Quote Originally Posted by Duayne View Post
A bait bucket is fine for shiners, but I wouldn't plan to keep shad in them for long. A livewell will work for shad when it's colder and as long as you trade out the water often. Adding some shad saver, water softener or pickling salt will help keep them hardened and from stressing as much. If they are swimming into the corners, they probably won't last long. I've done it before but each time is a bit of a gamble.

Also, I have seen several boats that have totally filled with water because they put shad in their livewell, left the aerator on auto and the shad swam into and clogged the drain. You can get around that by having a screen installed over the upper drain.

One time, it was a brand new Ranger bass boat. Found out it was the first time in the water. Stuff is floating all over the place and water is filled all the way to the top. It's not a pretty sight at all.
I know a guy that did that. I drilled 4 small holes in the top of my live well over flow drain and threaded some stainless steel marlin wire leader making an x near the top of the over folw tube to kee[ shinners from getting clogged in there. Been there for years and the stainless wire never rusted.