Dead bass = out of the money

Interesting:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/inland/livewells.phtml

Anglers should be aware that during summer the vast majority of tournament fish mortality occurs one to three days after release back into the reservoir. Recent TPWD studies involving major tournaments at Amistad showed low initial mortality year-round, but high delayed mortality for summer-time events.

Initial mortality represents the percentage of tournament fish weighed in dead and ranged from 1.7 to 8.7 percent among five tournaments held from January to September. For each of these same tournaments a large sample of tournament fish was placed into large holding pens to determine delayed mortality, which is the percentage of fish dying within three days after release.

Delayed mortality was low (less than 5 percent) for tournament events held when the reservoir water temperature was less than 65 degrees. However, delayed mortality ranged from 18.2 to 43.1 percent for tournament events held when the water temperature exceeded 79 degrees. Totaling initial and delayed mortality for one of the studied tournaments revealed that 50.1 percent of all weighed-in fish died at that particular tournament. Anglers should be mindful that many of the fish released alive back into the reservoir during summer experience mortality a short time later. Although use of proper livewell management and fish-care procedures will somewhat increase the likelihood of long-term survival of tournament-caught and released fish, oxygen injection guarantees against low oxygen causing mortality.

TP&WD precisely identifies mattgroff’s low oxygen livewell problem scientifically, and provided a scientific solution that will resolve the problem, “…oxygen injection guarantees against low oxygen causing mortality.”

Choosing to resolve/fix /correct this low oxygen summer livewell problem is yet a completely different matter, the fix is not free like air. You have to buy the oxygen system and the oxygen gas, an oxygen injection does not come with the bass boat like aerators and livewell pumps.

The solution is the type of gas used to oxygenated livewell water – oxygen gas, not air.

All the air in the world will never fix mattgroff’s low oxygen problem. More water pumps and bigger water pumps changing the livewell water 50 times an hour will never fix his low oxygen problem.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/inland/livewells.phtml

Dissolved oxygen is the single most important factor for keeping bass alive, and an understanding of factors that affect oxygen levels will better enable anglers to keep their fish alive.

Livewell recirculation systems are incapable of maintaining oxygen concentrations higher than 100 percent saturation, even in the absence of fish.
When anglers are fortunate enough to have a heavy limit, they should be mindful that their fish are at severe risk of mortality because of insufficient oxygen.

Oxygen injection has long been used by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) hatcheries to maintain the health of fish being stocked into reservoirs. Fisheries staff regularly transport or hold fish in ratios equal to or greater than one pound of fish to a gallon of water.

I Googled: “fishing oxygen systems” and found many pages of information. I looked for web sites that provided solid scientific information. There’s also plenty of the normal yada-yada sales info, infomercials, fishermen’s testimonials to filter through, aerators, air bumps/bubble rocks and water pumps advertised as oxygen systems and so on.

Some are really out in left field; I found an ozone (O3) generator guaranteed to provide plenty of oxygen (O2). Its sold as the “O2 Wizard.” Check it out, it’s a hoot. I bet bass fishermen will buy it.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Strong bilge pump hooked up to a sparge bar in a 5-day cooler.

Oxygen and temperature.

Again why I use the same basic system for my large baits as bait shops use, but mine sprays more than most bait shop tanks do.

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That is certainly 1 way to do it, probably works great in the fall, winter and spring when the water is cool and the ice chest is not overstocked. Do you use any fish chemicals?

He tried to keep the bass alive to win, now asking for help to keep bass in the livewell alive and the pansies bitch about not caring that a fish died. Dirty hipsters…. go get a job. Not to mention the fish was used as food, which if the guy you gave it too had caught it, it may very well have been dinner anyways. I think you deserve a thank you for helping a man feed his family. Oh and what about all the poor crayfish that big mean bass was going to eat!!! waahhwaah

Now- the best bet to keep your meager local bass tournament paycheck alive that is clearly all you care about according to the helpful posts of a few select tree huggers is to run the aerator 100% or freshwater pump 100% and use BLOCK ice or frozen water bottles. Every few degrees of water temp you can bring the livewell down will increase the amount of oxygen the water can hold. Also be sure to use a livewell treatment for tournaments, while expensive its obviously worth it.

My livewell is simply pump in and pump out, so I go through ice like crazy when its on 100%. If you don’t have a circ pump then just let it run on the timer and work on the temperature.

Note- Smallmouths require 25% more oxygen than Largies. (internet info I found a while back, maybe look into it more)

Good luck in the future tourneys bud!

As for the chlorine in ice issue- just use livewell treatment and it can remove 500+% more chlorine than it will ever need to. If you don’t believe it look into greg hackney who researched it intensely and talked to the experts before determining chlorine in ice is a NON-factor.

AllanM- taking a tank of Oxygen on a boat is asking for trouble. Extreme flammability and rough water make for problems. Also- for those unaware, if you “spray” oxygen around even though you cant see it the molecules stick and will even stick to clothes going through a washer and dryer causing a high flammability rate of anything it touches. Oxygen is dangerous and not required for bass fishing in anyway. (not that it wouldn’t do what your saying to keep fish alive)

Thanks for the positive feedback to all who replied. On the other hand to the people with the smart ass comments. Get bent. We did all we could to keep the fish alive. Aeriators running all day along with oxigynators and so on. Moving fish around in the livewell to keep her alive and give her room. We as bass fisherman probably take better care of fish than most weekend worriers. We did all we could to save her. She just flat out died. We feel bad about it but there was nothing else we could of done. I mean do you want me to give her f*****g mouth to mouth. I meen come on people. It happens and it is what it is sorry for Evan asking what people do to help keep there fish alive in the well. At least the fish didn’t go to waist and a family enjoyed it. The guy was so thankful of that fish he left the lake right away to go clean it for his family.

Triplea,
Oxygen is probably not a very good option for your bass on your bass boat.

You’ll get over losing the money in short order. When you lose the next tournament because 1 bass died in your livewell again, consider this fact: there are much better ways to manage and insure optimum livewell water quality all day in your boat. The degree/amount of fish care you are willing to provide is always a personal decision, but better livewell technology that insures and guarantees great livewell water quality all day does insure a tournament edge, but that edge is not FREE like air.

Winning the tournament money is the point, the only point and 1 dead fish penalty often insures losing. What’s it worth to provide the best bass care possible and be a winner? You decide.

Interesting thread, great opinions, chatter and banter. Enjoyed the exchange.

AllanM wrote:

That is certainly 1 way to do it, probably works great in the fall, winter and spring when the water is cool and the ice chest is not overstocked. Do you use any fish chemicals?

I’ll use it for bait that are as big as some of hte bass that get weighed in for these bass tournaments and i do so for up to 60hours and peak heat of the summer. So, yeah the absolute worst conditions to keep fish alive possible!!

The picture above of the cooler, actually had 25 scoops of minnows that lived with less than 15 minnows dead after 3 days in a typical 48 can cooler. I couldn’t believe it actually worked. THat’s a LOT of bait!!! (Spring rainy river sturgeon trip)
I only use the slightly larger 5-day cooler in the summer (Not pictured)

I run mine on a 5 minute timer. RUns 30 seconds every 5 minutes.

Paper Tournament?

skinnywater wrote:

Paper Tournament?

I’m not sure many would be willing to pay several hundred $ to fish a paper tourney. I like to think everyone is honest, but the reality is when several Thousand $ may be up for grab’s not everyone is likely to be. Sad but reality. I know I’d not pay to enter a paper tourney.

Major League fishing does it. Just get some old retired farts to volunteer. Give them some iPads and a scale. Just remove the carpet rule.

How many minnows are in 1 scoop and how much does 1 scoop of minnows actually weigh?

I’m guessing 1 scoop of minnows may be 20 minnows and weigh 2-3 ounces.

AllanM wrote:

How many minnows are in 1 scoop and how much does 1 scoop of minnows actually weigh?

I’m guessing 1 scoop of minnows may be 20 minnows and weigh 2-3 ounces.

I dunno nor really care.

I pretty much use this system for flathead bait though, 10-15″ suckers, 10″ bullheads, SHeephead, sunnies, etc etc…

Just though i’d offer up my bilge/sparge bar system that works great to keep large quantities of large (And fragile) bait alive during any weather and for long durations.

Didn’t actually expect any bass fisherman to show interest.

YOu’ll find out real quick if your “Keep bass alive” system works when you put that many fatheads or fill it with suckers and return 3 days later…That’s all i’m saying. It works.

mplspug wrote:

Major League fishing does it. Just get some old retired farts to volunteer. Give them some iPads and a scale. Just remove the carpet rule.

I Do like that show and format. Sounds like the Pro’s really like it as well. It would change how you fish. You could target #’s and not have to be worried as much about the size of fish. I think it does a better job of showing who are the better fisherman.

fishthumper wrote:

. You could target #’s and not have to be worried as much about the size of fish. I think it does a better job of showing who are the better fisherman.

Personally think that would be terrible idea.

Just pulling off another thread, some guys fishing docks on Mille Lacs probably catching 50 1#’s, you saying for a tourney they should win over a guy who pulls 5-5#s?

Now I am so impressed with your ice chest bait tank I think I may have wet myself. This is a Eureka moment – you have made yourself a real special bait tank, and all those baits live for days and days in that little 48 qt. ice chest… you have made yourself a bait tank that many fishermen wish they could have, a livewell/bait tank that really does keep bait fish alive.

Great idea, great bait tank invention, thanks for sharing your expertise on the forum.

fishthumper wrote:

I Do like that show and format.

I like it too. Feels more like a sport to people watching too.

nhamm wrote:

Personally think that would be terrible idea.

Just pulling off another thread, some guys fishing docks on Mille Lacs probably catching 50 1#’s, you saying for a tourney they should win over a guy who pulls 5-5#s?

I originally said it in jest. I didn’t know they were actually pimping a product for this???

You wouldn’t win this (TV Show Version) pitching crappie jigs to a school of baby bass. And there are only 8, or is it 10 guys per round?

I wasn’t actually pitching it as a replacement for clubs and tourney trails.

I hear ya, just threw it out there. My fishing nowadays consists of posts….

We can put a man on the moon but can’t figure a cost effective way to keep fish alive, I know apples to oranges but still….

And for reference I fished one tourney, with one fish, belly up. Luckily it was a cold tasty one.

This tread gone nuts?
It’s a fish for crying out loud. Crap happens.

If it was not a wasted resource and someone used it who cares?

riverruns wrote:

This tread gone nuts?
It’s a fish for crying out loud. Crap happens.

If it was not a wasted resource and someone used it who cares?

Micro- yes its one fish and not even half a drop in the bucket.

Macro- its the ongoing conversation that brings a level of respect to nature that’s long due. Why shouldn’t every sportsmen want to strive to ensure the health for its future generations? You want bigger fish, more fish, healthier fish populations throughout the state, country, world?? Conversations like this are needed to educate the masses.

Seems you knew everything said in this thread; oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen, circulation vs injecting fresh in a livewell, thats awesome! Good for you!! I didn’t know all of it, and perhaps the next guy didn’t either, or the one who searches on the mighty google years down the road and reads this very thread does not either, so no need to inject your all knowing minds 2 cents…..

I don’t give crap of motives in most cases, for money, not for money, in the end this might lead to more bass, walleyes, catfish, who knows!?, saved at the end of the day in a tourney or your average joe fisherman who just wants a pic at the landing then release.

Here’s something simple. Not sure how much it would help, if at all, but I’ll throw it out there.

Why are livewells light and not dark or black? White stresses fish out. If used in conjunction with a properly aerated livewells I bet it would help. Fish could be released less stressed after spending several hours in a livewells.

As the saying goes, if it saves just one fish…

Ever notice how fish in fish baskets and cages on docks seem to be very active, healthy and survive longer?

mplspug wrote:

Here’s something simple. Not sure how much it would help, if at all, but I’ll throw it out there.
Why are livewells light and not dark or black? White stresses fish out. If used in conjunction with a properly aerated livewells I bet it would help. Fish could be released less stressed after spending several hours in a livewells.
As the saying goes, if it saves just one fish…
Ever notice how fish in fish baskets and cages on docks seem to be very active, healthy and survive longer?

mplspug wrote:

Here’s something simple. Not sure how much it would help, if at all, but I’ll throw it out there.

Why are livewells light and not dark or black? White stresses fish out. If used in conjunction with a properly aerated livewells I bet it would help. Fish could be released less stressed after spending several hours in a livewells.

As the saying goes, if it saves just one fish…

Ever notice how fish in fish baskets and cages on docks seem to be very active, healthy and survive longer?

Well that is certainly simple enough to fix with a can of black or dark purple spray paint.

But, why is the inside of most livewells and the popular bait tanks white inside? Don’t the people that make these livewells and bait tanks know that white is bad and causes unnecessary stress?

Maybe mattgroff should try painting the inside of livewell. Losing the money because of 1 dead fish is so disappointing, especially when it cost you 100/s of dollars and embarrassment because you failed to keep a fish alive.

Great suggestion; we need some volunteers to paint their livewells now, test this hypothesis and report back on their findings during the Dog Days this summer.

AllanM wrote:

Well that is certainly simple enough to fix with a can of black or dark purple spray paint.

But, why is the inside of most livewells and the popular bait tanks white inside? Don’t the people that make these livewells and bait tanks know that white is bad and causes unnecessary stress?

Maybe mattgroff should try painting the inside of livewell. Losing the money because of 1 dead fish is so disappointing, especially when it cost you 100/s of dollars and embarrassment because you failed to keep a fish alive.

Great suggestion; we need some volunteers to paint their livewells now, test this hypothesis and report back on their findings during the Dog Days this summer.

Your sarcasm is quite a bit different than I’m use to, well, or your just a complete butthole.
Even if your comments are correct you know most people will scratch em off bc of your butthole tone. Just sayin….

I’m not sure why he is even posting. Are we on his lawn or something?

Maybe he just mad bro that no one bought his oxygenator off Craigslist like he hoped.

Either that or we need a few more emoticons in his post until we get to know him better.

nhamm – Common red-neck vulgarity is unnecessary, are you referring to sphincter ani externus (big word), that flat plane of muscular fibers, elliptical in shape surrounding the margin of the an anus?

Get a grip on your fragile feelings, relax.

Wait, is this the Allan I went fishing with on the St Croix?

Hi guys!