Do you continually dip your keepers while you are still crabbing?

[attml]

Do you continually dip your keeper basket while you are still crabbing or once they are caught do they stay dry?  I have always dipped my keeper baskets in between runs but it always seems like I lose a crab or two especially on hot days (occasionally a few more on really hot days).  I am wondering what others do to try to ensure that all of the crabs make it until cook time?  Thanks!

[Crabmaniac]

No dipping. Too old and the nightmare of the basket bottom failing stopped it. I do however keep a wet towel on top the basket lid while crabbing and occasionally will soak it then wring it out on the crabs. At the end of the day I soak it one last time then cover the crabs inside the basket. I very rarely lose a crab.

[Crabcruncher]

I was told that once crabs are out of the water they should stay out. They expend a lot of energy spitting it out so you dont want them having to do that again and weaken them more.

[Shayneboogi3]

We used to dip the crabs but found out it's better not to; we thought the crabs blowing bubbles was bad but it's just their way of expelling water from their lungs. Best thing for them in my opinion is to place a wet towel over the basket and try to keep them in the shade if possible.

[rdbeard]

 A, soak your basket till it soaks up allot of water. B keep a very wet towel or burlap bag over your basket to keep sun off. C keep in any shade you have. these very hot days can cause allot of dead loss if you don't do these things. never soak your crabs once they are in the basket and u should use a wood baket.

[Wallco99]

I was told that once crabs are out of the water they should stay out. They expend a lot of energy spitting it out so you dont want them having to do that again and weaken them more.

Bad rumor. I have dipped crabs for 25 years and the crabs survive just fine. I just hooked up a washdown pump and hose on my boat this year, so now we just constantly hose them down, and I'll dip them just before leaving. I use the plastic, orange baskets, so I never have to worry about "bottom blowing out". On very hot days, we keep the crabs in the river in a holding pen that I made. We call it "The Condo". Works like a charm.

[mike6453]

I was thinking a trash can with ice and the orange basket on top with a lid would act as make shift chiller.