Portable, non battery powered live bait tank

[Levi]

Hi All,

So a quick run down on the latest build. After testing, evaluating and hating on using a bait tube i went about making a live bait tank.

Design brief--> I don't use batteries/power on my yak so it had to be unpowered. I also wanted it to be small enough to carry and port around if full (e.g if i want to pick up LB before a session). Of course it had to fit the profish too. Most function, least parts was my moto. I looked on here, found some nice designs, chatted to Mr X and then went about my first one.

In the end i picked up a very nice ice box from Super cheap, down from $60 to $35. It was a touch smaller than i wanted at 13L, but as it was well sealed i could use the full volume.
Took it home, measured up on the profish the locations i wanted to attach stuff. Grabbed a nice hand pump from Witworths, some bungs, and some flexible bilge pipe. All SS bolts and screws. Sikaflex marine grade used for sealing around the bungs. some pics of construction attached. next post will be finished version.

Drilled holes for attaching hand pump and inserting bungs to take the plumbing in top

Side hole for bung placement. Can be totally sealed, or left open for overflow

Inside View

Bung inserted, screwed in and Sikaflex used to seal this and also the exposed foam between the inner and outer wall

Lid with Bung in place to receive the inlet piping

[Levi]

Then to finish it off it was just a matter of letting the Sikaflex dry, add the hand pump and plumbing. All in all it looks luverly, is light weight, no power, minimal parts or joins. I left the shoulder strap on also for transport. The Clips are very strong that hold the lid shut, but i may upgrade these later. The hinges are Plastic and SS!! Nice touch.
My only concern is water volume, 13L is a bit low, but i will test it out. If it doesnt work i will upgrade to a 20L box in the future.

Finished product. all Ready to Roll- totally transportable

A little Glimpse inside. The inlet pipe goes to the bottom to push fresh water in. Overflow at the top

Fits like a Glove. If i like its funtionality on the water i will add mounting point to strap down (not really needed though) and also a 3 x rod holder on the back

You can see the Box opens up fully and from directly behind. this will make getting the bait in and out easier

I didn't have the bracket i wanted to mount the pipe as neat as i like, so temporarily i have used 2 saddles and a zip-tie. i will modify this later/cleaner. Note- the box has around 25mm beneath it in the middle allowing the inlet hose to slide under and into the scupper hole without hindering flow... and NO DRAG!!! WHOOTT

[Occy]

Gee nice job there. That looks bigger than 13 litres (looks can be deceiving) but if it is indeed that size I fear you will it a tad too small. Only time will tell it may work just fine, although most yak live bait tanks are around the 25-30 litre mark.

[MrX]

Looks great Levi. 13 litres should cover you for a few healthy yakkas on the water.

As you use it, you’ll find a few improvements. Another bung down low is handy for emptying the tank – when changing water landbased (without fish falling out), for catching the slippery suckers in the tank when you're on the water, and to eject that ballast when you don’t need it.

I struggled carrying the bulky esky shape to the car full of water when catching livies land-based, so went the slim tank with a solid carry handle. I have a long carry though.

The high centre of gravity will be noticeable on the yak, and high sides might make it a bit awkward getting the yakkas out when it's rough. Just stick a leg over the side, and you'll be fine.

[Levi]

Thanks Gents,

So, i tested it out this morning, and it works AWESOME!! I picked up a couple of squid, one kingy candy sized, the other one enormous, so much so it only just fit in length wise to the tank, and had to have tentacles curled up! I figured this would be a good test. kept the 2 alive for about 45mins whilst i continued bait fishing. Paddled to the fishing site and dropped down the small one after an hour in the tank. He was perfectly well. Kept the larger one in there for about 2hrs, with no ill affects.
After loosing both to pickers i went an caught another, only in the tank halfa but he was fine.

So if i can keep giant squid alive for a couple of hours, i think Yakkas will be fine.... looks like 13l will do it.

I will likely add two alterations- SS saddles on each side to secure it better (although pumping was easy enough, a fully locked down tank would be better still). And as per Mr X i will add a bung down low to dump the water BEFORE the paddle back in. having said that its only 13l and i really couldn't notice the difference with it empty or full.

Love it.

[keza]

How often did you pump it (the tank) ?
The real test will be how many it will keep alive, the more bait the more water you need.
I reckon 6 livies is a good number and I think your tank should cope with that.

Squid at Botany ?

[Levi]

G'day Kezza,

I pumped it when i thought about it! Sadly today that was quite a bit as the fishing was slooooooooooooooow again. Dam 4 days in a row, and nothing to show (except some epic fitness).

I would think i was pumping it every 15mins or so at an estimate, at one point i forgot for about 25mins and the big one was still well alive. If/when they inked into the tank i gave it a really good pump out to clear the water. It flows quite a good volume of water. All in all i was really happy with it. The placement of the tank and handle make it very easy to 'reach around and give it a good couple of pumps'... no jokes please

If the squid were small i would have been able to take 5 or so i think. Yakkas definitely wouldnt be a problem.

Squid- I have now found 3 locations for squid in botany, ranging from the Kurnell side to the la Perouse side. The only problem is some of them are like the overhead traffic- jumbos. I really should have just eaten the big one, but i was desperate for a kingy... god knows how big it would have been should it get eaten.

Cheers,

[YakCult]

Congratulations on creating something with 100% reliability and simplicity!
Salt water is not going to have any detremental effect either -
Well done!