I'm currently designing a 55 gallon drum DIY tank for my new to me Parker. Spent a lot of time googling anchovy bait tank. Found some good write up on BDoutdoors, livebaitlarry, and thehulltruth. I've also fished on several different boats with DIY and spendy production bait tanks. Here's what I'm building. May adjust as needed after some testing.

Starting with a 55g drum, false wall to hide the pluming so the chovies don't bump into anything. 1-1/2" outlet with 5+ 1/4" slots in the false wall, an adjustable drain tube to set the water height. 3/4" inlet with 3 directional slots in the false wall to create a soft current for the chovies to swim against. Clear plexi glass top with a good lid and raised edges to give everybody a work area and a place to store bait, hooks, pliers, etc. Mounted in the middle of the deck for 360* access.

I'm cutting it down to 35-40 gallon and only plan on 2 scoops. IMO 42gallons isn't enough for 4 scoops. Maybe if your tank is perfectly DIALED. I'd rather have 1 scoop of really good lively bait and a box of IQF than 4 scoops of sluggish live bait.

Light helps. You either need a window, clear lid, or a light inside. If you plan on keeping bait overnight, a light in the bottom would be the ticket.

 

Thanks that gave me some ideas. What do others think about 4 scoops in a 42 gallon tank. If i have to i will make it a 50 gallon tank.

 

Four scoops of bait at Westport is about 40 pounds of bait, 10 pounds per scoop.

Four scoops at Ilwaco I understand is MUCH less as the scoops are smaller.

A 42 gallon properly setup live bait tank should be able to handle 30-40 pounds of anchovies depending on their size IMO.

If you check the BD WA site, you should find lots of bait tank info on a search as there are now dozens of sport boats fishing out of Westport that use the Defiance bait tank systems on a regular basis once the Albacore show up.

One thing to remember if you make your own, NO corners inside the tank or the bait will beat itself up something bad.

Here is a write up on a recent bait tank install by John Keizer on his boat using one of the Defiance tanks:

http://saltpatrol.com/reviews/defiance-bait-tank-install-on-salt-patrol/#more-4130

Good luck, hope this helps.

WD.

 

What size should I make the lid.

 

The ones I have seen in person are at least 2-4" overlapping on all sides of the bait tank to allow for slots that would hold fishing knives bait nets whatever as most use the lid as a cutting board/tackle prep station as well.

WD.

 

I brought my design to Swan Island sheet metal to build my tank. I received some pics today. They have some of it built and it looks great. It will be a 50 gallon tank. I will share more info once I get it back.

 

Pic

 

Fun project can't wait till we can see it in action.