09-10-2005, 02:14 PM
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.
[signature]
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.
[signature]