What To Keep Caught Fish In? 2024

DgTerrell reply :

I've been doing a search for this, but have not had much results. I know most of you have boats that have wells to keep your catches in, but I only bank fish. I have read that some people use a burlap bag and throw some ice in it or they dip it in water. That's pretty much all I've found besides carrying a cooler around.

Suggestions? Thanks.

BASSclary reply :

Cooler filled with ice.

Bucket filled with ice.

Anything to keep the fish either a) Alive

or Cold.

tomustang reply :

I usually carry a cooler, no ice. If I end up keeping a bunch ill take my load off the chain and throw them in the cooler and stop by to get ice, depending on how far I'm away from my house

DgTerrell reply :

I'm running out of hands though. I'm already carrying my 5 gallon bucket (my seat) tackle box, water and rod. I went to put a 16 inch smallie in the bucket full of water the other night to take home and it didn't quite fit right. Half an hour later when I got home the fish was stiff as a board. Poor fella.

WRB reply :

Sampo nylon fish stringers comes in both 6' and 10' lengths, excellent product. The 10' may be a good choice for bank fishing. A wet burlap bag will keep fish fresh as long as you keep the bag wet and good for transporting fish you plan to eat to a cooler with ice, if necessary, for the trip home.

Learn to catch & release and carry your tackle in a fanny or small back pack; no bucket and more mobile.

Tom

DgTerrell reply :

I have Fibromyalgia so I pretty much got to carry my bucket around to sit because I get to hurting and weak after a while. I've read that stringers are hard on the fish and can kill them quickly too. I just found on BPS that they carry a collapsible basket for bass. It's 19" diameter and 30" height. I could get that and then when I get back to the car put them in a cooler.

tomustang reply :

Better off switching to a backpack instead of a tacklebox, if your lucky they use to make a camping backpack with a seat part of the frame, they are hard to find

Packard reply :

Try to find something like this

SirSnookalot reply :

If I were bank fishing I'd keep them alive on a stringer until I was ready to leave, I would clean them on the spot and wrap them, fish will be fine until you get home, No different than buying fish at the market, (except market fish are not as fresh), counter man cleans it, wraps it, you checkout and drive home. My dad had a fish market for 40 years, that's how it was always done.

Sam reply :

Other than in a tournament, I throw everything back.

Locked reply :

I've seen quite a few people with one of These. You could probably carry everything you need in that cart. It seems like it would be nice, especially if you have to walk a distance.

Grey Wolf reply :

Wow , what a unique question.

J Francho reply :

I think I'm missing some info.....keeping for what purpose? The answer to that question will have a lot to do with what you want to use.

DgTerrell reply :

On 8/10/2011 at 9:27 PM, J Francho said:

I think I'm missing some info.....keeping for what purpose? The answer to that question will have a lot to do with what you want to use.

You're right, I should have wrote that in the question but I forgot. I throw back everything I catch. I just took the one home the other night because it was decent sized and I never catch anything when I'm fishing with somebody with me. Wanted to show off to the family that I can catch them. I'm not wanting to bring a cooler full home and clean them, I'm just worried that If I ever catch a really nice bass and want to have it mounted, I have something good to keep it in while I'm still fishing.

WRB reply :

On 8/10/2011 at 11:09 PM, DgTerrell said:

You're right, I should have wrote that in the question but I forgot. I throw back everything I catch. I just took the one home the other night because it was decent sized and I never catch anything when I'm fishing with somebody with me. Wanted to show off to the family that I can catch them. I'm not wanting to bring a cooler full home and clean them, I'm just worried that If I ever catch a really nice bass and want to have it mounted, I have something good to keep it in while I'm still fishing.

Camera; take a photo with a tape measure and weigh it. Good digital scale like Jennings Ultra Sport 30 about $30, small and compact..very accurate and includes a tape measure.

You don't need to kill the fish to get a good replica mount.

Tom

PS; what makes you think a good stringer like Sampo will harm the fish? You poke a small hole through the lower lip membrane, clip on the bass and keep it in the lake water. Putting a bass in a bucket of water with very low dissolved oxygen levels will kill it. Water weighs 8 lbs/gallon.

DgTerrell reply :

On 8/10/2011 at 11:25 PM, WRB said:

Camera; take a photo with a tape measure and weigh it. Good digital scale like Jennings Ultra Sport 30 about $30, small and compact..very accurate and includes a tape measure.

You don't need to kill the fish to get a good replica mount.

Tom

PS; what makes you think a good stringer like Sampo will harm the fish? You poke a small hole through the lower lip membrane, clip on the bass and keep it in the lake water. Putting a bass in a bucket of water with very low dissolved oxygen levels will kill it. Water weighs 8 lbs/gallon.

Read that stringers were harmful on fish when doing a search on google for something else a few months back. For all I know, stringers could be the only way to keep fish, I don't know that's why I started the topic. Just wanted to hear what people's preferred preference was.

I think just a picture would do the justice for a great memory of my catch. But the reason why I would get a mount would be to hang it next to my late grandfathers mount. We were very close and I was pretty much his caretaker his last 8 months. He loved to fish and after he passed away is when I really took fishing more serious. It would just be neat to see if I ever catch a trophy to hang them next to each other.

Grey Wolf reply :

On 8/11/2011 at 2:46 AM, DgTerrell said:

Read that stringers were harmful on fish when doing a search on google for something else a few months back. For all I know, stringers could be the only way to keep fish, I don't know that's why I started the topic. Just wanted to hear what people's preferred preference was.

I think just a picture would do the justice for a great memory of my catch. But the reason why I would get a mount would be to hang it next to my late grandfathers mount. We were very close and I was pretty much his caretaker his last 8 months. He loved to fish and after he passed away is when I really took fishing more serious. It would just be neat to see if I ever catch a trophy to hang them next to each other.

You don't have to kill it to mount it , just get a replica.

J Francho reply :

Let's keep the conversation civil and the sarcasm to a minimum.

Thanks!

DgTerrell reply :

I'm not really sure why you keep bringing that up? I didn't ask if I should mount a fish or not, I simply asked what people keep their fish in. If I decide to bring a fish home I believe I can. As long as it's legal size, I can take it home and eat it or mount it if I choose.

J Francho reply :

That's correct. Many trophy hunters prefer to return the biggest fish back to the lake, with the hope of it getting even bigger.

RangerEnthusiast reply :

I'm with Sam unless in tournament I throw everything back.

WRB reply :

It's a common practice to have a mount made of a personal best fish and killing the fish for a skin mount is just as common as releasing them after taking a photo. It comes down to personal preference and I have done both over the years. Today I believe replica's are a better choice, they last longer and look better.

Good luck in your quest and you got some answers you can use.

Tom

PS; tournament anglers are not allowed to use stringers, not because they harm the fish, the problem is anglers cheating by stashing fish on a stringer before the tournament.

Good luck; your grandfather will be proud of you.

DgTerrell reply :

On 8/11/2011 at 5:04 AM, WRB said:

Good luck; your grandfather will be proud of you.

Thanks I appreciate that.

Packard reply :

Why are you guys so anal about him keeping his fish. He's not hurting the fisheries if he's following the legal limit. I know not all of you will agree with this practice but you should respect it or at least keep to yourself.

CWB reply :

On 8/11/2011 at 12:46 PM, Packard said:

Why are you guys so anal about him keeping his fish. He's not hurting the fisheries if he's following the legal limit. I know not all of you will agree with this practice but you should respect it or at least keep to yourself.

Agreed. At one time or another, I'm sure we've all kept a nice fish or 2 for the sole purpose of showing it off. Then as anglers we evolve and adopt the catch and release mentality. Nothing wrong with keeping one for mounting either. As long as you have a license it's perfectly legal. Stringers do not harm fish any more than the clip on culling systems used by many tournament anglers. Keep the fish in the water it was caught in for as long as possible. As others have said, it will die in a bucket. If your on the bank and the water is too shallow for the fish to live on a stringer, snap a pic or if you want to mount it, ice it ASAP and get it to a taxidermist. Let your consciencence be your guide.

DgTerrell reply :

On 8/11/2011 at 12:46 PM, Packard said:

Why are you guys so anal about him keeping his fish. He's not hurting the fisheries if he's following the legal limit. I know not all of you will agree with this practice but you should respect it or at least keep to yourself.

On 8/12/2011 at 10:30 AM, CWB said:

Agreed. At one time or another, I'm sure we've all kept a nice fish or 2 for the sole purpose of showing it off. Then as anglers we evolve and adopt the catch and release mentality. Nothing wrong with keeping one for mounting either. As long as you have a license it's perfectly legal. Stringers do not harm fish any more than the clip on culling systems used by many tournament anglers. Keep the fish in the water it was caught in for as long as possible. As others have said, it will die in a bucket. If your on the bank and the water is too shallow for the fish to live on a stringer, snap a pic or if you want to mount it, ice it ASAP and get it to a taxidermist. Let your consciencence be your guide.

Thank you.

Looks like I have read some false information on stringers. Going to have to get mine back from my brother.

Scorcher214 reply :

If you want to really make sure he is alive, get a battery powered aerator for a cooler.

Hyrule Bass reply :

On 8/10/2011 at 11:40 AM, DgTerrell said:

I have Fibromyalgia so I pretty much got to carry my bucket around to sit because I get to hurting and weak after a while. I've read that stringers are hard on the fish and can kill them quickly too. I just found on BPS that they carry a collapsible basket for bass. It's 19" diameter and 30" height. I could get that and then when I get back to the car put them in a cooler.

instead of a bucket, why not get one of those fold up chairs that come with a bag you can store them in that has a shoulder strap, you could just throw that over your shoulder. and even if stringers did cause fish problems, whats it matter if youre keeping the fish anyways?

On 8/11/2011 at 12:46 PM, Packard said:

Why are you guys so anal about him keeping his fish. He's not hurting the fisheries if he's following the legal limit. I know not all of you will agree with this practice but you should respect it or at least keep to yourself.

well said. while everyone is entitled to their opinions on it, they also shouldnt act so repulsed and give someone a hardtime about them keeping fish so long as its kept legally...

Avid Angler FL reply :

Yeah I think a stringer would be your best bet. It's what I use to keep catfish alive and kickin. Just make sure but stick it through their lower lips, NOT through their gills. That's what will injure or even kill fish. Another option, as you've mentioned would be the fish basket. That would be great to use! And they're usually collapsable to reduce the bulk of them!

hatrix reply :

I don't understand why you put a stringer through there lip. You say its not to harm or kill the fish but I have always put it through there mouth and out the gills. Maybe you guys are putting fish on a stringer for another reason then I am? If there is fish on my stringer its future is going to be short lived. It would also seem like if you did decide to release them it would maybe be worse off with a hole in the bottom of it now.

David301 reply :

My honey hole that I fish is very near to producing me a new Maryland state record. I was thinking one day what am I going to do if I do catch the new state record, how am I going to transport it to the local tackle shop to have it officially weighed. So I purchased a heavy duty 50 gallon plastic container and installed a aerator system in it and I keep it in the back of my suv. A fishing buddy asked why do I keep it in the back of my suv and not take it with me while fishing, I had to tell him that water weighs around 8 pounds per gallon and if I put 40 gallons of water in it that it would weigh 320 pounds, like I can lift that from the ground and into my suv..lol....I carry a fish bag with me to transport the fish to my suv and will run back and forth with a bucket for more water. Yea, its a pain in the butt..but you gotta do what you gotta do.

SDoolittle reply :

On 8/10/2011 at 9:37 AM, DgTerrell said:
I'm running out of hands though. I'm already carrying my 5 gallon bucket (my seat) tackle box, water and rod.

I suggest you get one of these. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM4964911801P?prdNo=1#reviewsWrap I have used one while bank fishing for years, and I really like it. It is probably more comfortable to sit on than the bucket you're currently using, the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry, and it has a built in five gallon cooler to carry your drinks and/or fish. The pockets on the outside are designed to carry a box of shotgun shells, and they come in handy for storing items such as sun screen and insect repellent. The cooler can also be used as a minnow bucket if you like to use live bait.

DgTerrell reply :

On 8/12/2011 at 11:11 PM, Red Earth said:
instead of a bucket, why not get one of those fold up chairs that come with a bag you can store them in that has a shoulder strap, you could just throw that over your shoulder.

I bought one of those chairs the beginning of the summer. Most of the places I fish on the bank are very rugged and it's hard to find a even spot to spread the legs for the chair to sit up without tipping over. Found the bucket to be easier to get around and sit on.

On 8/13/2011 at 9:29 PM, Bird dog said:

I suggest you get one of these. http://www.sears.com...o=1#reviewsWrap I have used one while bank fishing for years, and I really like it. It is probably more comfortable to sit on than the bucket you're currently using, the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry, and it has a built in five gallon cooler to carry your drinks and/or fish. The pockets on the outside are designed to carry a box of shotgun shells, and they come in handy for storing items such as sun screen and insect repellent. The cooler can also be used as a minnow bucket if you like to use live bait.

I actually was looking at something very similar to that just yesterday. It wasn't quite as fancy as that one, just a bucket with skirt and pockets. I'm going to try and search for one those later on today.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions!

Packard reply :

You also could put this on your bucket so you don't have to lug around a tackle box. It's called the Plano Bucket Topper and it's around $10 at most stores.

Canadian Kid reply :

On 8/11/2011 at 4:45 AM, RangerEnthusiast said:

I'm with Sam unless in tournament I throw everything back.

fishinkeebs reply :

If you can carry a cooler Marine Metal Products make an aerator systems that can fit in any cooler, it runs on any standard marine battery. It works awesome!

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