I fish alone most of the time and was wondering how can you keep a big cat alive and healthy for a short time? I like to CPR the big fish. When I catch a big cat I have to take a picture of the fish on the floor of my boat and the picture makes the fish look realy small. I can find another boat on the lake to take my picture but it takes 10 to 15 minutes to do. Any Ideas how to keep them good and healthy for about 10-20 mins for a good picture?

Large tub with a little water or wet burlap.

Catfish will live for a good bit out of water. I do not think 20 minutes would hurt them.

You should be fine with them out of water for about 30 minutes, as long as you keep their skin wet. It has been my experience that they die fairly quickly when their skin dries out, but if it's wet, you should have time for your picture!

here's a little better way to take care of this ... buy a tripod and set your camera up on that and then learn how to use the timed shot ... ya know the setting where the guy of the family always lines the camera up perfectly and then hits the button and then runs to his spot in almost enough time to get in the shot but is almost always 1/2 second too late ... well that'll work for taking catfish photos if you have a cheap tripod ... most cameras have the little screw hole in the bottom of them that is universaly the same size on all cameras to support the use of a tripod deal that looks like a little square piece of plastic with a wingnut bolt going through it ... that fits on your camera and then you put the little square piece of plastic in the tripod and that holds the camera for you ... then you set your camera for delayed time shot ... push the button ... go grab the fish real fast and smile real big and there you have it ... don't have to go looking for another boat to take your picture for ya.

And you don't run the risk of hurting a trophy cat!! Good job Tiny!

when we are runnin lines we usually pull off fish and just throw them in the bottom of the boat until we finish that set of lines. when we are runnin to the next set someone gets a stringer and puts them on the stringer and every 10-15 minutes gives them a drink. same for the bigger ones. when we caught the 58 yella not long ago we put him in the bottom of the boat and when we got back to the ramp (10 minutes later) we dumped about 5 gallons of water on him. then headed for the house (about 25 miles away) and he was still alive but not much.

Big ice chest with water. You can get a bubbler at Academy for oxygen.

Tripod is the ticket. I've used one for years on all types of boats. Bought it at Target or Wally World 20 years ago for less than $20. I even use it when others are with me. Fun.

I'VE MODIFIED A CAMERA HOLDER TO CLAMP ONTO MY RAIL OVER MY WINDSHIELD ON MY CENTER CONSOLE. NO TRIPOD TO WORRY ABOUT FALLING OVER IN A ROCKING BOAT. BEEN THERE DUNKED THAT. ALSO THE CAMERA IS ALWAYS LOCKED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE SO I'VE LEARNED WHERE TO GET SO I CAN STICK MY ARM ALL THE WAY OUT LIKE ROLAND MARTIN AND MAKE MY 2 POUNDER LOOK LIKE A 10.