BAIT TUBE

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by reefer

I was planning of making a bait tube, type that would hang over the side of my kayak. i was wondering if any of you guy use this style of holder, and what tip would you guys have.

I use them when I'm hiking or carting in to a remote spot and don't want to carry the weight of a tank, or the weight of an extra battery for a tank.

I've made several in the past, but you're in luck because I just made a new one the other night.

For me the design constraints I want are something that is low drag so I don't mind pulling it, low weight, that opens and closes quickly, that is secure, that sits right in the water, and that keeps alive bait alive really well.

This tube is 3 inches in diameter, has half inch vinyl coated mesh at each end, is made with thin walled pvc and has a small diameter bungie setup to keep the cap closed. it's weighted to stay down in the water, and the tow line runs through the cap so if you loose the bungies or break them you wont loose the cap.

Here's some pics I took for you:








I also loaded up a vid which pretty much explains it.



So here's the deal. The mesh is too large for really small dines or chovies, but you do want to use those anyway in a 3 inch tube. Basically you want the bait to be longer then the tube diameter or it will be able to turn around. You want all the bait in the tube swimming the same direction essentually the same direction your going to be pulling the tube. So in that tube you put a 3 inch plus bait in tail first, then it swims forward either making it's own flow if you are not moving or with you if your paddling forward, swimming into the flow. Basically this tube works great for most baits we make with a sabiki I.E. great for Four to eight inch mackerel or large Sardines.

Bait tubes are a great simple way to keep bait, and easy to make.

Hope that helps. Good luck!!

Jim