How do u keep the night crawlers fresher longer? I used the FishMaster tube today for the first time. Wasn't used to that style of float but got the hand of it fast. It only has two bags on each side. I brought a cup of night crawlers and the sun was pretty somewhat hot today and the crawlers start to fade away from life. My son used minnows and they were better. What is your idea of keeping the worms longer with only two small pocket on the tube? I used to have a cooler full of ice and drinks and put the night crawlers in while canoeing but with the tubing...how is that worked?
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[cool][#0000ff]We have a whole assortment of small insulated containers (Thermos bottles)...from "soup" size to quart size. We find them cheap at yard sales and thrift stores. They work great for protecting bait from the heat. We use them for crawlers, cut bait and minnows.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To insure that the bait stays as fresh as possible., keep the containers in the refrigerator for awhile before going. Then, either add one of the refreezable ice packs or put a few small ice cubes in a plastic bag and SEAL IT WELL. You don't want water leaking into your crawlers as the ice cubes melt.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You don't have much pocket space on the Fishmaster. If you don't have enough to hold a cool container, with bait in it, then either wear a fishing vest with a big side pocket to carry it in, or wear a small day pack that you can reach easily. Some folks even wear a small pack in the front, for extra tackle and bait.[/#0000ff]
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Something that you could tie it to the tube and let it float around? Some where I saw someone made a small tube from those lawn tractor tires and tied it to the tube. I thought about those coolers and tuck it in there that way I could have a cold one and still have fresh night crawlers.
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[cool][#0000ff]There are quite a few tubers that inflate a regular auto inner tube around a STURDY cooler to drag out with them. Small ones are better for personal use, but still can get in the way if you don't rig them right. Some guys get those gallon sized insulated jugs, and keep both bait and a drink or two on ice. The handle ties off easily to a short cord to your tube. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When you go out with a group, you can take a bigger "community" cooler, and anchor it in the general area everybody is fishing. Then, when someone wants a sandwich or a drink, it is handier than a trip back to the car.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, just remember, when you are wearing waders out there...WHAT GOES IN, MUST COME BACK OUT. It is not a good idea to drink a lot unless you are within easy reach of a shoreside "facility".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The main idea is that if you fish when and where daytime temps get up there, then having your "perishables" on ice can make for a better trip.[/#0000ff]
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When I take bait out in my tube, I have been using one of those foldable, insulated "lunchboxes", which can be purchased for only a couple of dollars. There is enough room for one freezer gelpack, my container of crawlers or frozen minnows, and a small snack or small water bottle. It folds enough that it fits in the sleeve on the back of the seat in my fat cat. Has worked great all year.
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Hey Flatlander(I saw your confession about Illinois on the other board),
I have been working on solving that issue for a while now. Tubedude and doggonefishing both mentioned some of the things I have tried. The lunch box method can be used as a floating bait container with just a small modification to the box itself. If it doesn't float as you would prefer, get some styrofoam and glue, ziptie or otherwise attach it to the sides of it(you want it to float upright) and it will keep those crawlers cool and fresh - you don't need much because the insulation itself is boyant(actually, depending on what kind you get, you may even have to add ballast to get it down in the water enough for the water to keep it cool) - experiment with it at home in your bathtub. If you buy one(I got mine at a local thrift store for 25 cents apiece), get a lighter colored one(I have a white one and a light green one). You can tie it off on your tube(the opposite side of your casting arm so you don't have to land a fish around it, or tie it to your fish basket or next to your stringer) and drag it around and you won't notice it at all.
If you need more room in the cooler for beverages or something, a small inexpensive cooler(those cheapo sytrofoam ones or any kind for that matter) will float upright with just about any kind of small inner tube that fits around it(the tube should be snug when you put it on uninflated). When I did it, my cooler didn't need additional floatation, it needed stability to keep it from tipping over.
Anyway, there's a few more ideas you can try, like I said, I'm still attempting to get it "just right" for me too.
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