Bait Bucket

[leapnlineman]

I got a 6 gallon Frabil bait bucket from Bass Pro with the oxygen difusser, also a bottle of "Shad Keeper" and some rock salt. Put tap water in the bucket Friday night along with 4 1/2 gallons of water, 1/4 cup of Shad Keeper and a shake or two of rock salt. I then turned on the oxygen difuser and let it run until Saturday evening when I went fishing. Caught about a dozen shad and put in the bucket. Within minutes the shad were at the surface of the bucket sticking their heads out of the water and gulping air and then died within a few hours or less. WHAT DID I DO WRONG??? I don't want to know where to get the shad I'd rather find them on my own, but I do want to keep the ones that I catch alive. This is the largest tank that I have room for in my little old bass boat. The rock salt was the type that is used to make ice cream, could that be my problem. Or could I have put to much or to little salt in the water, I don't know what the reccomended amount per gallon is. The Shad Keeper instructions said 1 cup per 20 Gallons, so the 1/4 cup should have been about right. I also put two frozen 16 oz. bottles of water in the bucket. I NEED HELP!!!

[Killian]

I haven't used the rock salt. I end up using Kosher salt. I also add quite a bit of ice to the water. Just in a 2 gallon styrofoam cooler I've kept them alive for over a day. Not that I am a pro or anything at keeping bait, just that has worked for me.

[waterworld]

RAY try the livewell powder thats helps keep fish alive and ice works great... NO ROCK SALT.

[soretoe]

It may be that the chlorine in the tap water hasnt leeched out yet. I used to leave my old bait bucket out in the sun for a week or two just to get the chlorine out of it. Try using lake water, they use it all the time ;D

[pbmang]

Lou got it, its the chlorine. You can get some stuff at a fish store to remove it for a few bucks. Also, did you get the water too cold possibly? I have thrown shad in my tank (25 gallons) and they basically went into shock because the water was too cold.

Even with the best stuff, they are tough to keep alive this time of year.