Live bait buckets and rigging

[cat_88]

Hi all

I was wondering what would be the best approach to storing the live bait once you catch it when fishing off banks.

Also what rigs are best for fishing with livies especially when you use a large bait.

Cat_88

[stick]

For big baits nothing beats water volume. Blow up baby pools are perfect if you can find relatively flat ground. Being round the bait fish can keep swiming without hitting anything. Aerator will extend water life but make sure to regulary change water. Dont wait till the bait looks sick to do it. Rigs,in general just enough lead to hold bait in position on bottom or a narrow profile bobby cork or in favarable wind conditions a water bomb balloon connected by cotton. Balloons not so well liked by anyone concerned about the enviroment but once that cotton snaps there is no water drag.

[Noelm]

best use something more substantial than cotton, any reasonable Live bait will break it just swimming about! and if you are shore based then a simple plastic basket type of setup that you can just put in the water will suffice, like those round washing basket things work a treat.

[Scott nthQld]

I like to use an 8lb mono connecting my balloon, it may seem over kill, but it puts less stress on your drag and more hurt on the fish when they try to run, also it makes the ballon reuseable and won't rubbish up the water ways.