Crappie slime in the livewells

[Dutch]

That stuff is just nasty.  I'm trying to find a way to lessen it.  Yesterday I had 13 crappie in one well and 3 walleye and 4 whites in the other one.  When I took the fish out the crappie well was so nasty it would barely drain.  The walleye/white well was pretty clean.

I had filled the wells, closed them off and run the recirculating pumps with the oxygenators on.  Is there a better way to do this or are they always this nasty?

[lmt out]

Who cares about the slime, tell us how you caught those walleye.lol  Crappie r just nasty in a live well.  We don't even keep them anymore  I am not a fish eater and the wife likes walleye so we just keep them.

[MOPanfisher]

A slimy livewell is a happy livewell.

 

[dprice]

I'd like the answer   As I don't know myself

butnif you want to keep fish live I'd be very wise on what I put in it 

as many people have shot there self in foot  doing this per say

[dan hufferd]

Sounds like a great day to me ! I never notice how dirty my boats is on days like that. 

You should see how much slime a gar can make, ALL the water turns to slime, it's crazy !

[Johnsfolly]

I don't seem to catch enough crappie to get that much slime. Ok I rarely ever fish from a boat. It seems to me a cooler with ice would be a better way to keep any crappie. Keeps them fresh on the bank and I would imagine on the boat as well. Just a thought.

[unclefish]

I have a 13 year old alumacraft that i bought new and never used the live well. I use it as dry storage, i keep a cooler with ice for the ones i keep.I dont fish tournements so did'nt need the live well. When on ice i don't have a slime problem and they clean up nice.

[fishinwrench]

I recirculate with fresh water from the lake when on the water, and I only have a short drive home (the boat is still dripping when I pull in my driveway) So I just hose out the livewell after I'm done cleaning fish.  No residual slime issues.

If I had an hour long drive home I would clean my fish at the ramp and put the fillets in a bag and on ice until I got home.  Technically illegal but that's a stupid law I'd break without any guilt. 

If the walls of your livewell were nasty, just imagine what the recirc pump and associated hoses are like.   I'd definitely flush with some fresh water from your garden hose before it dries or freezes.  

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

17 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I recirculate with fresh water from the lake when on the water, and I only have a short drive home (the boat is still dripping when I pull in my driveway) So I just hose out the livewell after I'm done cleaning fish.  No residual slime issues.

If I had an hour long drive home I would clean my fish at the ramp and put the fillets in a bag and on ice until I got home.  Technically illegal but that's a stupid law I'd break without any guilt. 

If the walls of your livewell were nasty, just imagine what the recirc pump and associated hoses are like.   I'd definitely flush with some fresh water from your garden hose before it dries or freezes.  

I typically don't keep fish, but was not aware of cleaning them at the ramp being illegal. What is the problem?  I thought it was a common practice.  

[fishinwrench]

9 minutes ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

I typically don't keep fish, but was not aware of cleaning them at the ramp. What is the problem?  I thought it was a common practice.  

No problem, but the regs say that head and tail must remain intact while on the waterway... obviously so they can check the length of the fish.   I guess you could keep the carcasses until you are a few miles away from the access, but seriously, who is gonna do that?

An agent would have to get fishy smell on his hands in order to check them, and they are way above THAT.  Them boys gotta stay fresh and clean.