I've never really been into fishing and keeping trout, but I plan on getting more into it this season so I'm looking for a bit of advice. 

 

Is it typically okay to put live trout (straight from the line after removing the hook) into a cooler packed with ice? Is it better to kill and gut them before putting them on ice? If so, whats the best way to kill them and gut/bleed them? I'd rather not keep them alive using a stringer, though if it's the best option I'll make do. 

 

I'm a newbie at this, so any and all help would be great! 

The old timers bled them and put them in a wicker creel lined with ferns.  If I was planning on keeping trout while still being mobile, I think I'd pick a "polar creel" or small soft cooler and bring along a couple of small frozen water bottles to keep them cool

 

Tight lines,

Bob

If I was going to keep them to eat, I'd gut them and put them on ice immediately after catching.

A lot of guys cut the gills to bleed them and throw them on ice.

Throwing them into a cooler of ice would be ideal. I’ve carried them around all day in a creel with no ice and they were still delicious 

To keep them fresh, I just put a hook in the back area by their tail, attach it to a rod with 20 lb test and let them meander about the lake.  Only problem is it seems that before I am ready to leave, they always metamorphosed from an 8" trout into a 8 lb bass.  Plus somehow, the hook moves from their tail to their mouth...

If you are going to keep one I'd recommend bleeding it out in water or on ice.  Usually I'll run my fingers under the gills and rip a few and then throw it on the stringer and let it sit in the river I'm fishing.  They tend to taste pretty good this way.

On 3/12/2018 at 12:20 AM, OCdockskipper said:

To keep them fresh, I just put a hook in the back area by their tail, attach it to a rod with 20 lb test and let them meander about the lake.  Only problem is it seems that before I am ready to leave, they always metamorphosed from an 8" trout into a 8 lb bass.  Plus somehow, the hook moves from their tail to their mouth...

I prefer to chunk them up and turn them into big blue cats but to each their own 

On 3/11/2018 at 10:20 PM, OCdockskipper said:

To keep them fresh, I just put a hook in the back area by their tail, attach it to a rod with 20 lb test and let them meander about the lake.  Only problem is it seems that before I am ready to leave, they always metamorphosed from an 8" trout into a 8 lb bass.  Plus somehow, the hook moves from their tail to their mouth...

That how anglers at DVL keep their trout, from what I've heard.