The one thing you shouldmake sure you have in your livewell – along with water, Rejuvenade and lead weights (lol) – is, of course, fish.
Was checking out some FishingGold info last night, came across an incident where a fisherman had a limit but on a sharp turn his livewell lid popped open and two basses flew in winged fashion to freedom.
Seriously. Might have cost him the win.
Ever happen to you or anyone you know?
12 Comments
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Flip 'N' Pitch
December 23, 2011 at 11:06 am
I’m actually surprised this doesn’t happen more often, or at least admitted to after the pain and embarassment fade somewhat! I’ve ridden around with more than a few Elites who were quite nonchalant with securing equipment to and under their deck. Livewell lids will eventually get flipped open if you don’t latch them while doing your best “Iaconelli Impression”. I’ve had to grab a few rods from going overboard/poking me in the face when a wave swamped the deck but mostly it was the all too familiar “pile-o-hard baits” and tools strewn about in front of me just waiting to get airborne towards my face. Yes, a spinnerbait will eventually achieve enough aerodynamic lift to float towards you!
Avidbasser
December 23, 2011 at 11:31 am
Can’t say it’s happened to me, but I have had Rejuvenade kill all the fish in my livewell during a tournament. The local fisheries biologist said he wouldn’t put that stuff in his livewell if he cared about the fish.
Chad Keogh
December 23, 2011 at 12:10 pm
I’ve never heard of that. My livewell lid is TIGHT to the point where sometimes I have to use two hands to open it.
The closest to that I ever saw was Jim Bitter’s bass going free after measuring it on the gunnel instead of down inside the boat. Lesson learned I’m sure.
As for Rejuvenade damaging bass, that’s the first I’ve heard (Avidbasser). I’ve been using it for years and my bass come out of the livewell more spunky than when they went in.
Ryan
December 23, 2011 at 12:56 pm
I had one tourney where my partner completely missed the weigh bag and the winning fish swam away to freedom. Another tourney, while going full speed, I took a Golden Rule to the knee. I’m a bleeder! LOL
Alex Langer
December 23, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Jim Bitter lost the Classic by dropping a small fish back into the water. Bounced off the boat deck and into the water. OUCH!! Perhaps the best-known such story.
Brian
December 23, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Have seen a few things in my day. Know of more than a couple guys who have lost a bass when they first opened their livewell lid at the dock to start grabbing their bass and one shot out and back into the lake. Also saw a guys NICE sack of bass mostly make it back into the lake when his weigh bag loaded with fish and water ruptured while he was carrying it. Talk about a mad scramble – he only wrestled a couple back into submission. Then there are all the net screwup stories that have cost guys…
Jay
December 23, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Rejuvenade is basically colored garlic powder. The reason the fish seem “active” is because it’s burning their gill filaments and they’re trying to get away. If you’re lungs were burning, you’d try to GTFO in hurry too.
As for livewell lids popping open, that’s due to two thing;
1) Giant livewells with a vented divider that let tons of water slosh from side to side in a sharp turn. Two tall livewells keep the fish confided and more calm due to the fact that they can stack on top of each other like they do naturally.
2. Livewells that face forward. If they flip up a little and catch some air they catch and flip back. Lids that open to the side don’t do that. I’ve seen more than one lid ripped off and tumble down the highway because they weren’t down tight and a bump in a road plus 70mph of wind led to their demise.
Dwain
December 24, 2011 at 9:25 am
I’ve got an uncle who tells stories like that never happened lol
Eric
December 25, 2011 at 7:34 am
Heartland Elite derby about 4 years ago. A friend, good angler that never wins, finally had a nice sack on a stick bait at Lake of the Ozarks.
Running in live well lids popped open 2 fish did a rocky the flying squirrel imitation.
He showed up at the dock with 3. Still weighed almost 14# and go third place…….
Dave H
December 26, 2011 at 7:38 am
In the early 90’s i fished my fist-ever BASS invitational on the St.Lawerence. My first day partner was Lonnie Stanley. He drove us to Lake Ontario and put on a show for me with an all chartreuse spinnerbait. By the end of the day, he had caught about 20 smallies, and i had 4. On the long, rough ride back to the river he decided to make a stop on a point where the river and lake meet. His livewell lid was open, and there were only 4 fish inside. He wasn’t able to put another fish in the box and ended up weighing only 4 that day.
Alex Voog
January 1, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Mississippi River tug wakes and “excessive” speed reduced a “pro” partner’s limit of 5 bass down to 3 , and they were the smallest…
Dan Roberts
January 2, 2012 at 9:54 pm
I don’t remember what tournament it was but I remember seeing Gary Klein walking along a dock with his limit bagged up when suddenly he slipped and and a couple of his fish got out of his bag… that’s gotta hurt.