Bait Stealers

[craddockcreek]

Any thoughts on the following scenario?  

The other day I left the top of my bait tank open in the afternoon  by accident.  Came to find it empty. Had a couple of dozen ales.   Disappointed but not surprised as I've caught a Herron in my boat before having a meal out of the tank.  
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So last night I caught bait at my light and filled the tank with probably 50 ales.  I was excited as they were larger than I normally catch.  I closed the top (SBTII) other than I put the minnow net under one half of the lid to keep the edge open about an inch so that the ammonia didn't build up.  I'll try to post a pic.  

Came down this morning and tank empty other than two baits.  The minnow net was still in the same place.  

Any ideas of what could have gotten in there, eaten the bait and gotten out without knocking the net out?  

Do you guys close your tanks completely?  My boat sits in the water rather than on a lift.  Maybe I need to put a tarp or something over it.  

My kids think I'm crazy.  Only thing I can think of is an otter, but it must be one lucky otter to not get stuck in there.   

I can't believe a fisherman would steal bait from a tank.  

Thanks

[johnr]

Otters.

[31Airborne]

yep, you gots an otter. they are very creative about getting into things. even more so than raccoons.

[herringbone]

Hope I don’t come across this situation. I’m planning to catch bait the night before like you but leave them in a cage I made to leave in the lake.

[craddockcreek]

I recalled an old thread about cages that might be helpful to you.

smlfishingforums.proboards.com/thread/5348/bait-cage

[herringbone]

Dec 2, 2020 11:45:43 GMT -5 craddockcreek said:

I recalled an old thread about cages that might be helpful to you.

smlfishingforums.proboards.com/thread/5348/bait-cage

Thanks for the info, not sure if I’m more worried about bait theft more now than I was before. Lol. Seriously though, thanks. I’ll be up tomorrow thru Sunday. I’ll post on the cage results.

[craddockcreek]

Good luck. Looks like you'll have a bit of rain but then some sunny days. Great time of year to be there.

[R22]

I had the same thing happen a few weeks back. I found a small feather next to the bait tank so I am suspecting a heron. It's only happened once, but since that time I covered the tank with an older cast net and have not had anymore issues. I suspect that an otter would make easy work of that net. I am going to install some cameras at my dock. If I get any footage, I will keep you posted.