Live bait well

After doing a bunch of searching for the best way to handle live bait on my Ride 135 I came up with an idea that combined several ideas I had seen but I had not seen one made using a kitty litter container. I found the large plastic containers of kitty litter had a hinged sectioned lid where I could have access the the bait bucket with a net but not have to fumble with spinning lids or other type lids. the front section of the lid hinges open while the back half stays sealed on the bucket. I can easily open the front half and either reach in or net the bait and then re-seal the lid. This bucket is good sized and can hold all the live bait I would need for a full day. I placed the kitty litter bucket into a styrofoam cooler and spray foamed between the two.

I used a pump and spray bar from a kit to convert a cooler into a live well and installed a overflow drain on the opposite side which is 1/2" pvc which simply extends over the side of the kayak. I primarily just use the pump to change out the water and keep the temperature down. I also run it to boost the oxygen level in the water. I use a bubbler with an aquarium stone running on D cells constantly. I used a 6 volt sealed battery to run the pump even though the pump is 12 volt, the 12 volt pumped too much water in addition to beating the bait to death it would over run the drain. The 6 volt runs just about right. I just hang the pump over the side or you could actually use the suction cups to attach it to the kayak. I placed the battery in a dry bag bungied onto the cooler and mounted a on/off switch to the side.

At the end of the day I just put the pump in the bucket and place the intake hose over the side to pump remaining water out of the bucket.

I had previously tried the floating buckets which create a huge drag while you are paddling and it was a pain to use. Bait stays alive much longer with the new set up.

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