Thread: What are the steps to holding a fish before you clean it

If I plan on keeping them to eat, I always have a cooler with ice. I put them in the cooler before leaving the lake.

livewell is fine, however i usually (when practical) like to put my fish on ice for about an hour before i put them on the fillet board. It gets the meat firm and easier to fillet.

one more thing id like to add: I am a stickler for keeping my fish as fresh as possible (especially my saltwater fish). If you let your fish settle in a cooler full of watered down ice, well you have lost that fresh fish taste. keep that drain plug open!!

This time of year, there isn't the best oxygen so I'd suggest turn the livewell pump on every 15 mins or so to let fresh water in, plus don't keep too many in the well. When the water cools off in about a month, that will be better. Ditto on the ice Pete and others suggested.

Agree 100%--put them on ice.

I have gone to putting fish that I'm going to keep straight into a cooler with ice. Like Pete said, not buried, but on top of the ice.
Mike

Take a kid outdoors!

I always take a cooler with 3 or 4 frozen 2 liter bottles...I don't like buying ice...works great, been doing it for years...just refreeze the bottles for next trip