Live well vs cooler

[cwright]

In the summer I won't leave the dock without a cooler of ice. If I am keeping the crappie, every few hours I clear out the live well and place on ice just so I don't have to open the cooler 20 times.

[Orion_70]

It's hard to keep them alive and fresh in Fl in the summer. I either put frozen bottles of water in the livewell with them, or and most likely if I know I'm keeping it, it goes right in an ice chest with ice in it. quicker you get them on ice the better

[chaunc]

I'll use the live well in cooler weather but really prefer to ice down all the fish I keep. I rarely keep crappie in the hot summertime, or actually anytime if I have a few filets in the freezer. I guess it's from my old days of trout and bass 'catch and release.' I like to eat crappie as well as anyone but am constantly amazed at seeing pics of 20 or more caught and cleaned day after day after day by some folks. Can't imagine eating that much crappie.

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From mid June up north in PA until October, I put my fish on ice. Keeps em nice and firm and if you ice them overnight, they’re even more firm and much easier to clean.

[jp2]

I also use cooler in warmer weather. Problem with cooler is those days when you only catch 1 or 2 fish. Can't throw em back.

[Potatoe]

Started using a cooler when it got warm out, I am freezing water bottles and just re-use. Seems to work pretty good.

[Peewee59]

You have to drain your live well at the ramp here so a cooler is the answer

[Ketchn]

5 gallon bucket when it is cold …...without a boat
ice chest with bagged or block ice when its warm
live well when its chilly water
or just toss em back after a selfie ………...

[arkcrappie]

If you are referring to some using a cooler for a livewell as I read it, a cooler will make a great livewell. I plug my livewell no matter what time of year and I use a cooler for fish that seem to be stressed. Keeping the water cool with plenty of oxygen is the key. In the hot summer, I put a handfull of non iodized salt in my livewell (cooler and livewell alike). I use frozen bottles of lake water (no chlorine) in my wells. Not sure how many fish you can keep, but I've kept 20 alive in 95 degree heat in my main live well.

[Hanr3]

Livewell 100% of the time. My livewell is 30 gallons, including the bait well section.
I have timers and let them run when there are fish in the livewell. I change the water over in the livewell with fresh water all the time. No aerators, just pumps that draw in fresh lake water every time the pump kicks on.
If it's hot out, I use the 1 minute cycle, cool out the 7 minute cycle, cold out I manually turn it on and off every 1/2hr or so. There is a 3 minute setting, however I hardly ever use it.

90% of the time I will clean the fish at the ramp cleaning station. If its closed, I carry gear in my trailer storage box for cleaning on top of the box. 12volt fillet knife, cutting board, 3 different sized stainless steel bowls and there is always 2 quarts of fresh water in the boat. I even carry zip-lock freezer bags and garbage bags for the remains. Also been known to leave the plug in the livewell and drive the 1 to 2 1/2 hours home and clean them in the driveway. Or back at the campsite. Basically I can clean fish where every I am. I also carry a 120v fillet knife.

The 54 quart livewell / cooler in the back of the boat mostly holds cold beverages. However, if I need it for a livewell, put the plug in and turn the pump/timer on.