Livewell Importance?

Thought I’d break the silence in here with a couple questions. 

For those who fish live bait, had stealths without livewells and upgraded to one with:

1.  What’s your opinion/experience on with vs without?

2. What did you do or use when you had one without a livewell?

Thought I’d break the silence in here with a couple questions. 

For those who fish live bait, had stealths without livewells and upgraded to one with:

1.  What’s your opinion/experience on with vs without?

2. What did you do or use when you had one without a livewell?

You can do pretty well with a bait tube, except for fragile fishies like anchovies...

Only used a few times but found very nice to fish with live bait.
Problem 1) was using a portable unit. When kayak stopped put over side to keep  bait alive. worked ok
2) upgraded to a bucket with a battery operated bubblier. worked good but water temp goes up, so need to add ice cube to keep temp normal if dont all die
Working on upgrading to a recycling type that draws water , aerates etc appears best. Actually need a good live well if fish some tournments due to weigh in and release so tank needs to be larger to handle fish your targeting.
I have found a product "Live well buddy" that I will probably use when not using live bait to keep fish alive, or make a similar out of a collapsible laundry basket and pool noodle.
I found biggest problem is finding live bait and transporting to fishing grounds in healthy condition
Cheers

You can do pretty well with a bait tube, except for fragile fishies like anchovies...

Yeah I thought about using a bait tube, but didn’t think about the fragile bait. Thanks for the reply and pointing that out.

I’ve passed on a couple used stealths because they didn’t have wells. I was wondering if the addedcost for new and wait was worth it. I’d probably drag dead bait most of the time though. Hmm...

Only used a few times but found very nice to fish with live bait.
Problem 1) was using a portable unit. When kayak stopped put over side to keep  bait alive. worked ok
2) upgraded to a bucket with a battery operated bubblier. worked good but water temp goes up, so need to add ice cube to keep temp normal if dont all die
Working on upgrading to a recycling type that draws water , aerates etc appears best. Actually need a good live well if fish some tournments due to weigh in and release so tank needs to be larger to handle fish your targeting.
I have found a product "Live well buddy" that I will probably use when not using live bait to keep fish alive, or make a similar out of a collapsible laundry basket and pool noodle.
I found biggest problem is finding live bait and transporting to fishing grounds in healthy condition
Cheers

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, #1 is what I was thinking about doing with a bait tube - but I like running with the least amount of gear and I know I’d forget to throw the bait back over lol

I constructed a livewell once and had it recycling - but as you mentioned, the water temp rises.

I’ve seen bait keepers like the livewell buddy before. Never used one. Seems like you’d have better flow than a bait tube, but still have to duty of throwing them in and out when you move.

Idk, maybe I’ll just drag dead bait and lures - and call it a day? Lol

Mine came with it, and I have yet to use it, but I do know those plugs can work there way out and cause everything in there to get wet. I keep stuff in there and it may have caused the plug to get knocked loose.

Those new stealths with the built in live wells look really sweet. Hobie, take note!

Stealth also makes a pretty cool bait torpedo which I ordered and took delivery of after about a month of waiting, but I haven’t had a chance to use it yet.

https://stealthkayaks.com/product/stealth-live-bait-torpedo/

I have live bait dreams...I love live bait...live bait is my friend...oh bait, oh bait, where fore art thou...

I’ve seen the stealth livewell in action, from a distance, and it is beautiful...

 

Im fantasizing about my new stealth. Cant wait to get it. First place I'm gonna go is tbay and chase some butts. That livewell looks so awesome

Im fantasizing about my new stealth. Cant wait to get it. First place I'm gonna go is tbay and chase some butts. That livewell looks so awesome

After you get used to it I may need to give it a paddle if you don't mind...gotta stoke the dream...