Post by BentRod on Jul 16, 2012 12:42:20 GMT -5
FishON, I just started a new thread to talk about it. I don't use it in the summertime because it's just too dang hot and I don't fish much anyways. Plus, bait is usually relatively easy to come by when I do want to fish in the summer. But from mid-late September through April, it is usually pretty solid. I've been playing with it some over the past couple years and improving it slightly. It's simple and that's what I like it, but it does require a little more "looking over" from time to time than I would like so I'd like to get it even better.
It is a 275gal tote tank. I basically just have four aerators and a simple mechanical filtration system on it now. I'd like to get a bio filter running on it this fall through next spring to help with the water maintenance. If I could plumb it out to the lake, I'd be set, but I'm just too lazy to do that right now. I have to do manual water changes now, especially when I dump a big load of shad in it. The filter can generally keep up after the first 36-48hrs. Gizzards will live forever in it if you get through the first few days and can avoid any major tail rot and diseases spreading. Alewives don't require any filtration in this tank if the water stays under about 65-68deg. As soon as it gets hotter than that, I have a tough time keeping alewives in it for more than a few days as the transfer from the lake to my boat tank to the shed tank just seems to beat them up too bad and then you've got to keep the water cold, which is tough.
Here's a few pictures and a couple videos. I took a decent video of a bunch of shad in it this spring, but I'll have to upload it sometime from my phone. We had it loaded with about 100 BIG 11-12"+ gizzards this spring at one point.
A round tank would be best, but this works just fine since the corners are rounded off.
These are the big boys I like to keep it stocked with to catch the big girls! I don't ever actually catch any, but at least I try!
It's always nice to be able to go "scoop" a dozen and hit the water for a couple hours without having to throw the net, etc.
Bunch of big alewives in it a couple winters ago. They'll live FOREVER in it in cold water.
Mess of shad and jumbo ales in it from last spring. Some of the shad lived in it for over two months straight last spring.
It is a 275gal tote tank. I basically just have four aerators and a simple mechanical filtration system on it now. I'd like to get a bio filter running on it this fall through next spring to help with the water maintenance. If I could plumb it out to the lake, I'd be set, but I'm just too lazy to do that right now. I have to do manual water changes now, especially when I dump a big load of shad in it. The filter can generally keep up after the first 36-48hrs. Gizzards will live forever in it if you get through the first few days and can avoid any major tail rot and diseases spreading. Alewives don't require any filtration in this tank if the water stays under about 65-68deg. As soon as it gets hotter than that, I have a tough time keeping alewives in it for more than a few days as the transfer from the lake to my boat tank to the shed tank just seems to beat them up too bad and then you've got to keep the water cold, which is tough.
Here's a few pictures and a couple videos. I took a decent video of a bunch of shad in it this spring, but I'll have to upload it sometime from my phone. We had it loaded with about 100 BIG 11-12"+ gizzards this spring at one point.
A round tank would be best, but this works just fine since the corners are rounded off.
These are the big boys I like to keep it stocked with to catch the big girls! I don't ever actually catch any, but at least I try!
It's always nice to be able to go "scoop" a dozen and hit the water for a couple hours without having to throw the net, etc.
Bunch of big alewives in it a couple winters ago. They'll live FOREVER in it in cold water.
Mess of shad and jumbo ales in it from last spring. Some of the shad lived in it for over two months straight last spring.