Keeping Shad in a basic livewell. How to keep Striper Bait

[@twofistedadventures2695]

Great video. A thought about adding ice straight into water, make sure it is not City water that may contain chlorine ect. We use plastic bottles with frozen water that allows more even temperature exchange. Also like to add in an option, Xtreme bait tanks Oxygen box. Unit is placed in livewell, has a filter built in and dannco venturi. Same unit works great in a large cooler for shad, cooler can hold temperature more constant.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!! I have recently learned that chlorine cannot freeze, it evaporates as gas so all ice is safe to add. That explains why I’ve never lost Shad after adding ice.

[@MrSki-tyvm]

I use a piece of foam noodle, cut and sand until it fits with a little squeeze under. The sanding is for making slopes on outer edges. This is simple and easy

[@TheNick08332]

U have been on your A game another awesome video hope u can keep making videos this often take care an be safe

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!! I’m gonna try to keep them coming regularly while keeping them solid on info at the same time. I’m trying to lay off the summer Stripers right now because the water is so hot and so many of them die. I’m using this time to get caught up on all of the “how to’s” that have been requested. If you have any ideas on what you would like to see please let me know!! Thanks again for the support brother!! I can always count on you 👍👍👍

[@dwightscifres2357]

Another great instructional video, thank you Mike!

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!!👍👍

[@SophisticatedRedneckery]

Great vid! Always great to watch the tips and tricks.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

The Ronay Boys Thanks Brother!

[@larryhobbs8769]

Good video. Lots of information about keeping bait.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!!

[@tmise50]

Nice video Mike! Hear some say there is chlorine in the ice so chemicals are needed to remove it while others say there isn’t any chlorine in the ice!

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

terry mise I’ve heard that too, but I really don’t think I’ve ever lost bait to chlorine in ice and you can imagine how much ice I have used over the years. In fact, the only times I have lost Bait early was when I didn’t HAVE ice.

[@tmise50]

Mike Smedley I hear ya, thanks Mike!

[@sgtokie]

I use a 30 gal GREYLINE Bait tank made in Kingston OK. the bait tank is double walled/insulated, has a recirc pump and an oxygen air pump. the top of the tank has a molded in filter that uses the nylon "scrubber pads" and an option to use activated charcoal as well. I also augment 2 air stone bubblers and separate air pump to keep bait overnight. 1/2 gal milk bottles are filled with tap water and allowed to sit a few days then add 1table spoon of pure salt which lets the water freeze about 30deg. I first fill the bait tank with lake water and let the pumps recic for a bit and to oxygenate the water before i catch bait. dump your shad into a 5 gal bucket and cull what bait you don't want-this gives that bait a few min to get rid of some scales before putting into my bait tank. use FOAM OFF from BASS/Cabelas to knock off the foam (a few drops will work). 1-2lbs of pure salt and I also use SHAD KEEPER in the water. Bait will last all day and all night in Oklahoma Summers.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

All excellent information brother!!! Grey line tanks are O.G.!!! Thanks for sharing! 🙏👍👍

[@cookie19292]

Have you tried using a diffuser with welding oxygen? I use it all the time works really good

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I have used oxygen before and it definitely helps, especially in situations where you don’t want “pumped in air” to warm the water up. I stopped using it after we stopped fishing tournaments, but there is absolutely a great use for it. Thanks for the comment brother

[@sgtokie]

i thought of that too

[@kevinh3356]

Liked and subscribed - can you do or link me to a video of that cast net throwing method ?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Sure. Here ya go! For a big net. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJC8m6KZo7t-h5o

[@mathewpeace]

I am looking for a new striper boat center consol and a lot of the boats come with big 2 or 3 25-30 gallon live well and recirculating pumps. Most of my buddies have purchased bait tanks and put them on there boats. Should I just plan to buy a boat I can put a bait tank on it? I would love to know your thoughts. Thanks, Mat

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

The Sea Pro comes with dual pumps so I can pump outside water in when water temps are below 70. Or I can recirculate. I can keep any type of bait alive this way. Once water hits 70 you will need a well or tank that recirculates. Pumping outside warm water won’t work. I added a Venturi valve to my recirculating pump so I can keep Shad and herring all year. I can ice the water down and add salt. Unfortunately this only works for day trips and not long term because I can’t filter the water. If you are gonna keep LOTS of bait or bait over night you will need a bait tank with a filter system. Check out some of my older videos on bait. I show some good stuff that might help.

[@jlooney2]

See Cole Smith's post above - I put in a Zamco filtration system and converted both of my Robalo Cayman 226 30 gal live wells into closed systems with aeration. (FYI - I am NOT affiliated and just a happy customer). That plus Mike's tips above should be all you need.

[@krisbrown5322]

never heard it called a zip strap. lol so I must ask. is it a hosepipe or garden hose. 🤷‍♂️ be nice if my seafox had a recirculating pump. how hard of an install is that.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

That’s cause you’re a young-en. 😉😉. I have never heard hose pipe until I moved to NC. Now THATS a funny one. It’s a hose. Why add pipe to the end? 😂

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

It’s a super easy installation.

[@TheNick08332]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS hey now lay off the nc lingo lol

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Nick Lankford 😂👍

[@colesmith9535]

Hey man loving the videos , just curious if you have any experience, opinions, thoughts on the Zamco filters that can go inside the livewells on boats , they suppose to filter and everything ? I got a bx22 and just trying to find another way besides strapping the 30 gallon creek bank tank on the front deck ... thanks

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Cole Smith I haven’t used them myself. I thought it was designed by Shawn but apparently it’s different than his. Check out Striper Soup and Shawn McNew. He knows his stuff!!

[@colesmith9535]

Mike Smedley ok cool, if I’m not going to keep shad overnight just for half a day fishing ,I should be fine with recirculating livewell on boat right?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Cole Smith Yes, as long as water is cool. Throw some pool salt in there too.

[@jlooney2]

I put in the Zamco low profile in my Cayman 226 and they work perfectly to create a closed filtration system. No need for the tank on the deck anymore.

[@ThumpemupFishingchannel]

@@jlooney2 thanks! I have a BX 22 BR as well with the large recirculating Livewell and will look at them and striper soup. I was planning to just put filter material in a PVC pipe and attaching it to my input for the recirculator

[@tyrelllovitt4234]

Nice Video

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

😁😁👍👍

[@pbr-yt8zc]

I have a 2018 248, your wells is plumbed way different than mine, I have the standard adjustable inlet, the 3/4 outlet at the top, which was inadequate and fish got stuck in it, I put a screen on it and started using the drain to regulate out flow and that seems to be working. Did your new boat come plumbed different and what modifications did you make?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

pbr1952 Sea Pro offers this on the 2019 models now. You can add the recirculating pump yourself very easily on the stern well. The bilge access is right where the pump goes. It’s just a pump, an intake and 10” of hose. The bow well is a different story.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

My first 248 was plumbed like yours. You pretty limited to using only in cooler months for Shad and Herring. You can add an Xtreme Oxygen box for filtration and aeration so you can add salt and ice. For saltwater baits, the built in pump is just fine. No extra equipment needed.

[@jbjgibbons]

Why is it better to use the recirculate vs. just continually pumping in fresh lake water? I know it’s not because fish die in my livewell when I do. But I don’t understand why.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

John Gibbons It’s 100% a temperature issue. Shad don’t do well in captivity when water temps are in the 80’s. If you only leave a few baits you can get by with pumping in water continuously on hot days, but even that is tough. Cold water slows everything down for them and they need less oxygen, etc. If I cool it way down to the 50’s they dang near sit totally still. Your best bet is to ice the water down and throw a bubbler in the well or recirculate with air. Now in winter it’s a whole other ball game!! Let it run!! Thanks for the comment.

[@chrislayton5404]

How much current flow for gizzards? A lot or a little

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

That’s tricky to answer. The bigger they are the more they can handle. Just enough to keep them staying on the outside and swimming still. Too much will exhaust them.

[@chrislayton5404]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS I’ll know in the morning!!

[@huckfin8666]

Complain to guy the guy who designed that return so low that it traps fish, who said they were smart right !

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Huck Fin You definitely have a point. Right now it traps small baits but not medium to large baits. If we raise it we free up smalls but may trap large. If we go too high it doesn’t recirculate well. I think a molded plastic shield would be excellent, like the one I have on my big Shad tanks. Thanks for the comment brother

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Maybe I could use a piece from a plastic spaghetti strainer?

[@krisbrown5322]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS ron vest will sell u one that he uses in his super bait tanks. pretty cheap too. would work perfectly

[@Jpark2005]

Shad keep dying for no reason after 10 min of swimming around fine so I’m kinda pissed cuz I wanted to keep some alive 😂

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

If you’re pumping in lake water constantly right now they won’t last with these water temps. Gotta only recirculate and ice water down to the low 70’s add salt too, but temp is most important.

[@Jpark2005]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS oh no I didn’t pump in water actually I used a cast net today and i caught a few American gizzards but they die right off the bat after a few minutes they are interesting fish so I was wondering how to keep ‘em alive right after catching. Them and keeping them in tanks and your video is good by the way !

[@Jpark2005]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS also that temperature thing thanks!

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

@MrJayJay44 the big 3 are water temp- Aeration-not overcrowding. Keep water at 70 degrees. Keep aerating the water (bubbler or air pump,etc) don’t put too many baits in tank. In a 20 gallon tank put only 20 medium sized baits. 6” or so. Add salt.

[@Jpark2005]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS thank you also how would I be able to catch them without accidentally killing them ?

[@ryanrussell4031]

Which one of you guys will be the first to run a 600 verado out there? 🤣🤣