A bailer has a tapered leading end to reduce agitation and turbidity as the bailer is introduced into a body of liquid fluid. A check valve is unseated and admits liquid fluid into the bailer as the bailer enters the liquid fluid. The check valve is seated and seals the liquid fluid within the bailer against leakage when the bailer is retrieved from the liquid fluid. A first embodiment includes a bottom-emptying device that guides liquid fluid in the bailer into a wide-mouth container. A second embodiment includes a bottom-emptying device that guides the liquid fluid into a narrow mouth container such as a vial. In both embodiments, the bottom-emptying device is tapered and engages the outside walls of the tapered leading end of the bailer. This prevents liquid fluid from wetting a user's hands when the bottom-emptying device is used to unseat the check valve.