"Please Release Me" question

[Bandit1]

I have a evening/night tournament this sat. from 6p-2a. My question is, if I put this stuff in my livewell, do I still need to cool the water with ice bottles, or will this stuff do the trick? My fear is that if I use ice bottles that I will get the water to cool and kill the fish anyway. That is why I am asking about it. I have a Bass Tracker and the livewell is about 1/2 to 3/4 the size of that in a fiberglass boat. In the past I never had a problem but I recirculated fresh water everytime, now I have recirculating pump that recycles the water, I figured with the weather conditions we have been having and the hot water temp. this would be my best be to keep them alive. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Jason

[Rangerman]

I use "Please Release Me" along with the following guidelines which are taken from the B.A.S.S. sponsored manual, "Keeping Bass Alive". KDFWR Fisheries Division endorses these procedures and recommends that all bass tournament sponsors and anglers adopt these as standard practices in their June – August tournaments when water temperatures are high.

*Stress caused by handling and livewell confinement is the major factor that increases mortality of tournament caught bass. Hot water and low oxygen increase stress.
*Stress can be reduced by continual operation of the aerator in a closed livewell. Do not pump hot lake water into the livewell.
*Keeping livewell temperature 5-10 degrees F cooler than the lake water greatly reduces stress. Cool water holds more oxygen.
*Two frozen ½ gallon jugs of water or an 8 pound ice block will cool a 30 gallon livewell by 10 degrees F for about 3 hours. To avoid temperature shock, do not cool by more than 10 degrees. Livewell temperature should never be allowed to rise above 85 degrees F. Extra jugs or blocks can be carried in a cooler or insulated boat compartment.
*Livewell temperatures should be checked every hour with ice added or removed as needed.
*Non-iodized salt (available at farm supply stores) helps reduce stress. Add 1/3 cup per 5 gallons of livewell water. Salt can be pre-measured for the size of your livewell and put in small plastic bags.
*If you have more than 10 pounds of bass in your livewell you should exchange ½ the water at the half way through your tournament day. Remember to adjust the temperature and add ½ a dose of salt when you add fresh water.

These simple procedures can significantly increase the survival of tournament caught and released bass and will keep next year’s winning sack alive. Copies of "Keeping Bass Alive" are available to tournament directors and anglers at:

B.A.S.S. Conservation Dept.
5845 Carmichael Rd.
Montgomery, AL 36117

Or e-mail: [email protected]

[DJD]

We use the "Please Release Me" as well as the ice. I never put store bought or tap water ice directly in the livewell since the threat of chlorine or whatever might harm the fish so i keep the ice in a container like most people do. I never used the salt in addition to the other measures. A buddy of mine mentioned freezing lake water and putting that in with no container but i'll stick with the ice bottles.

[Bandit1]

Thank you Ranger & DJD. You have been very helpful.

Jason

[MsgMills]

I usually add 3 to 4 frozen Gatorade or 20 oz. bottles to my live well as soon as the first fish goes in. I have not lost a fish due to the hot weather in I don't know how long, using these frozen bottles of water.

Plus I keep several more in my on board cooler to add later if need be.

Good luck on your night tournament.....