Understanding your live well for lively bait

One of the most important aspects of being a successful fisherman takes place before you ever get on the water. This aspect is overlooked by many anglers, but to the captains that make a living fishing it is one of the most important elements of a productive fishing day. Captains know all too well through experience that dead bait usually means a spoiled fishing trip.  It is for this reason that every angler should pay close attention to keeping bait alive and healthy for as long as possible. There is nothing worse then spending hours catching bait to find most of them belly up by the time you arrive at your honey hole.

There are many misconceived notions regarding aeration. Three most common misconceptions are that large live wells are required to sustain a large quantity of fish, large pumps are needed to move large quantities of water to keep the bait alive and last much not least the surrounding water temperature and salinity levels effect of the bait. These factors if not understood properly can lead to unnecessary bait death.

The most important aspect to a live well is the direction of the water. Livewells come in many shapes and sizes. The shape and size of the livewell will not matter as much as the direction of the intake water. The water must be pumped in to create a circular motion. This reduces the stress on the fish. Delicate bait such as pilchards will not survive a day of fishing unless the water flow creates a gentle current. Turbulent water will damage the bait and force them to work against the strong flow causing additional problems such as fatigue and stress and ultimately death.


The second aspect I would like to discuss is the quality of the air bubbles.  The air bubbles should be small because the smaller the air bubbles; the more slowly it will rise, giving it more time to dissolve in the water. This is a very important aspect to your live well and to the health of your bait fish. Make certain you bubbles entering are small to ensure there is enough oxygen for all the bait in your well. We saltwater anglers have an advantage over the fresh water anglers!  Salt water is denser then fresh so the air bubbles are usually smaller allowing your bait to have access to increased oxygen.


The last factor to consider is the different temperature and salinity levels as you move from one environment to another. As your live well works it pulls in water from the surrounding environment which can be stressful for bait. When you are on a flat, the water might be warmer than if you decide to try your luck in the deeper waters. The warmer the water, the less oxygen it will hold. These factors will certainly have an effect on your bait making them more sluggish while they try to adapt quickly to the change.

Having lively bait will attract more fish to you line. Make sure to talk with a professional in regards to your bait well. It is one of the most important things you can do before you get on the water to catch your dream fish.

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