Are you tired of spending money on expensive live bait and arriving at your favorite fishing hole to discover dead minnows floating on the top of your bait bucket? Prevent this from happening by installing an economical live baitwell and pump system that will have your bait living longer and ready to produce. The parts used in this project are from several different manufacturers, but all are supplied by West Marine (www.westmarine.com).

Step 1

There are a variety of bait tanks and ways to install them. Choosing the right one for your purposes requires a little research. To get an idea of the kind of tank you need, consult with the staff of your local marine store. The size of your boat and the amount of room you have available are important considerations, along with the type of fishing you plan to do. There are numerous manufactures that offer several different tank shapes and sizes. For this project, a round tank is installed, which is a favorite among anglers since it fits easily into tight spaces. The type of tank used is a Kodiak Pro Flow, which has walls that are smooth and baffles that are flushed with the tank walls so there's nothing for the fish to collide with. This design makes it easy to retrieve the bait fish when you need them.

Step 2

It's vital to mount your tank in  a way that prevents as much movement as possible. Besides the inconvenience of having a full tank of water and live bait spilling onto the floor, there's also safety to consider. To make mounting easier, standard L-brackets are used with quick-connect mounting pads. With four L-brackets connected to the bait tank, position the tank in the location you're going to secure it. Use a dry-erase marker or pencil to outline each L-bracket. Be precise with these markings so the tank will fit into the mounting pads correctly. Remove the tank and secure the mounting pads using the provided screws. Be sure to drill a pilot hole using a 1/4-inch drill bit. Remove the L-brackets from the bait tank and secure them to the mounting pads with the screws. Now slide the bait tank over the L-brackets and bolt the tank to the L-brackets with the four bolts supplied.

Step 3

The Gentle-Flow Oxygenator pump installed is a 500-gallon-per-hour pump with infusor technology, which helps to keep the bait alive and healthy. Drill a 1-inch-diameter hole for the pump base through the livewell tank, then place the pump unit in the hole, with the gasket in place on the inside of the tank. Cut off excess threads, but leave enough thread to attach the strainer. Tighten the nut on the inside of the tank until the gasket ring is tightly sealed. Make sure the pump outlet is positioned at an angle slightly upward, and then  attach the Aqua-Scoop to the threaded intake. Next, install the air control center above the tank waterline near the tank using the four self-tapping screws provided. Attach the supplied tubing onto the hose barbs of the air control center and then to the oxygenator infusor. Place the air check valve in the tubing to prevent water from flowing back out the hose.

Step 4

Several options are available for pumping water in and out of your tank, since you don't want to keep it full when it's not used. Two pumps are installed for this project: The one in step three provides oxygen in the water, and the pump in this step moves water into and out of the tank. You can use a conventional bilge or washdown pump. Our product had all the parts needed for the tank, including this pump. Also installed are a rod holder with slots for a bait net and pliers for removing the hook from the fish's mouth. Quick connectors from Radio Shack are connected to the power source (battery) for each pump. These are normally used for trailer lights and allow for temporary installation, should you remove the tank when you're not fishing. Keep all wire connections  dry and sealed with a marine sealant to prevent corrosion.