Depending on the type and quantity of bait you want to use determines the type and size of your bait tank. Your bait tank should be either round or have round-corners but should not be square as you want to have the bait constantly moving in one direction. You can determine the size of the bait tank for Blueback Herring by using the ratio of two Bluebacks per gallon of water, times the number of gallons you can have in your bait tank. A twenty-gallon tank could only hold 40 Blueback Herring. Another point to mention about bait care is the mixing of the different baits. You should use a separate bait tank for Gizzard Shad because they put out a tremendous amount of ammonia which can hurt Blueback Herring by contaminating the bait water. And lastly, you should be using some form of aeration with Blueback Herring like oxygen at a 1/32 setting on your regulator. Keep the lid of the bait tank partially open to allow the CO2 gases emitted to escape so that the bait can take the oxygen more freely.

When using salt for your Blueback Herring you should use 1 cup of salt for every 10 gallons of water. Salt keeps a good slime coat on the bait to protect the bait from harmful substances and also prevents scale loss due to stress.

Bait water temperature is also very important especially when the air temperature rises in late spring to late summer. You should consider using dechlorinated ice which can be found at any bait shop and Race Track gas stations. The ideal temperature for Blueback Herring is between 50 to 65 degrees.

Foam in your bait tank should be removed as it prevents the absorption of oxygen. Use a product called Foam Off in your bait tank. If you don’t have that with you then use something that contains butter or oil like potato chips. Just crumble a few up in the tank and the foam will disappear.