Quote Originally Posted by Duayne View Post
What size tank are you using and how much salt? Are you using a water pump filter\ aerator or an air pump? Did many of those baits get hung up in the 1/2 mesh?

I use a capful or two of shad keeper along with two double cupped hand fulls of water softener salt for 30 gallons. My 3/8" mesh net is very smooth and silky. I could rinse my first bass pro nets after netting bait and scales would go everywhere. My current net doesn't have any that I can tell. I just purchased a new tank and this tank won't even have a filter system on it and I'll only use an air pump. I'll change out water instead of filtering it.

Threadfins are really hit and miss as to how long they will last on the hook. Sometimes they do fine, sometimes (usually) not and it doesn't matter what you do.
I was surprised. I only had two or three get gilled and pulled up a few really small baits. In another thread somebody pointed out to pull the net up slowly which helps prevent gilling and I did that. Maybe this is why there was not much gilling? (I'll have a better idea after a few more times) I was encouraged with the results of the half inch mesh though. You would think it would gill medium sized baits but it did not.

One tank has a pump that adds new water with an overthrow. The other one is a 15 gallon with a 12 volt bubbler.

Water tends to spill out of my tanks because of the way the tanks are and the things I do so I don't use any salt. All I use is chlorine treatment if I am using ice in the summer. I don't want the salt in my aluminum boat because of problems salt can create. When I find a good tank with a small foot print and a good lid that will fit in my boat (looking for one) I will get it and put large amounts of salt and other things in it.

My bait only has to last for 3 to 4 hours max (that's about all it will last the way I take care of it).

Maybe I have not netted bait in the past when the water was 45 degrees. The bait lost lots scales and died in the live well very similar to how they would in July when it's hot. I just thought that was weird and was wondering if there is a difference in keeping bait alive when the water is 45 vs when the water is 60?

This is basically the same bait care I use all spring up until the end of June when a better system is needed to keep bait alive for any amount of time in the hot weather and I switch to shinners.