Large cooler recommendations

Born to Fish · 02-02-2004, 04:49 PM

Can anyone provide advice as to who to contact, via internet or by phone, regarding purchase of a large sized cooler suitable for sturgeon?

The largest I have is only 35-inches in length - inside dimension. Obviously need something of greater length.

Can't find any larger in the Boise area and haven't seen anything large enough in various catalogs. Also did a search on ebay - lots of cutsie crap and antiques, etc.

Dean

PS to "Mod-Squad" - debated about posting this under classifieds - go for it if you think it should be moved there.

Fshklr · 02-02-2004, 04:53 PM

I think Wally World carries a 150 quarter for under $60.

Costco has a few too that you may you be able to get online or a trip into Spokane if you don't have 1 there?

Born to Fish · 02-02-2004, 05:02 PM

Fshklr....excuse my ignorance, but "Wally World"? :whazzup: Is that an inside joke?

Not familiar with any business by that name. :blush:

Thanks on the Costco tip - we have one here that I rarely visit. Will have to check them out tomorrow.

Dean

freespool · 02-02-2004, 05:03 PM

Are you thinking of icing the whole fish down? These fish will live a long time out of water with only a wet gunny sack on them. Why not just deal with them and put the meat in the cooler? Or am I missing something from your question?

salmon hugger

Fshklr · 02-02-2004, 05:05 PM

Wally world is Wal-mart and I just checked..notta in there selection.

G.I.Joes from the ifish ad
150qt Marine cooler $134.00

150 qt Marine Cooler $149

164qt Marine Cooler $249.00

[ 02-02-2004, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

fop · 02-02-2004, 05:21 PM

I bought a 152 quart Igloo cooler from Costco in Olympia last year for under 75 bucks. I saw them there a week or two ago.

36"x 14" inside dimensions.

Very nice item to have.

fop

Mojo · 02-02-2004, 06:59 PM

Dean,

You might look in the Cabela's catalog. There are some big coolers in there. Fisherman's Marine had some big coolers also.

Born to Fish · 02-02-2004, 08:21 PM

Joe, as I recall, Cabelas didn't have anything bigger then what I already have - the one that is 35 inches long inside.

Green Machine · 02-02-2004, 08:42 PM

Never seen one longer than 36" inside. We have a 150 quart that length and keepers will fit if you curl them up a bit. Do you have a fish box?? You might have to go the homemade route for something longer. I've seen some pretty cool stuff. I've wanted to make a diamondplate box and then insulate it like a cooler. Probably just a waste of time and money though. :depressed:

Green Machine

Silver One · 02-02-2004, 09:02 PM

Born to Fish, I had the same problem plus I wanted a sturdy boat seat. Our local 'Black Bird' here in Medford has a cooler called 'Icy-Tek' made in Australia. They only carry the smaller sizes (they are spendy) so I found them by web search and ordered one. Note: these are very ruggedly built and claim to keep ice for 9 days! I ordered one last week online and should get it next week. The one I ordered was a 170 Quart O/D 50.75L X 20.5W X 20.5H
I/D 44.25L X 15W X 15.25H It weighs 55 lbs. Check it out by doing a search of Icey-Tek. Or you can e-mail me in a couple weeks for a report.

Waterfish · 02-02-2004, 10:16 PM

Tacklbuster's post a couple of days ago got me thinking about this big ice chest issue. Several people said that sturgeon release chemicals from stress if you keep them alive, and this affects the quality of the meat. Tacklebuster and David Johnson both recommended to bleed the sturgeon after you catch it, then put it on ice. As a few others have discovered, it's hard to find an ice chest with an inside length longer than 35 inches. Plus, a huge ice chest takes up a lot of room in a boat, especially if you have outboards and cannot mount it on a swim platform. And then tonight, an idea came to me. Why not carry a fold up vinyl bag? Sort of like a body bag. You could have a regular sized ice chest in your boat. Then if you catch a big keeper (upper 50 inch range), or several big keepers, instead of trying to cram these fish in a 35" long cooler, put the fish in the 6' long vinyl zipper bag, and add ice from the cooler to that. If room was an issue, you could tie the vinyl bag along side of the boat. Now I've got to do some research and see if a 6' long zippered "body" bag is on the market. How about an insulated, folding 6' long portable vinyl cooler? If anyone produces and markets this idea, just send me 10% of your annual earnings for giving you this brilliant idea! ... I wish... OK, how about at least selling me one for half price?

I thought of one more thing: Better line the inside with Kevlar or something tough to keep the sturgeon's scutes from cutting through the bag.

[ 02-02-2004, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: Waterfish ]

El-Kabong · 02-03-2004, 08:38 AM

Waterfish,

Someone beat you to it! do a google search for fish bag and you will find them.

YaHoeeFishOn · 02-03-2004, 02:28 PM

I have a 104 qt Thermos that my brother gave , who said it was just to big in his Subaru. I bought a 120 qt Igloo at Fishermans 10ys ago with seat cushion top to go with it. Last fall I took my brothers . Mine with cushion makes for etra seats at a BBQ or Camping. It will hold lots big fish and fits in my front cabin. My firiend has a newer larger one that has a hatch door as well as a lid . Here's a 48lr on a 104 qt clr from last fall.

YaHoeeFishOn · 02-03-2004, 02:37 PM

My firiend has a newer large one that has a hatch door as well as a lid , it sits on his swim step and he but his boat name on it.. Here's a 48lr on a 104 qt clr from last fall. Hope to catch more that won't fit in cooler.

fish_on · 02-03-2004, 05:09 PM

Outfitter Grizzly Cooler - 420-Qt.
Often find yourself in extremely remote locations for extended periods of time with refrigeration needs? The Grizzly 420-qt. has the ability to keep ice for over a week. Extremely rugged, heavy-duty construction, this cooler is the ultimate accessory to your long-term adventures. In fact, our field testers recently took the 420-qt. model on a mountain elk hunt and were able to efficiently store and cool the quarters of three elk for a week. For a lifetime of ultra-insulating service in untamed environments, the housing is crafted from tough polyethylene with UV blockers and is filled with polyurethane foam. The lid swings open on one continuous stainless steel hinge that will not wear out or break. And inside the lid is a removable cutting board for completing all your in-camp butchering duties. Sturdy stainless steel lockable latches form a seal that is completely impermeable to weather and rodents. When your trip is over and it's time to clean the cooler out, drainage is made fast and easy by the molded-in steel drain faucet. Removable dividers keep contents separate and organized. Molded-in carry handles for convenient toting.
Size: 47"L x 30"W x 30"H

Big cooler

salmurai · 02-03-2004, 05:19 PM

Born to Fish, I've got a 6 foot and a 5 foot insulated fish bag and they work great for hauling the albies home. Too bad they're in California or I would loan them to you.

Sturgeondave · 02-03-2004, 05:22 PM

Dean,what you can do is tie them up on a rope and bleed them out in the water off the side of the boat.When done fishing put them into a old army bag, its better then a burlap bag because of the sharp barbs on the Gators that will ripe the bag.Then when you get back to the dock and clean them you can put your bleed out fillets in your cooler you have on ice.And then rinse your army bag out and do it all over again the next day.Lot of good ideas out there but how often will you use a real big cooler? When we get together in june we can use mine if you want then you can see if you like the room it will give you or not.

Born to Fish · 02-03-2004, 06:27 PM

Thanks to you all for your comments and suggestions. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Ultimately what it comes down to, for me, is that I probably don't need to go with an expensive big cooler for reasons nicely pointed out by others.

The commercial fish bags are great [and according to Denali used routinely by Florida fishermen for their larger fish], but SturgeonDave came up with what was probably the most economical and reasonable option....using the old army [duffle] bag. This is something inexpensive, that is strong enough to put up with the sharp scutes; is a breathable fabric that can be wetted down to aid in keeping the contents air cooled.

Again, thanks to you all. And tight lines.

Dean

Green Machine · 02-03-2004, 08:34 PM

What blood??

No, seriously, the body bag is for my sturgeon officer!!!

I'm sorry, I can't put a body bag in my boat.

Green Machine

HOGTIDE · 02-03-2004, 08:41 PM

GI Joes at Hayden Island has some exceptionally large commercial looking coolers next to their regular cooler selection. I don't know the brand name, but, you'll know 'em when ya see em. They look like something that might be mounted on a charter boat. Hard Fiberglass shell and extra long. Don't know the specs etc. but you may want to call them about it, first.