TOURNAMENT BASS HANDLING GUIDELINES

The following recommended guidelines are taken from the B.A.S.S sponsored manual, "Keeping Bass Alive". 

Stress caused by handling and livewell confinement is the major factor that increases mortality of tournament caught bass. Hot water and low oxygen increase stress. 

Stress can be reduced by continual operation of the aerator in a closed livewell. Do not pump hot lake water into the livewell if the livewell water is cooler.

Keeping livewell temperature 3-5 degrees cooler than the lake water greatly reduces stress.  Cool water holds more oxygen. 

Two frozen 1/2 gallon jugs of water or an 8 pound ice block will cool a 30 gallon livewell by 10 degrees for about 3 hours.  To avoid temperature shock, do not cool by more than 5-6 degrees. Livewell temperature should never be allowed to rise above 85 degrees. Extra jugs or blocks can be carried in a cooler or insulated boat compartment.

Livewell temps should be checked every hour with ice added or removed as needed.

Non-iodized salt (avail. at farm supply stores), helps reduce stress.  Add 1/3 cup per 5 gallons of livewell water.  Salt can be pre-measured for the size of your  livewell and put in small plastic bags.

If you have more than 10 lbs of bass in your livewell you should exchange 1/2 the water half way through your tournament day. Remember to adjust the temperature and add 1/2 a dose of salt when you add fresh water.

If you have to grab the fish with your hands be sure to wet them first. Dry skin will remove the protective slime coating on the fish, this can cause the unprotected areas to become susceptible to algae and fungal growth which can cause disease and eventually kill the fish.

Try to use a plastic coated net.  Dry netting can remove the fish's protective slime.

Try not to lay the fish down on the deck, dock or ground.  Wet the surfaces first if you have to set down the fish.

If the fish swallows the hook, don't try to remove it. Just cut the line as close as you can to the hook and put the fish in the water. The fish will usually expel the hook on its own,m once it's back in the water.