So I have a bank event this weekend. Last year I used a cooler live well that worked great but the live well is broken and won't be in use this weekend. I have to keep 3 fish alive for 6 hours. I am not sure if a  metal stringer through the lip or a metal basket would keep better my chances at keeping them alive.

Neither of those will be a good option to keep fish alive. Even if they are alive by the end of that time, their chances of survival are not good.

I use something like this to keep large numbers of big baitfish alive while I'm fishing for flatheads.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/fishing-tools/cast-nets-bait-tanks-bait-prep%7C/pc/104793480/c/104720580/sc/104258880/floating-bait-cages/701763.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fcast-nets-bait-tanks-bait-prep%2F_%2FN-1100394%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104258880

You can buy them or make your own out of mesh material and pool noodles. Add some kind of weight to the bottom (I used a metal hoop to keep it from collapsing in the current), and always make sure you look before you put your hand in there, snakes love to get inside those things to try to steal your fish. 

14 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

 and always make sure you look before you put your hand in there, snakes love to get inside those things to try to steal your fish. 

S.S.D....

I use a metal basket you can get at academy for pretty cheap.  The big one they have is 30" and doesn't float, so for bank fishing you will want to rig it with a noodle or something to keep it from collapsing, or hang it from a tree over the water.  I'd get it out as far as I could so it can extend fully and have it in the shade.  I hang mine off the jon boat when fishing our pond and it keeps them good and alive for 4-5 hour stints.  I am culling these fish, so they aren't going back in the pond, but they do very well from what I've seen.  It will depend on oxygen levels where you keep them, you don't want them in shallow, hot muddy water if you can help it.  Shows $7.99 on their website. 

 

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/tournament-choice-collapsible-wire-basket?repChildCatid=13976

On 5/4/2016 at 4:32 PM, gardnerjigman said:

S.S.D....

 

Gardner, Help me out here!  I've been staring at this for 10 min and can't figure out what S.S.D...means!

 

Mike 

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

 

Gardner, Help me out here!  I've been staring at this for 10 min and can't figure out what S.S.D...means!

 

Mike 

Scream... (poop)...Die

Inside joke between blue and i. 

Ok good Thanks!

 

Mike 

10 hours ago, Mike L said:

Ok good Thanks!

 

Mike 

GJM loves him a good snake encounter, the closer they get, the better! Works out well since catching snakes is a specialty of mine and I'm always good at pointing them out when they're hanging out along the bank. 

20 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

GJM loves him a good snake encounter, the closer they get, the better! Works out well since catching snakes is a specialty of mine and I'm always good at pointing them out when they're hanging out along the bank. 

I'm out! I'm such a snake pansy that I lift my legs up in the vehicle before I rum one over....

I don't know of any tournament rule that allows bass to be kept in cages, baskets or on stringers.....too many folks cheat doing this. If your not fishing a tournament, release the bass.

If you allowed to use a stringer, clip it on a 1 gallon plastic jug, tie 15' to 20' of cord or rope to the jug and toss the bass and jug out into deeper water, tie off the cord or rope. Who knows you might catch a big snapping turtle.

Tom