Minnow Conservation Tip

Sometimes it’s so cold it doesn’t matter that you have an insulated minnow bucket. Once  those minnows freeze in your day is toast. Change that water often and build an igloo for your minnow bucket to keep them unfrozen and lively. 

I put my minnow bucket into a 5 gallon bucket with lid. It keeps the bubbler from walking away  and keeps it from freezing up. 

You are a tougher man than me, bro. I don't fish when it's that cold. As far as minnow conservation, I do mine at home. Still using minnows from a month ago. And if I pull up a tip up at night and a lively minnow is still on the hook, I save it. Minnows  survive well in the garage or basement refrigerator, if you give them a BRIEF shot of cold water twice a day. I've cut my bait expense by 2/3 the last few winters doing this. Catch the same amount of fish as ever. Another thing, I keep dead large shiners in the bucket. In February I rip the guts to hang down, and use them for pike bait. Have caught many,many large pike on these dead minnows. Positioned horizontally one ft off the bottom