Bassmaster - Proper way to hold a hawg.

Interesting article about a topic that gets debated a lot on here. I would like to see the study again with 10-14 lb bass.

Very interesting. Scientific evidence. Thanks for posting!

That's interesting I wonder if size of fish matters. I guess the way I read this the two hands keeps the fish from jumping around and hurting its self. I do agree with one thing holding them out of the water as long as some do to jump around and then take a few to many pictures as always made me wonder if the fish would live.

My $.02 is that if we truly care about releasing trophy bass to be caught another day by another angler, we should do what we can to minimize injury or death by proper handling, not keeping them out of the water too long, etc. Just makes sense to me. As the article said, they really didn't have any fish larger than about 8 pounds, and certainly not as large as some of the Share Lunkers which did not survive which are all 13+ pounds. The weight has to come into play in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing the information.

I wonder how many jaws get broke when you are pulling it out of the water and it starts thrashing before you can get a good hold of it?

Good post, thanks.

That guy in the background, blue hood, reminds me of someone but I just can't place him.

Good question, a lot of times while they are thrashing they are still mostly under water in my experience. So it would make sense that it is less direct weight on their jaw. But after you get them out of the livewell or water by lipping them it would be a different story.

I think on really big fish, 10+, that their jaw doesn't break but alot of them get stretched out due to weight. Maybe not once or twice but after being held up for pics, live well, net, etc it could stretch enough to affect feeding. Regardless, overall the less you handle one and stress her out, the best chance she has. I saw yesterday where a tagged 12lber on Toledo from earlier this year was caught again a few days ago. Just shows you that she was handled properly the first time

Debated a lot, that is for sure.

Question to consider: You have landed what you know or believe to be a DD LMB, so how are you going to weigh it if a fish that size might have issues being suspended by its jaw?

Anyway, I am certain that supporting them with two hands, one under the belly, and not keeping them out of the water too long are great ideas.

Brad

You could put them in a tournament weigh bag.

That's just......awesome!

+1