Ice in livewells?

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 12 months ago by barhamt.

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June 15, 2018 at 3:09 pm #314705

Bearkat
Participant

I am still a newbie to not only Bass Cats, but bass boats and tournament fishing. Other than the first tournament of the high school season, we didnt have to deal with the heat. Now that summer has moved in, I read about people adding ice to livewells. With the volume and insulated lids of the Bass Cat livewells, is this needed? Im in SE TX.

June 15, 2018 at 3:13 pm #314722

angleiron
Participant

Good idea anytime water temps are 80+. I keep three 1gallon jugs frozen solid and set them in before I head out.Livewell treatments are good too.

June 15, 2018 at 3:15 pm #314743

Bearkat
Participant

What kind of treatment do you use?

June 15, 2018 at 3:17 pm #314762

angleiron
Participant

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sure-Lif … gJ3ffD_BwE

June 15, 2018 at 7:38 pm #314782

C130
Participant

We use G-Juice, haven’t lost a fish, all come out strong. We have added ice in the current temps in the 90’s, water temps in the 80’s. I’m not sure what’s best, G-Juice is just what we’ve used. We are close to you in Magnolia. Easy to forget but clean your livewells also. I just cleaned my screens out and really washed out my livewells. I keep my boat spotless but had neglected cleaning my livewells as I should but from now on I’m going to clean them on a regular basis.

June 15, 2018 at 11:51 pm #314801

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Ice is not a bad idea, but you have to be careful. Too big of a temp change and you can shock the fish and theyll die. Watched it happen to a 10 plus. (not mine). TPW was on scene and thats what they thought happened.

June 16, 2018 at 12:09 am #314817

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

A drop of more than 5 degrees can definitely shock Fish.

June 16, 2018 at 2:16 am #314838

Shap from La
Participant

What has worked well for me here in South Louisiana is Frozen 2 liter or gallon jugs. Our water temps are routinely in the low to mid 90s during the summer in the shallows. Also often times we are fishing in such shallow water that we are kicking up mud with our trolling motors so Ill just fill my well with good water in the morning in one of the main bayous and put a frozen gallon jug in there. It melts slowly and since its in the jug it doesnt drop the temp too much at one time. Then I just run on recirculate until about 1200 or so then add another gallon jug to it and turn about half of the water over with the pump out/pump in. If you are fishing in good, oxygenated water on a main lake or river system I would recommend you just fill your well and put both your recirculate and Aerator on the 3 minute timer and let it rip. You will then be recirculating as well as adding some fresh water and should not have an issue. It doesnt hurt to pump out some of the water every couple hours to make sure you are getting good turnover. The newer triangular Bass Cat livewells on the premium boats are spectacular. I cant think of a time when I lost a fish with that style. In my old classic without the pump in and pump out all I had was my recirculate and aerator feature and Ice was needed on most summer days. The above advice may not be agreed upon by some but its what has worked for me through the years in this hot climate with poor water quality. Most of the time it doesnt really matter because I struggle to catch fish to put in the livewell! Lol. Chris CoupelPaulina, La.

June 16, 2018 at 4:16 am #314857

Jstew
Participant

I don’t worry about water temp if they’re living shallow. Water’s not really warmer than where they normally live and better oxygenated with the aerator. Lake fish living on the thermocline – ice it down. Frozen jugs are good, but can bang em up in rough water.

June 17, 2018 at 2:16 am #314884

barhamt
Participant

If you have well water you can fill up your live wells in the morning before your tournament. Works great here in NC.
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