Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 08/17/08: Keeping Your Bass Alive

Winning a bass tournament is often determined by a matter of ounces. Dead fish can be the difference between placing in the money or applauding the winners from the audience. Let's explore what can be done to keep those fish alive.

When a fish is hooked deeply, the angler is faced with the decision on removing the hook or leaving the hook in. If the hook is deeply set into the stomach it is recommended to leave the hook in by cutting the line. Hooks that are left in the bass may corrode over time and fall out once the fish is released. Leaving the deeply set hook also results in less blood loss therefore increasing the chance in weighing a live fish. In all other situations it is best to remove the hook using needle nose pliers or other hook removing tools.

Another key factor in maintaining the health of your catch is how you operate your livewell. Many bass tournament fishermen simply close the drains, turn on the livewell aerators and forget them. This is not the correct approach in maintaining your catch! Depending on the season and water temperatures here's some guidelines for livewell operation:

1- During the cooler fall, winter and spring months, the livewells may be set to turn off/on at infrequent cycle times and constant flow through is recommended i.e. no recirculation.

2- Hotter summer months where water surface temperatures can be in the 90's requires constant on and recirculation during the afternoon periods of the tournament. The recirculation will prevent the influx of the high temperature water from reducing the oxygen content within the tanks. The constant on cycle will replenish the oxygen on a regular basis.

3- Use ice to keep the water temperature cool in the summer. 5 to 10 degree cooler water will results in greater oxygen capacity and a livelier catch.

So on your next tournament outing, try these tips out and greatly reduce the penalties for "dead fish" then come back to Floridabassfishing.us for some more outstanding  fish catching techniques!

Largemouth Herald