What's the best way and technique to fizz a big bass caught in deep water. What size needle do you use? How do you prevent it from getting clogged up and not releasing the air? Do you use a certain type of needle? Or what?

I haven't had to do it in a long time but I believe that any 18-gauge needle would work. I don't remember them ever getting clogged but they're cheap enough that it shouldn't be a problem to keep a spare in the boat.

^^ this is a good one

Jason, you can google this subject and find out all you ever wanted to know. There are excellent videos out there on the how to, etc. I fizz them through the side using an 18 gauge needle you can get at any feed store. I keep the caps on the needles and keep them all in a water tight container. Never had one clog up on me. Folks say fizzing them through their throat is easier, but I was taught the other method so that's what I use.

I use the bendz mender and go thru the mouth

^^ this

What depth of water do you normally have to fizz fish? I heard of several people having to fizz em... but 2-3 weeks ago I caught em 37-40ft and they where totally fine. I would let em go and they would swim right off without an issue. None of this floating on there side or nothing like that.

Let them go right away and yes they are usually fine.

this is the best way, a lot of big fish this is the only way to get the air out due to the bladder forces to the front and behind the dorsal will not work. It's good to know both methods.

Through the mouth is really easy. There's videos for both on youtube so which ever one seems simpler to you.

Several videos on Youtube showing how to perform through the side and through the mouth. Also another option is using a weight to get them back down to depth and then pulling it free. I've never done it but just sharing what I have seen.

Agreed. Go to any Tractor Supply and buy them for 50 cents each. Put a few in your tackle box.

It depends on how long you keep them in the boat. If you livewell them in a tournament, you may have to fizz them from as shallow as 10 feet. May sound a little odd but I think these are fish that were deeper that pulled up onto the ridge I was fishing to feed.

It goes way beyond fizzing for just being caught in deep water.

Fizzing is also required any time they are floating on their side or upside down. This can be because they are caught deep or more so from being stressed out riding in a live well all day long.

All of the overs caught in Mega Bass in March (cold water) an hourly tournament, so you know they were not in the live wells very long, had to be fizzed. Most had signs of spawning. So you also know they were not caught deep..

Fizzing requires a #18 needle. 1 1/2" long for side fizzing and 1" for mouth fizzing. For mouth fizzing take an plastic ink pen, pull out the ink pen part, take the empty tube and super glue it onto the needle. When you push the needle in the mouth under water it will be long enough so you can see the bubbles coming out. Big fish really require this needle.