Livewell Ice

macgyver · 03-29-05, 05:37 PM

Well since I'm gonna be fishing a few tournaments this year, I figured I had better get up to speed on livewells. I know during the hot summer months the pros will put Ice in their livewells to help keep the fish longer. Should you put ice in it all the time or under certain temps? And when you do put ice in the livewell is there a formula of how much based on gallons of water? I would imagine too much ice is better than too little. But of course I dont know. So any and all tips when it comes to keeping fish lively, and fresh till they are released back would be greatly appreciated.

Lizards

catfishtonyd · 03-29-05, 07:35 PM

If you're going to put ice in a livewell, don't use store bought ice. Â*It has chemicals in it that can kill your fish. Â*(but they'll have nice Â*teeth) Â*I used to freeze plastic water bottles, and just put the whole bottle in the livewell. Â*It will cool the water, but not mix the water. Â*A couple of degrees goes a long way. Â*And you can still drink the water after it melts.

(If you're on "city" water you'll probaby have the same problem with ice from home, so the ice in the plastic bottle is the best all around solution.)

When to use it? Â*When the water get's hot.

Rich · 03-29-05, 08:08 PM

I think I read somewhere 75 degrees is the temp you want to keep the livewell. the bottle ice is a good idea, Cajun. You also might want to get some livewell treatment like Please Release Me-helps to protect the fish by aiding in the slime caot, etc.

BassNva · 03-29-05, 09:23 PM

get the rejuvenade...those fish will come out livelier than when they went in.and i also keep about 100 bottles of water in the freezer at home here to use in my cooler and livewells.

macgyver · 03-29-05, 09:41 PM

Well thanks for the tips. I wouldn't have thought about ice being bad for the fish. It does make sense once you think it through though

Guess I'll be keeping my freezer in my garage loaded up with bottles

I will have to look into the "Please Release Me" and the "Rejuvenade" .

Which now brings me to my next question. Since I'll be a non-boater when fishing the BFL, and I know the boater is supposed to have a place for me to keep my fish. But what if he only has 1 livewell(how do we keep track of who's fish is who's), or it's not functioning properly. I guess I'm still gonna be deducted for dead fish, but since it's out of my control, what happens in that situation? I sure don't want to get in a fight over who's fish it is either.

Lizards

catfishtonyd · 03-29-05, 09:44 PM

There are a lot of things you can buy to "mark" your fish. Â*I never saw anything that worked better, was less expensive, or easier to use than plain old fashioned diaper pins.

I used to color the head of each pin a different color. Â*Then when I caught a fish, I'd weigh it on an inexpensive digital scale, write down the weight and the pin color. Â*When/if I got to a cull situration I didn't have to fumble around trying to figure out which fish was the smallest. Â*I knew.

profishermenkid16 · 03-29-05, 11:01 PM

Cajun, I use the diaper pins as you stated .They take up very little room in the tackle pack.Lizards, alot of people here put a cap full of Hydrogen peroxide in the livewell every so often.I am not positive it helps but they must have started doing it for a reason.Maybe someone has the answer for doing it. P N J

catfishtonyd · 03-30-05, 12:03 AM

The theory is that the extra oxygen in Hydrogen Peroxid gives a shot of extra oxygen to the water.

(Water is H20. Â*Hydrogen Peroxide is H2O2)

I have heard that for years, but I have also heard that it can harm fish if you are off in your measurment. Â*When they say a "capful" in your "livewell", just how much is that? Â*How big a "capful"? Â*How big is the "Livewell"? Â*I never figured it was worth the risk. Â*About all I ever did really was just kept the fresh water pump running all day, and I never eally had any problems with my fish going belly up.

I tried ice and didn't see where it made too much difference, but that I wouldn't hesitate to do. Â*I don't think cooling the water would ever hurt unless you got the water WAY too cold. Â*It doesn't take much.

(By the way. Â*The theory here is that cooler water will hold more oxygen, and slow the fish's metabolism. Â*Mabye. Â*

Another thing to remember Lizards is that you're going to be in someone elses boat. Â*Don't be lugging so much stuff that it gets in the way. Â*

03-29-05, 05:37 PM	#1
macgyver BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Posts: 0	Livewell Ice Well since I'm gonna be fishing a few tournaments this year, I figured I had better get up to speed on livewells. I know during the hot summer months the pros will put Ice in their livewells to help keep the fish longer. Should you put ice in it all the time or under certain temps? And when you do put ice in the livewell is there a formula of how much based on gallons of water? I would imagine too much ice is better than too little. But of course I dont know. So any and all tips when it comes to keeping fish lively, and fresh till they are released back would be greatly appreciated. Lizards

03-29-05, 07:35 PM	#2
catfishtonyd BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice If you're going to put ice in a livewell, don't use store bought ice. ÂIt has chemicals in it that can kill your fish. Â(but they'll have nice Âteeth) ÂI used to freeze plastic water bottles, and just put the whole bottle in the livewell. ÂIt will cool the water, but not mix the water. ÂA couple of degrees goes a long way. ÂAnd you can still drink the water after it melts. (If you're on "city" water you'll probaby have the same problem with ice from home, so the ice in the plastic bottle is the best all around solution.) When to use it? ÂWhen the water get's hot.

03-29-05, 08:08 PM	#3
Rich BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice I think I read somewhere 75 degrees is the temp you want to keep the livewell. the bottle ice is a good idea, Cajun. You also might want to get some livewell treatment like Please Release Me-helps to protect the fish by aiding in the slime caot, etc.

03-29-05, 09:23 PM	#4
BassNva BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice get the rejuvenade...those fish will come out livelier than when they went in.and i also keep about 100 bottles of water in the freezer at home here to use in my cooler and livewells.

03-29-05, 09:41 PM	#5
macgyver BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice Well thanks for the tips. I wouldn't have thought about ice being bad for the fish. It does make sense once you think it through though Guess I'll be keeping my freezer in my garage loaded up with bottles I will have to look into the "Please Release Me" and the "Rejuvenade" . Which now brings me to my next question. Since I'll be a non-boater when fishing the BFL, and I know the boater is supposed to have a place for me to keep my fish. But what if he only has 1 livewell(how do we keep track of who's fish is who's), or it's not functioning properly. I guess I'm still gonna be deducted for dead fish, but since it's out of my control, what happens in that situation? I sure don't want to get in a fight over who's fish it is either. Lizards

03-29-05, 09:44 PM	#6
catfishtonyd BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice There are a lot of things you can buy to "mark" your fish. ÂI never saw anything that worked better, was less expensive, or easier to use than plain old fashioned diaper pins. I used to color the head of each pin a different color. ÂThen when I caught a fish, I'd weigh it on an inexpensive digital scale, write down the weight and the pin color. ÂWhen/if I got to a cull situration I didn't have to fumble around trying to figure out which fish was the smallest. ÂI knew.

03-29-05, 11:01 PM	#7
profishermenkid16 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice Cajun, I use the diaper pins as you stated .They take up very little room in the tackle pack.Lizards, alot of people here put a cap full of Hydrogen peroxide in the livewell every so often.I am not positive it helps but they must have started doing it for a reason.Maybe someone has the answer for doing it. P N J

03-30-05, 12:03 AM	#8
catfishtonyd BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Posts: 0	Re: Livewell Ice The theory is that the extra oxygen in Hydrogen Peroxid gives a shot of extra oxygen to the water. (Water is H20. ÂHydrogen Peroxide is H2O2) I have heard that for years, but I have also heard that it can harm fish if you are off in your measurment. ÂWhen they say a "capful" in your "livewell", just how much is that? ÂHow big a "capful"? ÂHow big is the "Livewell"? ÂI never figured it was worth the risk. ÂAbout all I ever did really was just kept the fresh water pump running all day, and I never eally had any problems with my fish going belly up. I tried ice and didn't see where it made too much difference, but that I wouldn't hesitate to do. ÂI don't think cooling the water would ever hurt unless you got the water WAY too cold. ÂIt doesn't take much. (By the way. ÂThe theory here is that cooler water will hold more oxygen, and slow the fish's metabolism. ÂMabye. Â* Another thing to remember Lizards is that you're going to be in someone elses boat. ÂDon't be lugging so much stuff that it gets in the way. Â

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