Fishing Forum

Hello, y'all. Me again.

We got the pontoon boat all put together; now we're just waiting on my float tube to get here. AND for the temps to drop a bit. So now the question is, how do you keep fish alive on a float tube? Do you use stringers? or wire mesh baskets? I saw in the TubeDude's book that he uses a mesh basket with a kid's swim noodle attached to keep it floating and close. Just curious if this is what most of y'all use??

We generally release the larger bass, but the blue gill are going in the pan . .

Cheers!
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I keep most of my fish "in the lake"[]

Peter
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Me too Pete[laugh]
But I will keep one now and then, plus there is always that chance you cannot revive.
I carry a small Mesh bag (maybe 20" X 12") with a clip the I just clip on the side of my toon or tube.
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I got that mesh bag idea from you..............I got one
now but have not used it just yet. Soon.[]

Peter
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Kind of depends on what your fishing for. Anything with spines you don't want it near the toon or float tube or you might see bubbles[:/]

So the wire basket works best then. Size of the basket depends again on what you fish for. If you fish perch or like that for table and freezer fair larger would be better, keep in mind a large fish means a bigger container is needed.

So I use the large fish basket with the noodle.
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Good point, but it does hang below the tube/toon.
I agree 100% when a nylon or some other fabric cover, but I have always had PVC coated or very thick (H3) material.
Caught a bag full of BIG Bluegill for a fry and no worries, but maybe they don't count.
I have had perch and catfish in the bag, but never thought about punctures, but again, depends on the boat material and very helpful that you mention this warning.
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I use a basket as well. TubeDude showed me and BigFishTaco how to rig up a fish basket with a swimming noodle and zip ties. Easy. Effective. Holds lots o' fish. I agree with what has been said about keeping that sucker away from your craft. I've never had a problem with a basket of bluegill or whitebass sticking a spine into my tube but I'm sure I'll get lucky one day. I use TubeDude's method (snapping off their spines with a good pair of pliers or side cutters) for taming catfish you are going to keep. Those things do swim around and move the floating fish basket quite a bit so the odds of them bumping into your craft with a spine could be higher.
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I do wonder the numbers of tubes popped from stringers of perch or cat.
I would think more damage can be done during the handling and unhooking.

I think it boils down to how much you wanna pack.
If you wanna keep it light and fast, then a regular rope stringer or the mesh bag.
OR if you are able to deal with a little more bulk and drag, the wire mesh basket with the water weeny.

Did I mention the rope stringer and the mesh basket fit in the corner of a side bag[cool]
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I know with my toon I used last year the "handling" part included each time I pulled up and put down the stringer when I would attach the next fish. Since I was at Utah Lake and the stringer was full of white bass I had a good number of pin holes all in a close area to where I would pull up the stringer and put it down. Newbie lesson for sure but it was a pain to find all those pin holes and get them patched. Now past that point/lesson, and on a different craft, I'm sold on the idea of something that keeps the fish from having access to the air bladders whatever that might be to suit personal preference and the craft one uses.
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Interesting. Thanks for the hands on info.
Sure glad I fish for .....no sharp edges ......fish[laugh][laugh]
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I use a basket with a collar for flotation also. If I am going to keep a cat , I just break the spines off. I feel more secure that way, and the fish stays alive ,sooo it works for me.[]
Pa
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Thanks for all the tips.

Looks like I'm in the market for a large/extra large basket. Just finished TubeDudes chapter on rigging one. Any suggestions on where to find one without the floating lid? I guess I can just remove it and drive on? (Never used a basket . . .) Thoughts?

Cheers!
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[cool][#0000ff]I buy my baskets through BassPro. They have the bigguns without the floating lids. I usually undo the spring catch from the wire lid anyway. Makes it easier to drop a fish in one handed. But it also makes it easier for a fish to jump out. Have had a few "Houdini's" over the years. But, if you have bass or trout or other jumpers in the basket you can always rehook the little spring to keep the lid closed.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you have a Sportsmans Warehouse in your area they sometimes carry the larger baskets.[/#0000ff]
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[shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked][shocked]
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[fishin][cool][cool][cool][cool][cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]I have many similar tales/tails.[/#0000ff]
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it appears we have a tail to tell. [cool][cool]
Ron
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ot mine at sportsmas warehouse. I know that other places have them too.
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Thanks for all the tails! I looked again at bot BassPro and Cabellas castalogs and see them in both. Guess I overlooked them first time around.

Don't have any Sportsman's Warehouse around here that I know of. In fact, we don't even have any tackle shops near my home; have to go 45 min. south to Lexington Park. So I have to do most shopping onlin.

Yesterday my Bighorn arrived! Haven't had a chance to assemble it yet - had to take Robby up to Andrews AFB for an emer CT Scan. He is not doing well at all. His most recent surgery (on his good leg) is not healing properly, and his stump is badly infected - AGAIN. They're talking about taking his left knee. They can't seem to kill the infections. So, hitting the water is on hold again.

Take care, y'all. If'n yer so disposed, could you ask the man upstairs for some healing over here in Waldorf? Thanks.

Cheers!
Bob Hendry
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