For decades, "Please Release Me" and "Catch and Release" formulas have always worked in EVERY livewell, including those with oxygenators! Always has, always will.

 

https://sure-life.com/pro_CATCH_AND_RELEASE.html

 

I'll add in temperature control in being a major factor as well.

 

I use Please Release Me, monitor temp with frozen bottles with a stash to switch out throughout the day, recirculater is turned from cycle to ON once the 4th fish is in the box or if conditions are harsh, and last is to check often to hopefully identify if a fish is struggling to take action before its too late. 

 

I take pleasure in fish giving the weigh master a hard time.

Coke and Pepsi bottles frozen with water work real well. 

When I have a boat, I always put some pool noodles in my livewell to cut down on slop and to decrease the chance of fish impacting on the cover. Just cut then to the length of the livewell and put them so they cover the entire top of the livewell.  Not sure if it really helps the fish, but I THINK it does and I have done it for years.

36 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

When I have a boat, I always put some pool noodles in my livewell to cut down on slop and to decrease the chance of fish impacting on the cover. Just cut then to the length of the livewell and put them so they cover the entire top of the livewell.  Not sure if it really helps the fish, but I THINK it does and I have done it for years.

I saw welcher doing that on Saint Claire 

Seems some people still think it doesn't work with oxygenators.

 

It does.  Always has, always will.  There's never been a moment in time when it didn't.

 

Best of all, it's seriously THE best livewell additive you can get!  I swear by it!

It should be mandatory for tournament anglers using a livewell to be certified in livewell management. A simple pre tournament course for those not already a card carrying member. Sure-Life handing out their products to those who need it.

Tom

On 8/15/2023 at 12:21 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I saw welcher doing that on Saint Claire 

A lot of the guys do, but go watch Hellman’s YT vid where he will never do so again… his screens got clogged due to the rotted foam and he lost his catch.

 

If you’re using noodles, be sure they’re fresh and ALWAYS check your screens. Of course, that should be a part of the daily routine anyway.

 

Another benefit to using them is reducing the likelihood that one rockets out when they see the lid open up. Everyone seems to be really casual about opening their lids to check fish or cull, but back in the day we always took care to block as there were numerous cases where a lively captive would rocket out and gain freedom before getting to the scale.

1 hour ago, tunaman said:

back in the day we always took care to block as there were numerous cases where a lively captive would rocket out and gain freedom before getting to the scale.

 

Fish shouldn't be "lively" in your livewell. It means they are stressed and dying.

 

Sure-Life products contain a mild sedative to calm fish in the livewell, thus reducing stress and subsequent harm.  

I've always used "please release me" powder and it has always performed well for me....