WANTED: Killies, alive not dead

[Pete]

How many killies never make it to the deep alive as part of your offering? They are a pretty hardy bait. But, far too often, many succumb to the heat or lack of oxygen, rather quickly.

First let's explore the usual options and their shortcomings. The floating keeper: Works well but, how many times have you started steaming for another drift, and realized nobody pulled the bait keeper back on board? Once retrieved you find out half of your ammo has escaped. Oh sure, manufacturers have developed better locking mechanisms but, they only work when the users "lock" the door. And, depending how late you realized the error and how fast you were traveling, you are bound to wind up with floaters. Moreover, they aren't very practical on party boats. Next, portable aerators:These are fine as long as you change the water often, very often. And, when it is blistering hot, it becomes an almost futile exercise of changing water as opposed to actual fishing. Even still, there are the ever present floaters. Plus, the cost of batteries adds up over the season. Additionally, it requires a rather cumbersome container, which isn't the steadiest when rough seas are an issue. Ideally, an on board livewell will fit the bill as water turnover always keeps the oxygen levels steady. However, how many party boats have a live well? Even if they did, how could you determine yours from the other patrons? Not practical.

Here is a foolproof tip that will keep your hard earned investment alive through even the hottest, longest day.There is a reasonable, worthwhile, onetime cost, associated with this method. I have been using it for about twenty years now and it has proven to be the best possible way of keeping killies alive, time and time again. A note of thanks to my buddy Dave for letting me in on this valuable tip. It has made the difference on many a trip. When it would get late in the day and all others had their ammo die off. I'd still have some pretty perky baits at the ready. This method works well on private and party boats. And, eliminates the need to run and clean the livewell.

Materials needed: 1 - hard cased six-pack cooler (insulated, attached lid preffered), 1 or 2 hard ice reusable ice paks, 1 hand towel. The attached lid allows for easy one-handed opening/closing. 2 ice paks are a must for back to back days of fishing, so they can be properly frozen and at the ready.

When you make your cooler and ice pak selection, try to find an ice pak that will cover as much cooler bottom as possible, but not snug. Look around, there are some that are a real nice fit, others not so good.

Freeze your ice paks for at least twenty-four hours, before using. Clean the cooler thoroughly before using. The morning of fishing, remove your ice pak from the freezer, position it in the bottom of the six-pack cooler. Run the hand towel under cold water and wring it out till wet but not dripping. Fold it into quarters, twice folded. You want to wind up with four levels of towel. Place the wet towel into the cooler onto the ice pak taking the precaution to have it run up the sides of the cooler, not down into the gaps surrounding the ice pak. If it goes into the gaps the smaller baits become trapped and sometimes suffocate or can become crushed when the ice pak shifts. Newspaper, again wet, not dripping can be substituted for the towel. Try to get a thickness af about 3/4 of an inch. This is a crucial step, as too much newspaper and the ice will be insulated from keeping the bait cool. Too little and the bait will freeze. When the inside temperature tends to be on the colder side. The baits may appear to be dead. They're not, they are just slowed down. However, once placed in the water they "wake up" and swim like Olympic sprinters. Similar to eels that have been kept on ice. That is not to say don't take precaution not to let them freeze! Frozen = dead!

Take the cooler to the bait shop and hand it over to be filled. This method has kept anywhere from a 1/2 pint up to a quart lively on some steamy, up to twelve hour juants.

Hint: When going into the cooler focus on the one you want and pick it out. Don't allow members of your party to "paw" through the bait. Hands can become pretty dirty throughout the day, that tends to cause some casualties when over handled. Simply, pick one out and put it on the hook. Always use a clean towel or fresh newspaper. Yesterdays news, or towel will develop bacteria and cause the bait to die, if reused. Always clean and air dry your cooler after each use and keep the lid opened during storage.

Pete