The following recommended guidelines are taken from the B.A.S.S. sponsored manual, "Keeping Bass Alive".  KDFWR Fisheries Division endorses these procedures and recommends that all bass tournament sponsors and anglers adopt these as standard practices in their June – August tournaments when water temperatures are high.

• Stress caused by handling and livewell confinement is the major factor that increases mortality of tournament caught bass. Hot water and low oxygen increase stress.

• Stress can be reduced by continual operation of the aerator in a closed livewell. Do not pump hot lake water into the livewell.

• Keeping livewell temperature 5-10 degrees F cooler than the lake water greatly reduces stress. Cool water holds more oxygen.

• Two frozen ½ gallon jugs of water or an 8 pound ice block will cool a 30 gallon livewell by 10 degrees F for about 3 hours. To avoid temperature shock, do not cool by more than 10 degrees. Livewell temperature should never be allowed to rise above 85 degrees F. Extra jugs or blocks can be carried in a cooler or insulated boat compartment.

• Livewell temperatures should be checked every hour with ice added or removed as needed.

• Non-iodized salt (available at farm supply stores) helps reduce stress. Add 1/3 cup per 5 gallons of livewell water. Salt can be pre-measured for the size of your livewell and put in small plastic bags.

• If you have more than 10 pounds of bass in your livewell you should exchange ½ the water at the half way through your tournament day. Remember to adjust the temperature and add ½ a dose of salt when you add fresh water.

These simple procedures can significantly increase the survival of tournament caught and released bass and will keep next year’s winning sack alive.