okay so i saw something kinda cool the other day and i've decided to make one myself, i'm talking about a laundry basket livewell.

the concept is simple, take a laundry basket, drill holes in the bottom (if needed),tie a pool noodle around the top rim, tie to boat, put it in the water. 

Interesting concept... this could work for people who don't have livewells built into their boats. However, I can think of two potential downfalls right away: 1) is there a risk of the bass jumping out / escaping since there's no top? 2) What do you do when you need to engage the large motor and fly over to the next fishing spot or to the weigh in (assuming this is for tournament use)? I don't think it would be stable at fast speeds, and I can't imagine you putting it in the boat while you move, since it has holes.

 

Thoughts?

Going to have to put a top on it. I've seen bass jump out of livewells in boats back into the lake, they'll hop out of that no problem. I could see a big snapping turtle finding your fish and trying to climb in and flipping it over, or a snake climbing in there, osprey swooping one of your fish. 

 

 

49 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Going to have to put a top on it. I've seen bass jump out of livewells in boats back into the lake, they'll hop out of that no problem. I could see a big snapping turtle finding your fish and trying to climb in and flipping it over, or a snake climbing in there, osprey swooping one of your fish. 

 

 

Let's solve those problems.  Put a cover on it with a six inch diameter piece of pvc pipe about six inches long to make a "fish chute".   That will solve the problem of the fish jumping out, or osprey stealing your fish. 

 

Time to move.  All you need is a second container in the boat that your live well will just fit in.  Fill it with water, lift your "live well" out of the water, set it in the reservoir, and voila, scoot along as fast as your heart desires.  It will lift out of the water easily since the water will drain out rapidly as you lift it.

 

Get to where you're going and toss it back over the side.  If you want, you can dump/bail the reservoir, and stow it out of the way until needed again.

^^^ Basically a big minnow bucket.  Anybody remember those?

13 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Let's solve those problems.  Put a cover on it with a six inch diameter piece of pvc pipe about six inches long to make a "fish chute".   That will solve the problem of the fish jumping out, or osprey stealing your fish. 

 

Time to move.  All you need is a second container in the boat that your live well will just fit in.  Fill it with water, lift your "live well" out of the water, set it in the reservoir, and voila, scoot along as fast as your heart desires.  It will lift out of the water easily since the water will drain out rapidly as you lift it.

 

Get to where you're going and toss it back over the side.  If you want, you can dump/bail the reservoir, and stow it out of the way until needed again.

this was basically my plan i was going to make a lid with another piece of plastic cut a square section out and reattach it with a hinge so i have a lid i can open and close

then put another container in the boat and fill it when i have to move 

You could always try a PVC cross handle.   You can run smaller PVC under the lip of the basket going around the perimeter.

Then attach larger PVC over the top like in the pic attached.   That should keep the fish in, and makes a nice sturdy handle.