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Post by emmitt on Apr 14, 2016 10:05:11 GMT -5
I recently built a bait cage for the end of my dock. It is 5' long with a diameter of about 2'. I have it in 10' of water and was thinking this would be good for this time of year. All I have put in it so far are ales and plan on using it for gizzards when I can find some.
My question is each morning when I come down I find a good number of ales floating on top. Is losing several overnight to be expected with ales or is there something I am not doing correctly? I don't think I am overloading it since I am only up to the lake for a few days at a time and empty it when I leave..
I only plan on using the cage in the Spring and Fall when the water temp is cool enough.
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Post by getlinewet on Apr 14, 2016 12:00:59 GMT -5
I'm certainly no expert at keeping bait alive, but have you tried sinking the cage all the way to the bottom after catching your ales? A guy where I live kept minnows alive for months by putting them in a galvanized metal bait bucket and dropping it all the way to the bottom (6-8 feet) and leaving it there until he was ready to fish.
I've had the same trouble with alewives using my bait bag. Next time I use it I think I'll put some weights and drop it to the bottom. Problem with the mesh bait bag are critters chewing through the mesh.
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johnr
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Post by johnr on Apr 14, 2016 13:00:48 GMT -5
Unless the bait bag is held open, it will collapse around the alewives and suffocate them
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Post by gofish2 on Apr 14, 2016 13:12:34 GMT -5
I recently built a bait cage for the end of my dock. It is 5' long with a diameter of about 2'. I have it in 10' of water and was thinking this would be good for this time of year. All I have put in it so far are ales and plan on using it for gizzards when I can find some. My question is each morning when I come down I find a good number of ales floating on top. Is losing several overnight to be expected with ales or is there something I am not doing correctly? I don't think I am overloading it since I am only up to the lake for a few days at a time and empty it when I leave.. I only plan on using the cage in the Spring and Fall when the water temp is cool enough. A friend and I too built one 6' tall and 3' round and having the same issues. So your size is not the problem. I can put 25 ales in there at night and then by morning there are 10-12 of them floating. Have not tried any gizzards. Maybe someone will give you and I an answer. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 15:07:53 GMT -5
They should be fine in these water temps, no need to sink it..... ales are very delicate, dump them from the net into the cage..... you are always going to lose a few from the injuries sustained from the net....don't add to it by dumping them on the dock or the floor of the boat and picking them up.... my cage is 4'x8', always catch a few more then you need, fully expecting the injured ones won't make it.... definitely don't put the ones in the cage that get stuck in the net or the ones you have to shake out....they won't make it....... oh, and "ALWAYS" remember if you fish ales, as lund1 put it.... it's not the size of the pencil that counts, it's how you sign your name.... 
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Apr 14, 2016 18:08:59 GMT -5
Good stuff, Bigun. I'm not a bait expert and that's why I don't fool with those pesky ales. Probably a mistake. I'll take my chances with gizz in the cooler water and artificial for my summer fix. Sure would like to have a skipjack or ten in my SML bait tank!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 18:41:33 GMT -5
Hey bud, hope you are overcoming your bout with the gout...... oh, I gave this advice to BentRod one time, so don't forget what popeye did when he had a sore finger..... prolly work on a big toe. 
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Post by striperjohn on Apr 14, 2016 19:17:45 GMT -5
Have something to do with Olive Oil?
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Apr 14, 2016 19:23:59 GMT -5
Something to do with cider?? Yup... Works on just about everything.  ?? |
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lund1
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Post by lund1 on Apr 15, 2016 8:57:53 GMT -5
I've used bait cages off my dock for a number of years....always with mixed results of maintaining healthy bait. It's true there's attrition...there will always be floaters. I think it may have as much to do with banging around against the wire as anything else. Make sure your cage isn't getting banged around by passing wakes.....It's also worth looking carefully at the floaters...if they're wounded in any way, you probably have predators grabbing at them ( blue gill, snakes) I've come down to find 20 ales with their eyes pecked out. ....of course it's always fun to find every single bait in the tank torn up...otters. I think they do it just for fun. You might find the death rate drops a bit once the cage gets a nice coating of slime on the wire....enjoy pulling that out come June.
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