Updated: Jan-27-2011

For the Ontario Chinese Anglers Association (OCAA) tournaments, participating anglers are required to weigh in live fish. There is a penalty for a dead fish weigh in. The full day tournaments will put pressure on anglers to ensure the fish are alive and healthy for the weigh-in. Since many of us fish out of rental aluminium boats, we have to use a portable live well set up. Typically, the livewell is a picnic cooler.

Large (100 U.S. Quart or 25 U.S. Gallon) Live Well

This is my large, portable live well set up for walleye and bass tournaments in a 15 foot rental boat with a flat floor. I only use this cooler in rental boats that have a completely flat floor. What I mean by this is that I can stand anywhere in the boat and the floor does not does not curve. Even the casting deck on the bow is flat. The cooler fully loaded with water and fish requires a flat floor due to its heavy weight. It's a bit crowded with 3 anglers and the cooler in the boat.

This is a West Marine 100 Quart Ultra Cold Cooler made by Igloo. It's a big cooler measuring 17" H x 16" W x 34" L, but it gets the job done. The fish can be dropped into the cooler through the small lid hatch instead of lifting the entire cooler lid. I secure the lid of a Rubber Maid storage container to the top of the cooler lid using velco strips. The Rubber Maid lid is used as a tray keep my fishing lures and accessories organized. Also, I put my sonar/GPS unit and VHF radio on the Rubber Maid lid. l call this the "poor man's version of a boat side console and livewell". 

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/6705/377%20710%201171/0/Coolers%20/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/20/0?N=377%20710%201171&Ne=0&Ntt=Coolers%20&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=20&Ns=0&keyword=cooler&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5004&subdeptNum=15&classNum=231

I bought this cooler from West Marine, 177 Lake Shore Blvd E at Lower Jarvis St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 416-203-2884. I bought it for half price (about $85.00 CAD) during a sale in 2008. The www.westmarine.com price is $107.99 USD (January 2011).

Small (48 U.S. Quart or 12.5 U.S. Gallon) Live Well 

I would say that most rental boats are about 14 to 16 feet long and the floor has a slight curve. You cannot stand at the very front of this type of boat.  For these rental boats, a 48 U.S. quart cooler like the one pictured above is idea. I can use this cooler as a small, portable live well for crappie, walleye and bass (up to 19 inches long). It's very crowded with 5 walleye or bass in this cooler, but the fish can survive if you use the Oxygenator and change the water periodically. I bought this Coleman 48 U.S. quart cooler from Walmart in Markham, Ontario, Canada for $24.86 CAD (2009 price). If needed, I can use 2 of these coolers or similar in the boat.

In 2010, Coleman introduced a 50 quart cooler which has 2 wheels and a retractable, telescopic pull handle. I find this cooler convenient because I can load my tackle bag, sonar unit and other items into the cooler, which I tow to the boat for loading. This cooler is available at Canadian Tire and Walmart in the Greater Toronto Area for $69.99 CAD regular price.

http://www.colemancanada.ca/Catalog/COOLERS.Wheeled,3000000878.en.products

The Oxygenator is Better than an Aerator

The Oxygenator

http://www.keepfishalive.com/index.html

Check the link below regarding using the Oxygenator in salt water.

http://www.keepfishalive.com/saltwater-packg.html

Oxygenation Verus Aeration

http://www.keepfishalive.com/oxy-vs-aeration.html

The New Portable Oxygenator, introduced in 2011, can be used in built-in boat livewells, portable cooler livewells or bait livewell buckets. This latest generation of the Portable Oxygenator is available at www.basspro.com for $99.99 USD (January 2011).

http://www.basspro.com/The-Portable-OXYGENATOR/product/10222340/-1772283

Above is a "Close Out" Portable Oxygenator. This version of the Portable Oxygenator is no longer being produced.  

The "Close Out" Portable Oxygenator for freshwater use only can still be purchased direct from the manufacturer for $49.99 USD plus $10 USD for shipping and handling. (January 2011). This Portable Oxygenator originally sold for $89.95.

http://www.keepfishalive.com/product-portableBK2.html

The Oxygenator generates new, 100% pure oxygen from the water. Aerators pumping air through an aeration stone do not generate new oxygen and only re-circulate the used oxygen. The Oxygenator will keep the fish in better condition than an aerator when used in a heat wave. In a heat wave, use re-freezeable ice blocks.  Regardless of which system is used, the livewell water must be periodically changed or U2 Pro Formula Livewell Treatment must be used to treat the water because when fish produce waste excrement it creates ammonia. Eventually if the water is not changed or chemically treated, the fish will die from a lack of oxygen because of the ammonia build up.

U2 Pro Formula Livewell Treatment

U2 Pro Formula.
Livewell Fish & Bait Booster.

• Approved for use with THE OXYGENATOR
• NON-TOXIC to Humans, Pets and Aquatic Life
• Removes Nitrites, Ammonia, Chlorine, Chloramines, and Heavy Metals
• Adds Essential Electrolytes
• Replaces Skin Slime

U2 Pro Formula for Fresh Water

http://www.keepfishalive.com/u2profomula-fresh.html

U2 Pro Formula for Salt Water

http://www.keepfishalive.com/u2profomula-salt.html

 

12 Volt 7 Amp Hour Sealed Gel Cell Battery 

12 volt 7 amp hour rechargable sealed lead acid battery with recharger adaptor

The Oxygenator Livewell Portable requires one 12 volt 7 amp hour sealed lead acid battery to power the device.

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Rechargeable-Batteries/product/49382/-978527

These batteries are available at Bass Pro Shops Vaughan Mills and Crosstown Battery Sales, 21 Musgrave St, Victoria Park and Gerrard area, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 416-691-2712. Le Baron Markham and Mississauga sells a Humminbird 12 Volt Gel Cell Battery Kit (Part# 770028-1) for $42.94 CAD (2010 price) consisting of one 12 V 7 Amp Hour Battery and one AC Charger.

Minn Kota Digital Battery Meter MK-BM-1D

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/accessories/battery/digital_battery_meter.aspx

I use a Minn Kota Digital Battery Meter MK-BM-1D to check the remaining battery charge on any 12 volt battery. Available at Le Baron, Markham, Canada for $16.94 CAD (2010 price).

The Oxygenator Connected to a Sealed 12 Volt Gel Cell Battery

It is very easy to set up. Pictured above is the "Close Out" Portable Oxygenator. There is no need to drill hole into the cooler unless you really want to. One thing that I did was buy some battery clips from the Dollar Store to connect the wires to the battery. The battery clips supplied with the Oxygenator were too big. Remember to connect the red wire to the red colour terminal (positive +) and the black wire to the black colour terminal (negative -).

Manual Bildge Pump 

Hand Bilge Pump, 36" Pump with 72" Hose

I use a small bucket and/or a manual bilge pump to change the water in the cooler livewell. Also, I use the hand/manual bildge pump to pump out the accumulation of water in the hull of the boat below the floor after a heavy rain fall.

I bought the hand bildge pump at West Marine in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The www.westmarine.com price is $38.99 USD (January 2011 price).

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/70334/377%20710/0/manual%20bilge%20pump/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=manual%20bilge%20pump&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=manual%20bilge%20pump&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=11&subdeptNum=75&classNum=168