fishing contest question

[icehousebob]

Hi guys, I've been invited as a guest in a small fishing contest next weekend. We plan on keeping our catch in the boat's livewell for the weigh-in. But, if a fish dies, is it better to keep it in the livewell or to put it on ice or in ice water, in order to have it retain more of its live weight for the weigh-in? I've seen where an ounce or two can decide the placement of the contestants.

[machohorn]

I have only been to a couple of tourneys, and the fish had to be alive to be counted, when it was warm we put a block of ice in the live well, make sure you secure it or it will bang around and kill the winning fish.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I would say do your best to keep them alive. Depending on the tournament.. Many have a penalty for dead fish of some sort.. Run your live wells, try and keep the water as cool as possible.

Best of luck!

[wishing for walleyes]

Put a timer on your livewell.The timer i put on mine is 1 minute on 2 minutes off.I also put a manual-auto fill switch on.Works really good.

[PerchJerker]

I don't think that over the course of a few hours until weigh-in there is going to be a difference between fish in water or fish on ice.

[BobT]

I've often wondered about the effect of those timers on a battery reserve. If it is on for 30% of the time, do you suppose you are gaining very little if not losing because of the inrush of current every time the motor starts? With that cycle rate would it be better to run it continuously?\

Any engineers in the group?

Bob

[wishing for walleyes]

I have run the timer and 2 gps plotters for 10 hours straight and never drained the battery down.I also have a minnow net that i set on top of the livewell and use it as a baitwell.Keeps minnows and fish alive all day.I put an 800 gph pump on it.I think the livewell is 33 or 35 gallon tank.Its my third year using it and wouldnt want to be without it.It works really good even with 78 degree water.

[hhguide]

I have what wishing for walleyes has only had one time where it drained my battery but i can deal with that.

[Northlander]

I dont think they can run a catch and release tourney this time of year can they?

If so then do like others say. Run as much fresh water in the well as you can and if needed toss some ice blocks on the other side of a divider so you dont BONK your fish.