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In my younger days I made homemade "livewells" with 48-60 qt. cooler with an aeration pump installed. However, I don't recommend doing that and then releasing the fish at day's end. That seems pretty selfish to me just to get a "day's catch" picture. The fish really get stressed in those things. Generally, the pump is under the water in the cooler, so it is generating heat and the water is warming constantly, the fish's waste products are building up in the water, foam builds up from the aerator, the water takes on a nasty odor, and no fresh water is being introduced...
So..... the cooler/aerator may keep your fish alive until it's time to introduce them to Mr. Filet Knife, but if you release them after hauling them around for hours in the thing I have to think their chances of survival are seriously diminished.
IMHO it's not very responsible to either drag them around on a stringer or to haul them around in your cooler w/ an air pump just for a pic at the end of the day.
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You said it perfectly Don.
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I used to fish the local walleye tournaments where a livewell was required. All fish would be released at the end of the day, and you were penalized for any expired fish. My old 16' Starcraft didn't have a livewell, so I rigged one up with a very large cooler. Cabelas or somebody used to sell a cooler livewell aerating kit with a submersible pump and a areating "spray bar" that suction cupped to the inside cooler wall above the water line. Just hook it up to a 12v battery and it would run all day. It did a great job of keeping the water oxygenated. But the water would get warm. So once every hour or so I would change the water. This was easy to do by just yanking the spray bar out of the cooler, holding it over the side of the boat, and then running the pump until it pumped most of the water overboard. Then put the bar back in the cooler and drop the pump overboard and let it pump fresh lake water back into the cooler. It only took a few minutes, and kept the fish alive and vigorous all day. I never lost one.
I still have that big cooler and aerating system somewhere in my storage unit. I don't use it anymore because my new boat has 2 built-in livewells. I have about $120 into it. If anybody would like it, feel free to make me an offer and I'll see if I can dig it out.
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Here you go.
[url "http://www.kayaksportfishing.com/equipment/submissions/ted/bait_tank/livewell.htm"]http://www.kayaksportfishing.com/equipment/submissions/ted/bait_tank/livewell.htm[/url]
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[left][font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]There's more to keeping fish alive in livewells than just pumping oxygen into a tank full of water. There are several places on the web that have good articles. Here one that gives a lot of good advice. It centers around bass but the techniques described should work for all species. Also look into livewell additives to keep proper ph balance and electrolyte balance, decrease stress, and help maintain slime coats.[/size][/black][/font][size 2] [/size][/left] [left] [/left] [center][size 4][/size][/center] [center][size 4]Handle Summer Largemouth Carefully[/size]
by Steve McCadams
[url "http://www.stevemccadams.com/"]www.stevemccadams.com[/url][/center]
We are now in the time of the year when stress on caught largemouth bass and resulting mortality are highest. Bass tournament organizers and participants have a stewardship obligation to protect the bass resources they utilize.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has several tips for tournament anglers to help keep fish alive before and after weigh-in. The following suggestions reflect current research by southeastern fisheries management agencies into practice of culling fish during tournament events and the stress caused by holding fish in live wells.
For more information call your local TWRA regional office or the Fisheries Management Division in Nashville at (615) 781-6575.
Fill your live well at your first fishing spot using water from open areas of the lake.
Turn on your re-circulating pump immediately and leave it on all day (set pump switch to manual for continuous operation). If the aerator must run on a timer, run as often as possible as oxygen depletion occurs quickly when the pump is off. Make sure aeration system provides proper aeration while boat is moving or on a trailer. If you don't have a re-circulating system, add one.
Only pump in fresh water when lake surface water temperatures are below 75 degrees.
When water temperatures are above 75 degrees, re-circulate livewell water continuously, but do not pump in hot water from the lake. Use ice to cool the water and slow fish metabolism (block ice melts slower) and try to maintain water 10 degrees cooler than lake. Try to use only non-chlorinated block or bagged ice.
Use non-iodized salt (available at feed stores) to maintain electrolyte balance and reduce effects of stress. Salt should be added at 1/3 cup per 5 gallons of water. Pre-measure and store in zip lock bags. Commercial livewell additive may also be added as directed.
Drain half of the livewell water every three hours to remove toxic waste products (carbon dioxide and ammonia). Add 1/2 the amount of ice, salt, and commercial livewell additive each time.
Install an oxygen delivery system, which delivers oxygen directly into livewells from a pressurized tank through air-stones or hose. The system must have a regulator or pressure valve and the tank must be securely mounted. This system is better than simple aeration (air is only 21 percent oxygen) and solves oxygen demand problems. Although less need for water temperature adjustments is usually required, flushing with freshwater every 2-3 hours is still essential.
Keep fish in rear livewells, evenly distributed between compartments. Fish in forward livewells are more likely to be injured from bouncing on rough water.
Land fish with knotless nylon or rubber nets. Land fish quickly and avoid damage to slime coating. Grasp fish by lower jaw only, holding them vertically. Support large fish with a wet hand under the belly. Do not allow fish to touch boat or carpet and rub off protective slime.
Don't keep fish out of water longer than you can hold your breath. This includes fish in bags headed for weigh-in. Depletion of oxygen in bags can occur within a few minutes.
Remove hooks quickly with as little tissue damage as possible. Remove deep hooks carefully with pliers or hemostats. When attempts fail, cut line five or six inches above the hook.
Remove dead fish from livewell immediately to prevent further mortality.
[center][url "http://www.stevemccadams.com/"]Steve McCadams[/url]
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT. [/center] [center][/center]
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Anybody try the dry ice trick? After that, you might want to invest in hearing aids....
Children- do not try this at home or in your livewell where it is encased shut...
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