There’s little question having a livewell or baitwell is a large benefit for fishing with reside bait. Not everyone seems to be lucky sufficient to have one, so I’m going to point out you the way to maintain baitfish and shrimp alive and not using a livewell.
Whereas this technique isn’t the one resolution, I’ve discovered it to be extremely efficient, particularly when the temperatures swing to the acute sizzling or chilly facet of the size.

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The best way to Hold Baitfish and Shrimp Alive With out a Livewell Video
Really helpful Gear to Hold Baitfish and Shrimp Alive
Engel Reside Bait CoolerEngel Rechargeable BubblerSure Life Pogey-Croaker Saver (or comparable additive)
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Key Takeaways
A cooler does a superb job of stabilizing the water temperature.Add a bubbler to ensure there’s loads of oxygen within the water.Change out the water repeatedly to dilute waste toxins the bait naturally produces.In sizzling circumstances, maintain frozen bottle of water available to maintain the water cool. Don’t add ice on to keep away from introducing contaminates.Don’t put your palms immediately within the water. Use a web to keep away from transferring contaminants out of your palms into the water.Use a water conditioning components to assist take away contaminants and enhance oxygen uptake.
The best way to Hold Baitfish and Shrimp Alive With out a Livewell
Gear
I like to make use of a cooler once I don’t have entry to a livewell. Whereas it’s heavier than some choices, it does a significantly better job of stabilizing the water temperature.
It’s not excellent, although. Throughout the sizzling summer time months, the temp can enhance, even in a high-quality cooler. Not solely does it shock your reside bait, however it additionally drops how a lot oxygen it might probably maintain. To assist fight it, freeze some bottles of water earlier than you head out and maintain them in your drink cooler. Because the day goes on, drop one into the cooler. Simply do one by one to keep away from stunning the bait by dropping the temperature an excessive amount of.
Keep away from placing ice immediately into the cooler, although. It typically holds contaminants similar to chlorine that may kill reside bait in a closed system.
The opposite key element is an efficient bubbler. The extra bubbles, the higher, so don’t skimp by shopping for the most affordable one you could find. I like to recommend utilizing a chargeable bubbler. Whereas it’s dearer, you don’t have to fret about changing batteries, decreasing the quantity of waste you generate.
Protecting Reside Bait Alive
As you’re studying the way to maintain baitfish and shrimp alive and not using a livewell, your habits comes into play.
First, you should definitely change out the water within the cooler. Because the bait sits in there, it generates waste merchandise that may kill them if it will get too concentrated. Get into the behavior of utilizing a small bucket or giant cup to vary out a few of the water each hour or so and maintain it recent.
Additionally, don’t put your palms immediately within the water. Contaminants similar to sunscreen, sweat, bug spray, and different chemical substances can switch into the water and kill your bait. It’s a fair larger concern while you’re carrying fishing gloves.
As an alternative, use a web to catch and pull the bait out. Some methods also have a drop-in web that fills the cooler, permitting you to tug all you bait out directly. Not having to chase pinfish round with a bait web saves occasions and assist remove some banging round that may scare fish.
One other factor you are able to do to assist is to make use of an additive, similar to Positive Life’s Pogey-Croaker Saver. It will probably scale back the impact of some toxins whereas additionally making enhancing the water’s means to soak up oxygen.
One Extra Factor
As you think about the way to maintain baitfish alive while you don’t have a livewell, there’s a limitation of this technique you want to bear in mind.
Open-water baitfish similar to dollars, white bait, sardines, and the like don’t do nicely on this system. They want a relentless provide of recent water and do greatest in a spherical, circulating bait nicely.
In a cooler, these baitfish are inclined to bury themselves into the corners and die rapidly, even when you have got a great bubbler. If you happen to’re making an attempt to maintain them alive, you’re higher off utilizing a system that sits immediately within the water, such because the BaitShark.
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