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Post by treich on Apr 24, 2017 19:19:49 GMT -5
After living on the lake for five years, I decided to take the plunge and jump into striper fishing. Found a nice boat (Sea Hunt Triton 172) and have been equipping it relying largely on info from this forum. Got the electronics, got a trolling motor, got rods, got a cast net, almost ready. But I'm striking out completely on a bait tank. SBT II seems to be the clear choice, but it seems you can't get them. Gray line gets bad comments. Striper Soup not insulated. The ones from Cabelas and Bass Pro never get mentioned and I assume are not suitable for shad. And so on. I had about decided to buy the Striper Soup one and figure out how to add some outside insulation, but even that one is now no longer on their Website, so seems to have been discontinued, or at least out of stock. Is there a bait tank you can actually buy and get shipped that does an acceptable job of keeping shad?
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Bait tank
Apr 24, 2017 19:27:26 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by choochoo on Apr 24, 2017 19:27:26 GMT -5
Not so fast on the grayline. Give them your own due diligence. I used a borrowed one a few years back for awhile and it was a positive experience. I'm close to buying one myself.
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johnr
New Member
Posts: 1,295
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Post by johnr on Apr 24, 2017 20:05:33 GMT -5
I've had creekbanks, sbt, sbt II and extreme bait systems. They've all kept bait for me, some had a few kinks to work out, but they've all done well. Right now I've got a 20 gallon SBT II and it is my favorite out of all of them.
I really liked the looks of the striper soup moeller tanks.
Xtreme bait systems tanks have improved greatly since I bought one of the first made. They can get you a tank quick, but it costs. I heard Kenny Short was selling them at the lake?
If you can find a used 30 gallon creekbank you'd be set too.
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johnr
New Member
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Post by johnr on Apr 24, 2017 20:06:57 GMT -5
By the way, even the insulated tanks get warm in the summer because we're pumping ambient air into them which serves to heat up the water. Unless you're a die hard summer guide, I don't think an insulated tank is of much importance. A good filter and air system goes a long, long way.
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BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
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Post by BentRod on Apr 25, 2017 6:16:08 GMT -5
There's a couple others to look up - Bluewater bait tanks, Evolution bait systems, and Mel's Bait tanks in Tenn. All of these aren't bad either.
I'm not really a fan of Extreme tanks only bc I've had to deal with the guy a couple times and wasn't impressed.
I have a Super II and a Creekbank - to me the Creekbank is the best tank all around by a very thin margin, but the Super II is my daily user simply bc it fits in my boat better and does the job I need it too.
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Post by treich on Apr 25, 2017 7:24:30 GMT -5
Thanks much, all. You have given me some options to check out that I didn't know about.
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Post by coheasion on Apr 25, 2017 8:25:00 GMT -5
Hey BentRod - do you know if Mel's is still in business? I tried to find some information out about them a month or two ago and couldnt find anything. I had seen those tanks advertised on Craiglist a year or so ago and they looked really nice and well set-up.
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BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
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Post by BentRod on Apr 25, 2017 8:49:45 GMT -5
Hey BentRod - do you know if Mel's is still in business? I tried to find some information out about them a month or two ago and couldnt find anything. I had seen those tanks advertised on Craiglist a year or so ago and they looked really nice and well set-up. MEL 865-661-7806 www.melsstriperguideservice.com/
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mike175
New Member
Glad to be back. Tight lines all.
Posts: 70
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Post by mike175 on Apr 25, 2017 9:03:48 GMT -5
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Post by bushwacker on Apr 25, 2017 10:37:22 GMT -5
these two were at Captains Quarters on the 10th. 40 gallon super bait tank, 40 gallon gray line I think he was asking $500
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Post by steviejayvaughan on Apr 25, 2017 10:54:33 GMT -5
I have been watching the evolution tanks as well. I think he is out if Ohio. I do like that he uses what appears to be a better pickup in the center instead of the hockey puck. Other than that no first hand experience with one. I think Mel's uses a center pickup as well? They all keep bait alive but of all on the market I want to try a mel's or evolution out..or a 100 gal BA tank.
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BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
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Post by BentRod on Apr 25, 2017 11:24:29 GMT -5
I agree that lack of a center pick up is the major flaw on most of these tanks like Super II, Creekbank, etc.
Todd Keith (theshadtaxi) was the first guy I ever saw using a center pick up. I have since seen it on the larger Steve Baker tanks, which may be where Todd came up with it since he has one. Since then I've seen most guys putting it on their home/storage tanks and the boat tanks are going that way also. The BA 100 is probably the smartest designed center pickup for both filter and return flow, but don't think it works as easily in smaller sized tanks and isn't being mass produced anyways.
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Bait tank
Apr 26, 2017 17:14:24 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by FishON on Apr 26, 2017 17:14:24 GMT -5
What do you guy mean by " center pick up "
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Post by steviejayvaughan on Apr 26, 2017 18:03:47 GMT -5
Drain in the middle of the tank instead of on the side that gravity feeds the filter setup. The circular flow causes debris to collect in the center..mostly gizzard turds that won't get filtered out. I remember when I first got my sbt II and kept 25 8-12" gizzards in it for 3 days before the tournament and had to take a wet/dry vac to clear the middle of the tank of poop. Did it cause any issues for me keeping the bait, probably not, but it was more peace of mind. No experience with any of these except a sbt. Mel's Evolution Xtreme Sbt
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Bait tank
Apr 26, 2017 18:35:01 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by FishON on Apr 26, 2017 18:35:01 GMT -5
O, Got it. Thanks.. I used to have that problem.. But, after I installed the dannco venturi the problem went away because the water goes straight into the tank and got rid of the water going in a Circular motion. Verse the way it was before I made the mod. Honestly, I didn't think I would like the water shooting straight in the side of the tank at first because I thought it would knock scales off of the bait and the water wouldn't circulate enough. But, the tank has seemed to work better since removing the factory white puck side discharge part.
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