We are unaffiliated with BassPro/Cabela’s – A Cabela’s employee gifted me a 15-quart Bass Pro Shops Bait Cooler after taking him on a trip in November.

Despite its varied user reviews (some negative, others positive), the cooler operated flawlessly for fall smallmouth fishing and keeping my large sucker minnows and chubs fresh.

A new bait cooler as a temporary solution was needed for our late fall fishing as my Ranger boat’s baitwell was no longer retaining water and I didn’t want any live baits to perish. What’s good about this cooler is it can also transport bait aboard my two other boats.

The 15-quart cooler can comfortably house several dozen minnows and keep them alive for the full day. My minnows are larger, 4-to-6-inch sizes that require more oxygen than typical minnows.

The built-in 3-stage aerator keeps water oxygenated so your live bait remains fresh and healthy. The unit’s main source of power is two D alkaline batteries. If you use rechargeable batteries instead, there is a charging port with cable to accommodate that option, which I recommend instead. What I did not like about this function is that an adapter plug is not included, and you will need to have one. For $80, an adapter plug should be standard.

I could get two D batteries to last two full days before needing to swap them out. With the rechargeable battery and its charging option, anglers may plug in the unit overnight while also leaving it aerating – so if you don’t have somewhere else to place your baits for overnight, this comes in handy. A digital battery meter is available for both power options.

Buywer beware, the cooler did not come with an instruction manual to figure out the charging procedures and battery life calculations. This would be a fair complaint against the manufacturer and BassPro brand if you were not to buy one. This omission was ridiculous.

Construction and comfort wise, it’s very strong and sturdy. Its injection-molded body stands up to rough handling. At full capacity, it weighs north of 40 pounds. While getting the boat up on plane, navigating, or fighting waves the cooler remained motionless and leak proofed on the floor. I do not recommend standing on it, but it can withstand sitting atop of it.

Its rubberized, durable latches and sealed lid keep water inside. It has a very strong handlebar, and optional shoulder strap attachment to make it easy for transport without spilling while in the boat or on the road.

The removable strainer is the nicest feature of it, as your hands won’t get soaked grabbing minnows, and a dipping net is not needed. This nifty design makes it easy to catch your bait, so you can pick and choose the exact minnow you want when it’s time to rebait.

A lot of the reviews out there are mixed. And sure, there are better live bait cooler systems out there too. People like me who got a flawless good working cooler enjoy it and most of its functions while others had bad luck with them citing poor quality aerator pump, bad air stones, and inconsistent battery life. Quality control is iffy, but the positive in this is Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s proprietary branded merchandise carries a one (1) year warranty against manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship.

Considering the origin of manufacture and quality control, I would beware but also be confident in this cooler meeting the requirements of your livebait fishing needs.

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