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So being in a kayak does not allow for a livewell. How does everyone hold their fish? I've seen stringers and DIY floating mesh nets used. I like the mesh net idea the best since if I don't catch enough to mess with I can still release the fish unharmed. Anybody have any other ideas for holding fish safely?
I made a floating livewell out of a nylon mesh decoy bag a pool noodel, and some weighted plastic tubing for the bottom. I anchored it in place and would drop fish in as needed. You can't be too far from the livewell, but the fish can be released unharmed if you want to. It acts like a drift anchor in the water, so don't expect to paddle it around with you. I stored it on top of the rear deck & deployed it when I got where I was going. I transported the fish in triple layered ice bags, so they don't slime me or my boat on the way to the ramp.
Jim
Yes I’ve made a similar floating mesh bag with pool noodle. I didn’t add weight to bottom but should be easy enough if I find it needed. I bought two styles of bags, one all mesh the other which I used heavy duty with solid bottom. I can drop rock or something inside to weight down. I also carry a long paracord string I can use as stringer if needed as backup but not sure if that will keep fish healthy. Hoping between the two I can keep massive amounts of fish I’m sure to be needing for this upcoming clash..... :Rofl
I got some 3/4" clear plastic tubing, added a few small egg sinkers inside it, then connected each end to a 3/4" T fitting & made a loop with an outlet where water & air would drain. I zip tied it to the bottom of the bag, so the bag would hang straight. It really worked well, but it was a royal pain to move around. The second time I used it, I had a buddy in a boat drop it off and I anchored it in place when I got to where it was. I caught 49 crappie that day, but only kept 6 or 7 to eat. I also gave a dozen crappie to a guy who was fishing from the bank for his supper and not doing too good at it.
Good luck in the Clash. Wish I was going. I'll be going to the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh with my wife instead.
Jim
Delayed mortality is quite high and always an issue with crappie that have been live welled and then culled. Regardless if I am in the kayak or the powerboat, I immediately place on ice. No need to cull for me. If I only catch a few, I can usually find someone to take them at the ramp. If not I'll take it home and clean, then freeze or give away fresh to a neighbor or elderly or single friends.
Around here we have a few gators so any sort of stringer or basket in the water is pretty much out of the question for me. I keep mine in a cooler and ice them ASAP.
I carry an ice chest with a little ice in it in the tank well. Just pitch them on ice and they are easy to clean when I get home
I just put them on ice. If I don't catch many, I have no trouble giving them away. Or, I just catch some more the next day. I live in the same area as flintcreek, and as he mentioned, we have a few gators. I have no desire to be tethered to a 12' gator. Plus, I move around way too much for any sort of floating live well to be feasible.
no gators? A stainless hook eye on the gunnel and a stringer. Pass stringer back through hook eye bout half way up and a tie a half hitch with 'tag' end looped. String em up, drop fish in water then untie hitch. Allows you to get fish on stringer before you gotta undo knot. Works great for me if you can picture what I'm saying
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Let em ride. Theres some drag but really not bad
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Zoom in. Under the ugly stick; thats deployed and tied like I said.