all the parts and great photo's

This is what I'm talking about! Cool. I don't have a CC type of boat. I need something small enough but still effective enough to work well. This might be a good resource. Thanks.

Nope, Salisbury Mass, Merrimack river....

That's funny because the Sakonnet river bridge also has a railroad bridge next to it. Very similar. When I saw you were from N. Reading I wasn't sure.

Keep alive makes a pretty good system. I run it on my truck to transfer bait to the boat. I've loaned it out to guys to use on their boats, in a pinch its been fine. You can buy a well with the pump, they go for over a buck and a half.

Mr. Hunters.

i like to use a trebble hook through the nose and take them for a slow walk through a "bad Neighborhood"

I like the oval style that rock posted. The way he has it set up he can run either fresh seawater in and out or close the valve and run just the bubbler. This way the macks can be brought into the freshwater and stay lively for a long time (fresh water would kill them quick). For outflow I have a plastic screen of sorts that stops fish from getting stuck in it, works well (5$). Go to livebaitlarry and check it out, some great tips and cheap parts to build your own.