Connecting A Baitwell System
A Do-It-Yourself Article
by Steve Noury
October 30, 2007
Are you tired of spending money on expensive live bait and arriving at your favorite fishing
hole to discover dead minnows floating on the top of your bait bucket? Prevent this from happening
by installing an economical live baitwell and pump system that will have your bait living longer
and ready to produce. The parts used in this project are from several different manufacturers, but
all are supplied by West Marine (www.westmarine.com).
Step 1
There are a variety of
bait tanks and ways to install them. Choosing the right one for your purposes requires a little
research. To get an idea of the kind of tank you need, consult with the staff of your local marine
store. The size of your boat and the amount of room you have available are important
considerations, along with the type of fishing you plan to do. There are numerous manufactures that
offer several different tank shapes and sizes. For this project, a round tank is installed, which
is a favorite among anglers since it fits easily into tight spaces. The type of tank used is a
Kodiak Pro Flow, which has walls that are smooth and baffles that are flushed with the tank walls
so there's nothing for the fish to collide with. This design makes it easy to retrieve the bait
fish when you need them.
Step 2
It's vital to mount your
tank in a way that prevents as much movement as possible. Besides the inconvenience of having
a full tank of water and live bait spilling onto the floor, there's also safety to consider. To
make mounting easier, standard L-brackets are used with quick-connect mounting pads. With four
L-brackets connected to the bait tank, position the tank in the location you're going to secure it.
Use a dry-erase marker or pencil to outline each L-bracket. Be precise with these markings so the
tank will fit into the mounting pads correctly. Remove the tank and secure the mounting pads using
the provided screws. Be sure to drill a pilot hole using a 1/4-inch drill bit. Remove the
L-brackets from the bait tank and secure them to the mounting pads with the screws. Now slide the
bait tank over the L-brackets and bolt the tank to the L-brackets with the four bolts supplied.
Step 3
The Gentle-Flow Oxygenator
pump installed is a 500-gallon-per-hour pump with infusor technology, which helps to keep the bait
alive and healthy. Drill a 1-inch-diameter hole for the pump base through the livewell tank, then
place the pump unit in the hole, with the gasket in place on the inside of the tank. Cut off excess
threads, but leave enough thread to attach the strainer. Tighten the nut on the inside of the tank
until the gasket ring is tightly sealed. Make sure the pump outlet is positioned at an angle
slightly upward, and then attach the Aqua-Scoop to the threaded intake. Next, install the air
control center above the tank waterline near the tank using the four self-tapping screws provided.
Attach the supplied tubing onto the hose barbs of the air control center and then to the oxygenator
infusor. Place the air check valve in the tubing to prevent water from flowing back out the hose.
Step 4
Several options are
available for pumping water in and out of your tank, since you don't want to keep it full when it's
not used. Two pumps are installed for this project: The one in step three provides oxygen in the
water, and the pump in this step moves water into and out of the tank. You can use a conventional
bilge or washdown pump. Our product had all the parts needed for the tank, including this pump.
Also installed are a rod holder with slots for a bait net and pliers for removing the hook from the
fish's mouth. Quick connectors from Radio Shack are connected to the power source (battery) for
each pump. These are normally used for trailer lights and allow for temporary installation, should
you remove the tank when you're not fishing. Keep all wire connections dry and sealed with a
marine sealant to prevent corrosion.
Related Links:
www.westmarine.com (http://www.westmarine.com)