Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations transporting adult bass?

Should I use pure oxygen or just aerate with air? Also should any chemicals be added to the water? The fish will be in a 600 gallon metal stock tank for about two hours. Should I put ice in the water? Also how many fish in the two pound range can I carry at once? I will probably only try to put about 400 gallons in the tank since it tends to slosh around.

James, these are some suggestions based on what I've seen my fish supplier do:

1) Oxygen is better than air.

2) Water temps are important; I've seen my fish guy use bags of ice, and also, water frozen in plastic jugs-then just put a few frozen jugs in.

3) I have seen him use a little salt many times. I believe it is regular salt, however, I don't know the proper mix. Pros will be able to clarify.

James, if you pick a day in the low to mid 80's, a 2 hour trip should a lot easier than you think, no chemicals, no ice. Just crank up the aerators...a tank that size would need a 12V source. It's very easy for me to move them on a smaller scale, a single airstone in a 40 gallon cooler transports 12 LMB in the 12-15 inch range for 5 hours. The water sloshes (is that a word) a lot on the road, hitting bumps and stuff, I have done it 3 times and only lost 1 fish. I will be moving my Tilapia that way any day now...120 qt. coolers work great. Just make sure that your container has a lid.

If your use ice, do not use storbought ice.
It is more than likely made from chlorinated water. Just freeze some 2L bottles and use those.

This is my second attempt at this. My first attempt I didn't use an aerator and lost some of the fish.

This is not an easy task as the "Share a lunker" program found out. Go down to tips for handling.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/rules/

I have hauled 4-6 pd Bass in hot weather and I use a oxygen tank just like the one used for a cutting torch. I has a small airstone attached to the end of my tubing with a weight to hold it at the bottom. I also have a circulator that runs off of a car battery to constantly turn the water. I have a 340 gallon fish hauler that I have finally figured out. It sloshes a lot less when you have it virtually full verses having it halfway full. Just my observations.

With that many gallons you can haul those bass just fine without anything. Add 6 lbs of salt and put in some jugs of ice to help but that is lots of water. Some comparision we can with a point four diffuser in 75 gallons keep 150 lbs of bass alive for 12 hours with no problems.

Recently I transported 10 crappie, 1 channel catfish and 1 white bass from Jordan Lake to my house. The fish made it just fine. The lake is 2 hours away and we stopped to eat for 30-45 minutes. I transported them in a 48 qt. polar roller cooler and I used an aerator and my 12V trolling moter to keep water circulating. I also stopped and bought a bag of ice but did NOT open the ice since it did melt I didn't want to take the chance of the chlorine in that water to kill the fish. Here's my aerator. It has helped transport a lot of fish from pond to pond.

Just and additional comment, adding a small amount of water or ice with chlorine shouldn't interfere with the transport, just keep the water/ice additions below 10% of the total volume of water.