Bait Tubes to save weight... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dadd827 · 08-24-2011, 12:24 PM

I have two Cobra Explorer kayaks. One I have been gearing up for my main ride(for now at least) and the other I use as a buddy kayak. I originally made my own live bait tank. 5-gallon bucket, 350gph pump, 6V battery etc... I decided I wanted to try to lighten my load a little sooooo I made a couple bait tubes(one for each yak). I am going to try this out instead of taking the live bait tank. This should take out a considerable amount of weight that I will be paddling around.

I'm not sure if it will be Sat or Sun yet but I will be venturing out to LJ for my third time.

I made these out of 4" pvc. They are 22" OAL.

Any thoughts or suggestions on using bait tubes?

YakMedic · 08-24-2011, 12:40 PM

Interesting idea on the hinged door. I use a bait tube when I don't want to deal with a bait tank. Best advice I can give you is if your bait is too large to turn around in the tube you have to place them all in the same direction. Then when you paddle tow it where the water flows face first to the fish. Otherwise you will kill your bait by dragging it.backwards

catchnfish · 08-24-2011, 01:02 PM

looks clean but honestly I prefer the extra weight of the tank to the drag of a bait tube but now you wont have to keep giving your buddy bait

RedSledTeam · 08-24-2011, 01:51 PM

Hey Dadd,
Nice work on the baitubes! I'd put more holes in it, as much as the structural integrity will stand. You can never have enough vent holes with bait tubes if your using fin bait. With squid, these will work fine as it stands. I like the easy access hatches you may even fit a few legal lobsters in there.

bluesquids · 08-24-2011, 02:23 PM

I've done a few models with improvements since my first one. Open up and round holes on end with dremmel. Remove/round all flat surfaces for bullet shape. Nothing sticking out on inside of tube that will bang against bait.
Drag rope is now THIN #600 test Dynema attached to main body with three point harness, kind of like a drift anchor harness. Holes on underside not too big for toothy critters to see through. Black 5200 caps in place, with couple flat zip-ties for insurance(I'm rough on gear)....I forget I'm even dragging the thing.

mazilla · 08-24-2011, 03:30 PM

How do you guys deal with the drag? I tried pulling a flow-troll around(Cobra FnD) and it was too much extra work trying to keep tracking straight, I almost burnt myself out trying to fight it. Do you need one on each side to even it out or something??

Thanks!

If these tubes are better I'll probably build one instead of rigging up a bait tank.

dadd827 · 08-25-2011, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the extra input. I'm excited to try it out. I think I will fine tine them some more by adding a few holes in key spots and rounding more edges so it's more streamline in the water. I still need to figure out if I am going to rig a harness or just tie off at one end and clip to the yak. I can just pull it to me when I need it. My only concern is if it will get in the way when fighting a larger fish like maybe a

or

.

silverbullet · 08-25-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazilla

How do you guys deal with the drag? I tried pulling a flow-troll around(Cobra FnD) and it was too much extra work trying to keep tracking straight, I almost burnt myself out trying to fight it. Do you need one on each side to even it out or something??

Thanks!

If these tubes are better I'll probably build one instead of rigging up a bait tank.

I think you may have had more drag from the FnD...

With the hydrodynamic mods made above you might hardly notice a bait tube...

I have used both and found that the bait tube works well if you mount it in the right position to decrease drag (for me that was slightly behind the widest berth of the yak).

mazilla · 08-25-2011, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverbullet

I think you may have had more drag from the FnD...

With the hydrodynamic mods made above you might hardly notice a bait tube...

I have used both and found that the bait tube works well if you mount it in the right position to decrease drag (for me that was slightly behind the widest berth of the yak).

Thanks, I'll give it a shot...

I used to paddle a Cobra Tourer, huge difference between the FnD and that Tourer, but I couldn't get over the super wet ride.

PaddleHP · 08-27-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesquids

I've done a few models with improvements since my first one. Open up and round holes on end with dremmel. Remove/round all flat surfaces for bullet shape. Nothing sticking out on inside of tube that will bang against bait.
Drag rope is now THIN #600 test Dynema attached to main body with three point harness kind of like a drift anchor harness. Holes on underside not too big for toothy critters to see through. Black 5200 caps in place, with couple flat zip-ties for insurance(I'm rough on gear)....I forget I'm even dragging the thing.

Blue squids, what's the vecro around the tube for? And can you post a picture of the top rigging of the tube to the yak? I want to know how you know how you keep the tube from banging against the side of the yak, an always irritating sound as you paddle.

08-24-2011, 02:23 PM	#5
bluesquids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jamul, CA Posts: 243	I've done a few models with improvements since my first one. Open up and round holes on end with dremmel. Remove/round all flat surfaces for bullet shape. Nothing sticking out on inside of tube that will bang against bait. Drag rope is now THIN #600 test Dynema attached to main body with three point harness, kind of like a drift anchor harness. Holes on underside not too big for toothy critters to see through. Black 5200 caps in place, with couple flat zip-ties for insurance(I'm rough on gear)....I forget I'm even dragging the thing. __________________ Thanks, bluesquids

08-25-2011, 08:23 AM	#7
dadd827 Junior Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: La Mesa, CA Posts: 29	Thanks for the extra input. I'm excited to try it out. I think I will fine tine them some more by adding a few holes in key spots and rounding more edges so it's more streamline in the water. I still need to figure out if I am going to rig a harness or just tie off at one end and clip to the yak. I can just pull it to me when I need it. My only concern is if it will get in the way when fighting a larger fish like maybe a or.

08-24-2011, 12:40 PM	#2
YakMedic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wrightwood Posts: 623	Interesting idea on the hinged door. I use a bait tube when I don't want to deal with a bait tank. Best advice I can give you is if your bait is too large to turn around in the tube you have to place them all in the same direction. Then when you paddle tow it where the water flows face first to the fish. Otherwise you will kill your bait by dragging it.backwards

08-24-2011, 01:02 PM	#3
catchnfish Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Victorville, Ca Posts: 83	looks clean but honestly I prefer the extra weight of the tank to the drag of a bait tube but now you wont have to keep giving your buddy bait

08-24-2011, 01:51 PM	#4
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	Hey Dadd, Nice work on the baitubes! I'd put more holes in it, as much as the structural integrity will stand. You can never have enough vent holes with bait tubes if your using fin bait. With squid, these will work fine as it stands. I like the easy access hatches you may even fit a few legal lobsters in there.

08-24-2011, 03:30 PM	#6
mazilla advocatus diaboli Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 154	How do you guys deal with the drag? I tried pulling a flow-troll around(Cobra FnD) and it was too much extra work trying to keep tracking straight, I almost burnt myself out trying to fight it. Do you need one on each side to even it out or something?? Thanks! If these tubes are better I'll probably build one instead of rigging up a bait tank.