How do you keep the fish you catch on your float tube? Questions about creel

Hello all,
I just recently found this forum I have only been float tubing for two years now and just recently scored a Cumberland for 90.00 brand new off of craigslist, what an upgrade from sitting waist deep in the water!

Anyway, my question is about how you all keep the fish you catch while on your tube. I was out this last week and caught my limit of Trout but once when I lifted the stringer one fish snapped his head and was able (I am guessing) snap his lip and off he swam.
I have been looking at the Buck's bags creel that goes on the side of your tube. I was wondering what methods you guys are using.

bleed them out asap.
2 reasons for this.
1. no stringer or basket necessary, you can keep them in the mesh platform with no worries.
2. The fish do not stress as much and go into shock which causes the meat to get mushy .
it keeps the meat nice

A few methods:

1. Custom made PVC-floating noodle-Walmart hamper live well, keep alive until bring in to shore..kill before taking out of water and into cooler.
2. Wire mesh floating basket ($10), keep alive until bring in to shore..kill before taking out of water and into cooler.
3. Run the line from mouth through gill plate (dead in 20 minutes).
4. Put all catches in a smaller cooler in the back of tube. Plenty of room there.

Mikem909 wrote:bleed them out asap.
2 reasons for this.
1. no stringer or basket necessary, you can keep them in the mesh platform with no worries.
2. The fish do not stress as much and go into shock which causes the meat to get mushy .
it keeps the meat nice

How do you bleed them out? just cut under the head area?

I used a floating Wire Mesh basket .. worked great , but as others said make sure to bleed out the fish or kill them ASAP

You can find instructional videos all over you tube for bleeding out all kinds of fish



WES

hey Guys,
for the rare occasions when I do harvest for smoking, especially at places like Irvine or Laguna Niguel, I use a diver's mesh game bag. (16"x24") that I clip with a biener and a short leash to my toon. 

   bodfish

Al_G19 wrote:

Mikem909 wrote:bleed them out asap.
2 reasons for this.
1. no stringer or basket necessary, you can keep them in the mesh platform with no worries.
2. The fish do not stress as much and go into shock which causes the meat to get mushy .
it keeps the meat nice

How do you bleed them out? just cut under the head area?

Yes, or u can just cut each gill. 
i actually cut throught the gills enter on ome side and exit the other gill

TheReelFishPosse wrote:Some interesting ideas here that I had not thought of.  I have used the wire baskets in the past.  Pretty easy to use and get the fish in the basket.  Sometimes if you are fishing in the weed beds though, it does attract weeds or grass and then you are pulling them along also.  Also, have used Bucks Bags Creel.  Nice setup.  The one I have used though can sometimes be a struggle getting the Velcro mouth of the bag open and handle the fish at the same time.

Ya, I Use To Use Baskets And Stringers. But Then My Catch Would Go.into Shock N The Stress On The Body Causes The Meat To.Get Mushy N Imho It DoesNt Taste As Good. So Now I Just Bleed Them out

Lost another trout today via my clip on stringer, decided to go with the floating fish basket.
Thanks to all for the replies.

i use the basket as well just put some empty water bottles in it and it floats beats dragging that grass around