Northwest Fishing Reports

I took my boat off the for sale list and having it all tuned up and taking back home with me where it belongs.As for my question on a live well.The live well for my boat is a factory installed unit.To do 1 now would cost quite a bit.Last summer I never had more fun then getting into the big mouths and the small mouths.I need a livewell to be in any competion which really sounds like fun.Are there rules for live wells? to be tournament legal?. I found at Cabellas and West Marine a unit that fits in the icechest and acts as a live well. Is this acceptable?It was $70.00 instead of few hundred to have one installed.

MUTTEN CHOPS!!!!!!:-$ :thumleft: :thumright =d> :viking:

FISH ON!!!!

Ive looked at similar units. For a few hours the cooler solution would probably be fine. For long days though, you want the ability to keep the water cool and I've heard of people changing out the water a couple times in a long day so the fish are not swiming in their own waste.

I dont have a live well either so all Bass are C&R. Were looking at installing one in the walk way of the open bow and putting in a deck over it. Not sure which modle yet.

~Rich

Fished Mickleson Tourney last year on Lake WaWa in my 15' Trihull and didn't have an onboard livewell,..so I improvised and made my own,..bought an Aerator @ Walmart and a Clear Storage Crate,.this seemed 2 suffice the Tourney Director as I cruised by him for my inspection during Blast-Off,..if you PM me Ralph I can tell you just how I made it,..came out really nice I almost didn't sell it with the boat!

BB

racfish wrote:I took my boat off the for sale list and having it all tuned up and taking back home with me where it belongs.As for my question on a live well.The live well for my boat is a factory installed unit.To do 1 now would cost quite a bit.Last summer I never had more fun then getting into the big mouths and the small mouths.I need a livewell to be in any competion which really sounds like fun.Are there rules for live wells? to be tournament legal?. I found at Cabellas and West Marine a unit that fits in the icechest and acts as a live well. Is this acceptable?It was $70.00 instead of few hundred to have one installed.

Hi Racfish, they don't usually get too specific when it comes to the requirements of the livewells themselves. I pulled the following from our NWBass circuit rules as an example.

Conservation: Adequate livewells are mandatory on each boat and must provide aeration to maintain fish in good condition as every effort will be made to release as many fish live a possible following weigh-in. This is a primary concern of Northwest Bass and we will allow early weigh-in to prevent the loss of fish.

Basically aeration to handle the 5 TOADS you catch and want to bring back to the weigh in is all you need!

I have a portable airation system I use for crabbing and clamming which is a cig lighter adapter to two fish tank pumps w/airstones.Ive tried with fish but they didnt last too long.Could've been any number of reasons though.Rich I have a 16' Tracer by Smokercraft.I have a front storage area that I thought woud be good for a livewell.
So bottom line is they have to be live and in good shape to be released. Thanks guys. 5 Toads.?? I was planning on Hawgzilla Bass.

I would really talk to somone before you install a live well any where past the middle of your boat to the front. There is a reason why live wells are in the back. For one getting your boat on plane with all that water in the front will be tough. The second reason is the fish are going to take a serious beating in the front of the boat and may die anyway.

Desertcreek wrote:I would really talk to somone before you install a live well any where past the middle of your boat to the front. There is a reason why live wells are in the back. For one getting your boat on plane with all that water in the front will be tough. The second reason is the fish are going to take a serious beating in the front of the boat and may die anyway.

Allot of Bass-Boats have live wells fore and aft,..as does mine,..?????

BB

I stand corrected. I have a Ranger and have only ridden in a Nitro, Bullet, and other Ranger's.

Desertcreek wrote:I stand corrected. I have a Ranger and have only ridden in a Nitro, Bullet, and other Ranger's.

No worries DC,..BTW I like your threads!

BB

Thanks man. My wife bought me this shirt last summer. That was a lame attempt at humor. Thanks really.