Inexpensive 'Carolina' Style Bait tray

[Kahi]

my inexpensive and helpful 'Carolina" style bait tray. One of the best and most rewarding parts of fishing is finding solutions for problems that arise while offshore. I wanted to find a way to keep my rigged ballyhoo out of the fresh water and melting ice, but found that metal Carolina trays to be way too expensive and not made to fit inside smaller size coolers. I also like to salt my baits, and find that the added air circulation increases my trolling baits longevity..This homemade tray, is also a great place to store items that need to stay dry and out of the melting ice, like sandwiches or bananas...if you're crazy enough to bring a banana on a boat.

I had some PVC pipe and plastic mesh left over from a live bait pen I made.

First, measure the interior of the cooler. Many coolers have a ledge or lip molded into the inside that can serve as a shelf for your new tray. Cut your 3/4 inch PVC pipe to fit the inner walls and secure the 4 lengths together with 90 degree elbow joints available at any plumbing or hardware store.....Affix the arms of the tray's frame to the inside of the elbows using PVC glue or epoxy, making sure to rough up the ends so that the glue has something to hold on to. Finally, cut your mesh to sit on top of the PVC frame and secure using a hand-full of zip ties....The whole thing costs under $10 bucks and can easily be made to fit almost any size cooler by adding a cross beam and a t-fitting for the pipe. The best part is that it should float if you ever drop it into the 'blue'....but dont try that with the $100 metal Carolina trays..

[gustoIV]

that is a nice set up. I went to a restuarant supply store and got 2 steam pans and stacked them. It keeps the baits off the ice but most likely won't fit that well.

[Agitated88]

Good idea Kahi...

[Ace1st]

I like it KAHI!

[gottaflylee]

Sweet, great idea Kahi...

[fishocean]

Awsome Idea

Thank you!!!!!!!

[jaws]

Kahi, that's A nice looking tray, I, Like GustoIV went the resrturant supply idea, powder coated stainless fried chicken basket.

[jbonvetti]

I found the best things to use are throw-away aluminum baking pans. Its going to keep your baits the coldest sitting right on top of the ice, and they are only about 5-6 dollars depending on the size.

[Kahi]

I found the best things to use are throw-away aluminum baking pans. Its going to keep your baits the coldest sitting right on top of the ice, and they are only about 5-6 dollars depending on the size.

do you perforate the bottoms to allow for drainage?