2 questions... eels/livewells - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

likwid · 05-28-2003, 01:31 PM

Anyone build their own livewells for their pickup/suv?
Lookin for some details (not looking to build a beast... maybe 10-15 gallon?)

And anyone trap their own eels?
What kind of trap (duh... eel trap... specifically maybe? heh) do you use?

Fishpart · 05-28-2003, 03:02 PM

I have been able to keep eels alive on ice for at least 24 hours, the trick is to not let the melt water and slime accumulate in the bucket. Nice thing about live eels is they stay alive without too much fuss.

Some people use three 5 gallon buckets, a bottom bucket to catch the slime and melt water, a middle bucket with holes drilled in it for the eels and a top bucket drilled full of holes with ice in it. Stack the three buckets together and you are in business.

I store my eels between trips in a stream in a bucket full of holes, with a lid of course. If you are storing them you'll want to paint the bucket black on the inside to keep the eels dark.

JohnR · 05-28-2003, 03:27 PM

There is some info on keeping eels on ice on this thread: http://www.striped-bass.com/vbulleti...&threadid=7020 but what do you want the livewell for? For eels in your truck I'd recommend ice in a dark container to keep the color and 15 gals is tooo small to use for anything else in the salt ??

Just curious what you are looking to do...

likwid · 05-28-2003, 03:39 PM

Livewells was a seperate question, I've seen people running livewells in their trucks etc. for herring and whatnot, (i suppose you could toss eels in too)

I know how to keep my eels... Matter of fact, there's a bunch of em sitting on my back porch right now happily chilled...

JohnR · 05-28-2003, 04:11 PM

OK - why only 15 gallons? Freshwater?

likwid · 05-28-2003, 04:27 PM

got a jeep.... not a pickup

although flipping up the back seat i could probably go around 30 gallon....

JohnR · 05-29-2003, 09:09 AM

Ahah! - Hang 4 15 Gallon live wells off the rollover bars ala gas cans

likwid · 05-29-2003, 03:41 PM

LOL!

Now that could be entertaining

TheSpecialist · 05-29-2003, 05:40 PM

Sorry Likwid for not getting back to you faster. I thing that the Keepalive 30 gallontank will go on the back seat in your jeepI would just run a racheting tie-down around the tank, and the back of the seat or the roll bar.

likwid · 05-29-2003, 05:46 PM

Oooh, have to do some measurements...

Could always flip up the back seat and make some brackets for it bolted thru the body tub

Rappin Mikey · 06-12-2003, 11:17 AM

I have a jeep cherokee. This is what I did. I bought a keep alive pump. I took a 75 Quart cooler and installed my pump. Make sure that you drill holes in the cooler to allow air to escape. (near the top as to not loose to much water) I bought a back rack that fits nicely into my trailer hitch (65$ at #^&#^&#^&#^&'s sporting goods). Secure the live well and a 12 volt to the rack with straps/bungees. (using the rack eliminates stinky water sloshing in your car) And your ready to go. The whole system cost about 120$. Also, if the cooler covers you license plate, write your number in permanent marker on the cooler (less reasons for the heat to give you heat). Oh yeah, make sure you go to m&D's in Wareham to get your chemicals. One keeps the amonia out of the water the other keeps the foam away.

JohnR · 06-12-2003, 11:46 AM

RM - when you can, get an oval tank. The corners on a cooler will cause baits like pogies or herring to swim into a corner and they might quickly die. With a round / oval tank there are no corners for this to happen...

RickBomba · 06-27-2003, 05:54 PM

problem with the ovals is they are expensive!!!
I have a 150 qt with a 750 keepalive that I won on the internet and a hitch hauler that I bought @ a bargain site.
Whole kit and kaboodle was $90.
It does the job, but John, you are right...
The ovals are the way to go.
Can you please foreward a copy of your respons to Mikey to my wife, I feel she need to know that our money will be spent wisely.
(when I was single there was just buying, no checking)!

Hope I see you this weekend.
later,
Rick

MikeTLive · 09-06-2003, 06:30 PM

Lookin at this old thread had a thought - if you haven't already done it.

to make that rectangular tank oval cut a large bucket or plastic drum into quarters. attach the quarters into the corners with aquarium safe silicon and you should be all set. You could also use plexiglass or any other semi-rigid plastic sheet.

One trick for aquariums is to cut vertical slits near the top of one "corner" for an overflow. then put your pump/intake in that corner and pipe it to a tube with holes in it spraying back into the main tank for aeration.

MikeTLive · 05-31-2004, 09:31 PM

I did this diagram last year.
Found it yesterday.
Here it is, enjoy.
-miket