Keeping catch alive with out a live well ? ? ? ?

[Old_Coot]

[size 2][font "Comic Sans MS"][black]SpiderWelder and I will be fishing the tournament together. I don't have a live well in my little boat and don't really want to spend the time or money to build a make-shift one out of a cooler. And, I don't want to add any more weight to my little boat or take up any more precious space.[/black][/font]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black]I was wondering if any of you out there have any ideas for some other method of keeping our catch alive. I would like to release all but the larger ones as I catch them. I'm thinking of trying some kind of mesh bag tied off the side of the boat. Has anyone tried that? Pro-Cons? Would that be too hard or to hot on the fish?[/black][/font]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black]Any ideas?
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[wiperhunter2]

If your idea about the mesh basket won't work you can always just use a regular metal stringer, that is what we have used the last two years. When you say mesh bag are you talking about one of those baskets they use for pan fish in the southern states. If you are, I have seen people use them while trolling, the only thing is the fish would get all curled up in it, unless all you catch are those 12 and 14 inch wipers, ha, ha. I hope you find what you need.
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[Fishhound]

Hey there Old Coot,

If space and weight are not too much of a concern, i have a portable live well I made from a 54 qt cooler that fits in my aluminum boat you could use for the tourny (it's not too big or heavy, but it is pretty much self contained) - I'm not entered in it so I won't need to use it - but I'll be at the fish fry. If you want to borrow it for the day - let me know.
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[road]

Haven't tried that old coot, but I use a fish basket on the tube all the time. They are inexspensive and work great. If you buy the kiddies float thingy (long round float) you can cut it to fit the basket and float it along side your boat. Good luck at the tourney.
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[fish1on]

Coot,

Just cut off all the trebles on your lures for the tourney![]

No culling or livewell needed! LOL
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[Out4Trout]

[cool]I would do what road suggested. The good 'ole fishbasket. Works pretty darn well, unless you deep hooked your fish while using bait. Just look at some of tubedudes pictures from past reports. The fish usually stay alive pretty well in those things.
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