Hello All:

Does anyone have any ideas for a smaller fish basket to take along? We had big issues trying to keep just a few fish on a stringer around camp. The turtles were beyond hungry.

Thanks
Ardwich

Of the fish baskets I've seen, they're all pretty much the same, except one type has a lid that keep the basket floating and the other doesn't have that type of lid. I suppose there might be a couple sizes. Go to a sport shop / fishing department and pick out the one that works for you.

If I wanted to keep fish alive over night I would get a real long stringer say 20'. Personally I just clean them and put the filets in a zip-lock and evaporation bag.

Thanks. We were on a site that I think the big snappers came around for a regular meal. Not to mention the Eagles after cleaning was done.

Evaporation bag? Please explain

Ardwich: "Evaporation bag? Please explain. "

I call mine a swamp cooler. I made two from a pair of old jeans. I made a drawstring bag out of a cutoff leg with a nice long ribbon to hang it. Dip/soak in the lake, place your ziplocked items that need to stay cool inside. Hang in the shade with a breeze, make sure to keep the bag wet-if it dries out it will lose its evaporative cooling quality.

Clean the fish, put in a plastic bag with some water, put the plastic bag into a cloth type bag, get it wet and hang it in the shade in a breeze. Keep it wet. I like to use an empty Crown Royal bag. Evaporative cooling will keep the fish cooler than the outside temperature.

I have had several run ins with turtles and various birds. The solution is not so difficult. Find where some brush extends out into the water. Usually you can find a little opening to place your fish. They reside very calmly in their stick fortress and seldom get tangled surprisingly enough. I have never had a fish taken thusly ensconced.

The large Eagle brand collapsable wire fish baskets have been very effective for us in the past. I string the tie-off rope around the edge to keep it collasped on the way in and out. Last year a snapper did some serious damage to it, but the fish were safe. It will get replaced for our trip this year.

I would be very wary to set up overnight a spring-loaded door collapsable wire fish basket. It is practically an otter trap.

pescador: "I would be very wary to set up overnight a spring-loaded door collapsable wire fish basket. It is practically an otter trap. "

Indeed! Stranger things have happened.

Never been an issue. I guess it could happen, but until it does, this has been quite effective.