coolers for livewells

[shady oaks]

my buddy and i currently use a igloo cooler with a portable airator for a livewell when tourney fishing. we found out it is too small when we limit out. not being able to flip the bill on a 100qt cooler at $100, we were wondering if we could use a rubbermaid storage tote. at $11, it seems like a good idea. but i'm sure there's something we're over looking.

[waterfoul]

I've started using a couple of the re-usable ice packs (the blue color plastic bag type from Walmart... $1 each) and some Stay Alive in my cooler along with the aerator when fishing tournaments. I was using a 36 qt cooler due to the size of my boat, but recently stepped up to a 48qt cooler (biggest one I had on hand at home). The fish I weighed in Wed. night about jumped out of the weigh in basket hours after being caught. Doesn't hurt to change out a gallon of water or so every hour either if you aren't using the stay alive products. I keep a small bucket in the boat... two buckets out, two buckets in.

Summing it up: 48 qt cooler, couple ice packs, aeroator, stay alive = lively fish at weigh in since going to this system.

The only issue I see with the storage box would be water temperature on a hot day.

[icefishermanmark]

The only issue I see with the storage box would be water temperature on a hot day.

Bingo

[waterfoul]

Bingo

I suppose if you wanted to go the box route... stopping to buy a bag of ice on the way to the ramp might get you by.

[roger23]

I took a 96 qt put a small bilge pump ran a pc of tygon tube to a pc of pvc pipe with a cap on the end drilled 3/32 holes 1'' apart the length of the pipe which runs the length of the cooler aimed the spray at a 45 degree angle to the water .Hole size can be made larger for larger pumps .it works real well for minnows in the summer just add a little Ice every now and then ONE thing learned the hard way put the pump in a screened box or a can with small holes IT WILL GRIND YOUR MINNOWS UP IF YOU DON'T :sad: I attached the pvc pipe to the cooler with blocks glued to the cooler then tyraps

[brdhntr]

snip-
Summing it up: 48 qt cooler, couple ice packs, aeroator, stay alive = lively fish at weigh in since going to this system.

The only issue I see with the storage box would be water temperature on a hot day.

Try freezing some gallon milk jugs and use those to keep the water cool. Did that in my cooler in my little boat. The big boat has a 20 gal aerated livewell, and my remedy is to use the aerator until I get to the dock, drain and toss the fish into a cooler and ice jugs I left in the truck. (I have a good fish cleaning setup at home, and don't use the marina facilities.)

[Natlight]

If you have a foodsaver you can make some long bags and freeze them flat in the freezer. They fit the sides and bottom somewhat.:corkysm55 . When doing it DON'T suck the air out;) unless you want a mess. I always seal both ends twice to prevent any possible leaks.;) I used to use the refreezable things but at too many picnics and reunions, my beers have smelled like rotten fish.:yikes: :lol: Sometimes though, they seem to melt pretty quickly if your out there all day.:coolgleam

[duckman#1]

Meijers had the 120 qt for $59
We also have used a 100 qt for a livewell with a bilge pump w/ areator bar and it works great!

[icefishermanmark]

just be careful not to add too much ice. You can shock them if you lower the water temp more than 7-8 degrees.

[waterfoul]

This is why I only use the two pre-frozen ice bags.

[shady oaks]

Meijers had the 120 qt for $59
We also have used a 100 qt for a livewell with a bilge pump w/ areator bar and it works great!

when was this? i'd be willing to pay that price.

[waterfoul]

watch the new paper flyers for these kind of deals. They are always on sale somewhere.

[duckman#1]

:yeahthat:

It was a Igloo brand. I bought it 2 weeks ago. Sams club has the all white one that is about 120 qt (maybe a little bigger) for everyday price of $64 and you should check Walmart. Meijers, Kmart, Target, Costco, Heck even check Big Lots. Somebody will have a big one on sale.
My Igloo 120qt I got from meijers is everyday priced at $79 so you should be able to get a big cooler and a bilge pump w/ areator kit for under $100 easily.
We do 3-4 hr tournaments and have never had a fish die using this method.

[mkroulik]

Has anyone made a livewell to go on the swim platform? I am looking to make one for mine. I am looking to see if anyone has plans. My hope is to have one that I can put a hose to to draw water from the lake that will spray in from the top, and then a couple of holes on each end with screens over them to let the excess water drain out. As I'm typing this, I keep coming up with more great ideas, like some type of small mesh divide to keep bait on one side, and fish on the other. Anyone got any thoughts?

Mike

[shady oaks]

cool thanks. yeah, i was looking online when i found the prices. i think after tonight i'll end up going around to all the stores and finding the cheapest one. quick qustion again. what can i do to prevent perma-smell from the fish? washing it out with bleach afterwards? using a plastic garbage for a liner? reason being is that i wouldn't mind using it for camping as well.

[icefishermanmark]

Has anyone made a livewell to go on the swim platform? I am looking to make one for mine. I am looking to see if anyone has plans. My hope is to have one that I can put a hose to to draw water from the lake that will spray in from the top, and then a couple of holes on each end with screens over them to let the excess water drain out. As I'm typing this, I keep coming up with more great ideas, like some type of small mesh divide to keep bait on one side, and fish on the other. Anyone got any thoughts?

Mike

You have to be careful with that type of rig because if the fish flops, in the water he goes. But it would be a nice set-up to keep the boat less cluttered.

[mkroulik]

You have to be careful with that type of rig because if the fish flops, in the water he goes. But it would be a nice set-up to keep the boat less cluttered.


Thought of that. I was going to cut 2 small holes about 6" x 6" or 8" x 8", and putting a hinge on one end. Then on the insdie putting two small strips of metal on the inside of the cooler, screwed into the top, to prevent that little door from swinging to far in. I was thinking of on a small angle to catch the two corners on the end away from the hinge. This would allow me to add fish to the cooler, without the risk of fish jumping out, and also allow me to scoop out minnows, without the water getting splashed all over me. Maybe some type of a little latch on top to prevent it opening on it's own. Any other thoughts?

Mike

[icefishermanmark]

I wasn't tlaking about the fish in the livewell. I meant when you go to put it in the livewell if he flops out of your hands he's back in the drink. It's a little risky.

[mkroulik]

ok, now I see what your saying. I could also rig up a little shoot, like a laundry shoot that leads in the cooler. For the most part I am thinking of using this while perch fishing, or maybe trolling for walleye. For salmon fishing I would just us my big cooler loaded with ice, but again it's on the swim platform, but they're easy to dump in from the net.

Mike