Keepin fish alive, whats better?

[jigginjeff]

Alright guys, with all the talk of keepin fish alive Im wonder whats better? Pumpin in new water in the live well or recirculating? And do you use auto or leave pump on when fishing all day. Im thinkin leaving it on will get me stuck on the water. Our club tournaments are daylight til dark. I been readin bout puttin ice on them, but my ice chest in my boat wont even keep the drinks cold all day, much less fish too!

[JOHN202]

If your boat does not have an air max system then i would let the pumps keep running while its this hot.My air max runs all day non stop and the fish stay healthy.

[90xpress]

I think the best thing is not frozen in an ice chest, but from the few articles I have read, ICE is a must in the livewell and well circulated water. Last month me and bo had 14lbs in my little xpress livewell with NO reciculator. jsut kept the pump running new water the whole time. Got back to the launch and them suckers were lively let me tell ya!!!

[90xpress]

oh and jeff, try block ice, it last 100 times longer

[Cooney]

Be careful of ice, if it has chlorine in it , they will die fo-sho. invest in a $30 air pump, 12 volt from Academy and rig into your live wells, this with the recirc on auto is all you need. Just pump in fresh water from time to time and they will hold great.

[TGravo]

I don't use my livewell. They go straight on ice!

[fishin couillon]

Hopefully i'll catch my fish early and get the water before it realy heats up. Then just leave it on recirculate timer and just check often. When i do move to another spot i'll put the pumps on manual and let them run till i get to the my new spot.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...abela I bought one like that at Academy but have yet to put it in the boat.

[RogerR]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by fishin couillon &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...abela I bought one like that at Academy but have yet to put it in the boat. </td></tr></table>


Used mine last week, fish were still alive 5 hours after I got home.

[DOUGMCGEEFTD]

this time of year i leave my fresh water in pump in auto and my recirc in manual and leave it on all day if I have fish.

[jigginjeff]

That sounds cheap enough.

[jigginjeff]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by JOHN202 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">If your boat does not have an air max system then i would let the pumps keep running while its this hot.My air max runs all day non stop and the fish stay healthy.</td></tr></table>

And your battery holds up? Just seems like alot.

[Cooney]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by fishin couillon &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...abela I bought one like that at Academy but have yet to put it in the boat. </td></tr></table>That's the exact pump I have, but I use the round do-nut stones and glue them to the wall of the live well at the bottom.

[fishin couillon]

I guess those donuts work better and have more surface to let air out. That's a good idea. I just put a pump out system in my boat a few months ago and forgot to install the air system while I had everything out.

[JOHN202]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by jigginjeff &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

And your battery holds up? Just seems like alot.</td></tr></table>

Yes, its connected to the start battery and uses very little amps.

[jcdogfish]

I pump in fresh water all day. I seldom use recirculators except when running. I do pay attention on the condition of the water I am in and if i fish an area that i don't like the water I will pump it out when i get to a better place. Last week in the heat I had 25 or so Sacalait in the well i caught pretty early and a few bass and when I got home at 4 they were in good shape. Haven't had a fish die in a tournament since I got this boat,,but usually they aren't too crowded. Not sure if the livewells got that much better or I don't catch fish like i used to. Probably a little of both.

[jigginjeff]

My cousin that got me into tournys swore he could recirc and put more oxygen in the live wells than whats bein pumped in from the surface and I always went by that. I had a few die last tourn in my new boat and been readin a little about toxins and thats got me more confused then when I started! Thanks for the advice. Think I might try that $30 pump.

[JOHN202]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by jigginjeff &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">My cousin that got me into tournys swore he could recirc and put more oxygen in the live wells than whats bein pumped in from the surface and I always went by that. I had a few die last tourn in my new boat and been readin a little about toxins and thats got me more confused then when I started! Thanks for the advice. Think I might try that $30 pump. </td></tr></table>

Pumping in fresh water all day does not always keep oxygen that is suitable for fish to stay alive. If you use the air pump just like you see in fish tanks in people's houses, your fish will stay in good shape all day.

[reelman]

OKAY, here is da BASS SAVING summary:

1...Got no $$$? Get 4 used 20 oz soft drink bottles and freeze water in them...toss in one an hour after 9-10am.
2...Got no $$$? Leave recirc pump on the highest auto setting all morning and ON all afternoon if over 2 bass.
3...Got no $$$? Fill the livewell early in the day from the cooler cleaner water not too close to the launch.
4...Got a dollar? Get a quart of Hydrogen Peroxide at Wally....add 4-6 oz. after putting ya 1st keeper in da well.
5...Got some $$$? Upgrade at least one livewell to 700-800gph pumps...about $30 plus install for an Attwood 800
6...Got more $$$? Replace all livewell pumps or add Vents and use special chemicals like da pros.

(another freebie.....using both livewells after a limit helps too)
Put a bottle of frozen water in the weigh bag and use only treated livewell water in the bag!

[RipNLips]

I freeze bottles of water the night before. During the day I slip a bottle in every hour or two. Also these vents for livewells work wonders. They drop the temp in the livewell very well.

[JOHN202]

Were you having problems with fish dying before you installed the vents ??