Keeping Fish Alive in the Heat
Capt. Mike Gerry explains how to pull big fish out of submerged weedbeds.

Nothing bothers me more about summertime tournaments than to go by the weigh-in and see fish that have not survived the long day in a fisherman’s livewell. I always shake my head and think about what could have been done to prevent the large numbers of dead bass at the tournament.

First of all I must lay blame where it belongs. One, the tournament director should have changed to a 3-fish weigh in and made all boaters prove their livewells have a working recirculating pump/areator. Second, the anglers should have taken better care of the fish.

Taking care of the fish is not that difficult; it just takes patience, ice and livewell additives. I believe that every angler has the responsibility to keep his fish alive, and in the heat of the summer should make sure they have several bags of ice to use during the day to add to the livewells. Ice cools the water, which slows down the metabolism of the bass. This reduces their oxygen demand, compared to what they need in hot water.

Keep a temperature gauge in the livewell and check it every 30 minutes. Add ice to the livewell throughout the day so the water temperature stays below 65 degrees. Keep in mind that chlorinated water kills fish, too, so freeze some unchlorinated water to make ice, or partially fill some plastic soft drink bottles with water, put them in your freezer, and then take a few of them in your boat’s ice chest. That way no chlorine will get in the water as the ice melts.

Next keep your aerator on at all times. Most boats have 2 settings on their aerator system: a constant on and a timed system. If the water is moving, it generally adds enough dissolved oxygen to keep the fish from dying. You don’t have to continually change the water over if you just keep it moving, this will allow the water to stay cooler with ice, and keep the livewell additive in the tank.

I also see many anglers keep all keeper-size fish until its time to weigh in. While one partner is getting the boat, the boater is culling the fish; and often several of those keepers are dead before they get to the weigh in. You need to cull your small fish immediately upon catching them. Overcrowding the livewells is the worst thing you can do to keep fish alive in the heat.

Be an angler who cares. Make smart decisions to keep your fish alive, and keep our lakes productive tournament lakes.

Captain Mike Gerry
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
Web: www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
(256) 759-2270