How to Build a Private Bait Well

One of the key requirements to having a successful day on the lake fishing, is the health and liveliness of your bait. Fish are attracted to movement and a dead shiner on the end of a hook isn't all that alluring to most fish. For anglers who don't want to spend time catching shiners or shad to catch the fish they're really after, one option is purchasing them in a bait shop. This can be rather expensive, however, and you're never assured to have the healthiest bait from a bait shop. An alternative is to build your own bait well.

Things You'll Need

  • 55 gallon plastic drum
  • 30 gallon plastic drum
  • 5 gallon plastic bucket
  • Heavy duty aquarium air pump
  • Bilge pump
  • Filtering material
  • 2 inch diameter PVC pipe
  • Flex pipe
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Drums

    • 1

      Clean out both drums and the bucket well to eliminate any residue of materials that the drum contained before. If either of them were used for chemicals or petroleum products, they will not be suitable for use as the bait well.

    • 2

      Measure up 1 inch from the bottom of the 55 gallon drum and use a circle cutting tool on a drill to cut a 2 inch diameter hole in that location. Place the smaller drum next to the larger one and drill a hole 1 inch from the bottom of that drum as well. When the well is operational, these holes will be facing each other and the two drums will be connected with a PVC pipe.

    • 3

      Drill a 2 inch hole in the center of the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket and several 1/2 inch holes around the bottom of the bucket.

    • 4

      Lay a straightedge across the top center of the 5 gallon bucket and make a mark on the lip of both sides to find the center. Measure 1 inch down from these marks and drill a 1 inch hole through each side of the bucket.

    • 5

      Lay a straightedge across the top center of the 30 gallon drum and make a mark on each side. Measure down 1 inch from these marks and drill a 1 inch hole through the 30 gallon drum.

    Building the Well

    • 6

      Insert one end of the PVC pipe into the hole at the bottom of the 55 gallon drum. Caulk around the edges of the pipe on the inside and outside of the 55 gallon drum with some water proof silicone sealant. Let the sealant dry.

    • 7

      Slide the 30 gallon drum so the other end of the PVC pipe on the 55 gallon drum goes into the drum. Apply PVC cement to the outside edges of the pipe and the inside edges of the PVC elbow. Attach the 90 degree PVC elbow to the end of the pipe inside the 30 gallon drum so the open end of the elbow is facing upwards. Insert the second section of the PVC pipe into the elbow joint. Apply PVC cement for this connection as well.

    • 8

      Caulk around the PVC pipe hole in the 30 gallon drum with silicone sealant.

    • 9

      Connect one end of the flex hose to the bilge pump output and the air hose to the input and place the bilge pump into the bottom of the 30 gallon drum. Run the flex hose up the side of the 30 gallon drum and put the other end in the 55 gallon drum.

    • 10

      Set the 5 gallon bucket into the 30 gallon drum so the PVC pipe fits into the center hole in the bottom of the bucket. Insert a stainless steel rod through the hole you drilled in the side of the 30 gallon drum and then into the hole in the side of the 5 gallon bucket. Slide the rod through these holes and into the holes on the opposite side of the bucket and drum. The rod will suspend the 5 gallon bucket in the center of the 30 gallon drum.

    Finishing Touches

    • 11

      Fill the 5 gallon bucket with filter material. Filter material can be homemade from thick loufa sponges, some crushed charcoal and or pillow stuffing. The filter material should not be above the level of the PVC pipe in the center.

    • 12

      Place two aquarium heaters in the bottom of the 55 gallon drum. Some heaters will hang from the side of the drum, others come equipped with water proof wiring that allow them to sit on the bottom.

    • 13

      Turn the pump and heaters on and let the water circulate for a full day or two before putting in bait. The water from the bait tank, the 55 gallon drum, will drain into the filter, the 5 gallon bucket. The water flows through the filter where most of the filth is removed and into the pump tank, the 30 gallon drum. The bilge pump will send the water up through the flex hose and into the 55 gallon drum which will aid in adding oxygen to the water.