live bait tanks

Personally I like the simplicity of bait tubes.  Regarding bait tanks, if you can get a small submersible pump and run a flow through system that will work much much better than a simple aerator.

A good bait tank with circulating system (like the one Ronbo and Kallitype show) will keep live bait like herring, sardines, and especially anchovies much better for a longer time.

-Allen

This is Hobie's tank, it was an impulse purchase when I bought the Revo, have only used it a couple times but it keeps the herring That I jig very frisky. 

Kallitype,

How's the boat handle with that bucket of water out back? Any balance change or just a bit more weight? We have a good live bait fishery down here and I've been eyeballing yours since your first Hobie post.
 Last time I made bait (cast net) all they could do was flop around on deck till they became fresh bait. Bait tube works great if your making bait, but not so well if you have to transport it over land any distance.

Doesn't really make much difference, but I only put about 5 inches of seawater in. You can adjust the level by sliding the overflo tube up or down.

The bait tank I use down in CA has about a 2.5 gallon capacity.  That 20 pound of water when filled.  I don't really notice an issue with it.

-Allen

A good bait tank with circulating system (like the one Ronbo and Kallitype show) will keep live bait like herring, sardines, and especially anchovies much better for a longer time.

Not so much here in the PacNW, but in some situations, having lively bait is the difference between catching and fishing.

Ronbo, do you do much fishing for URB in your neck of the woods???  When does it "turn on"??

I don't want to hijack the bait tank thread, but what is "URB"?

Zee, I usually use a FBR with a flasher, long (5 foot) leader of 50# Big Game.  For simplicity, cutplug and there's no problem with the herring mushrooming, but dogfish are thick in my area from July on, so that's when I break out the hoochies and spoons.  Silver Horde spoons are da bomb.  My stash of red #5 Pt Defiance spoons is dwindling, hard to beat them though the Coyote is almost as good, esp the sparkly army truck color, around Gig Harbor and Tramp harbor.
   Guys up north fishing Sooke area use the little Rhys Davis helmet heads, there's about a jillion crazy colors.  I like their 24kt Gold Betsy flasher, seems to be a real attractor in clear water.

I don't want to hijack the bait tank thread, but what is "URB"?

URB = Up River Bright; big chromer kings that run above the Snake on the Columbia. The lower river fish tend to darken early, sometimes while still in the salt- they're called "tulies".

URB = Up River Bright; big chromer kings that run above the Snake on the Columbia.

You learn something every day.
Usually, I don't get that far up river. I live in the Hood River/White Salmon area and most of my fishing around here. While there are tons of places to fish, there aren't many kayak fishermen. Most of the time my salmon fishing is done on the Colombia around the river mouths that empty into it. You can get it all; kings, coho, Chinook at the right time of year, but the Colombia can be treacherous, even dangerous at times so you have to be careful. Mostly I fish alone, so on the Columbia, I have to stay a little closer to civilization(and the river bank).

Usually, I don't get that far up river. I live in the Hood River/White Salmon area and most of my fishing around here.

The trick with URB's is that because they swim up the Columbia so far they tend to remain nice and bright during the journey and you want to catch them as they pass through.   If you're fishing for Fall Chinook in your area chances are you'll come across a URB now and again.

Their flesh quality is on par with most other fall runs, I only smoke Brights and most fall (non ocean caught) fish.   The ones I want for straight table fair are the springers or summer steelhead. Urb's and fallies are a nice dark orange when fresh where as a fresh spriner can be almost pure red. If I had one to pick for eating it would be a chrome summer steelhead.  The nice thing about URB's is they tend to be on the large size

does it have to be a bait tank?? i'm thinking about the bait tubes that you can make from pvc and some nylon cord.

just drill holes in both ends that wont let the bait out, but still allows for good flow thru the tube,  run the nylon cord thru one end and tie off on the boat , letting it drag behind you.. saw that on another site but it's dead nutz simple....

does it have to be a bait tank?? i'm thinking about the bait tubes that you can make from pvc and some nylon cord.

just drill holes in both ends that wont let the bait out, but still allows for good flow thru the tube,  run the nylon cord thru one end and tie off on the boat , letting it drag behind you.. saw that on another site but it's dead nutz simple....

Bait tubes work great.  I saw some designs recently ... made of perforated PVC pipe used for sewer type application.  Lighter than normal PVC and already has holes in the side.

-Allen

ya kno, i just remembered meeting Espiga last year at Drano, and seeing the built in tank he had on that OK he was paddling.. don't recall the model of yak, but he and i talked a bit about that system cause it was pretty slick. square hatch right under his butt, with an intake on one side and an outlet on the opposite, i think these had originally been the scuppers.. . he seemed to really like it for salt applications.