+1
but just bottom lip works fine

Whatever makes you feel better about yourself. This is just silly to me. We are not concerned with the force of the hook set or the resistance of the fight but our heart bleeds if we hold them stationary by the lip? If they have such a sensitive jaw why do they fight so hard?

I think the point is to make sure there are plenty of big ones to set the hook on and fight hard. Catching double digit bass is what makes me feel good about myself and I want the best chances I can get without leaving Texas.

To be able to handle a 10lb+ is wonderful but rare opportunity for most people. I have been fortunate to handle 2 of these fish and the memories of those fish will last forever. Both fish were treated with the respect that they deserve and both were released back in the place where they were caught. Treat them for what they are: once in a lifetime chances to have lifelong memories.

Wish I could hold a fish that big.

Amazing that several think they are 'smarter' than the frickin program manager of the Sharelunker program. Unbelievable.....

Folks, it's about preserving resources. If you are breaking the fishes jaw and it can't feed, you are ruining it's potential to be even bigger. If it can't feed it'll end up being one of those 25 inch fish with no belly and it'll weigh 6 pounds.

He sees every fish donated to the Sharelunker program, I'm just gonna go out on a limb here and guess that he might know what he's talking about..............

Sorry for the rant, but wow just wow.

whether you lip them or baby them there will still be plenty around to set the hook on.

the supply is limitless, so NEVER GIIIIIIIIIVE UUUUUP!

People have no idea what it was like before Jim Kimbell, Monticello, or how we got to where we are today, or before bass fishing got "cool". Just slap some manufacturer websites under your name and go get em. Cool man cool.

It's not hard to hold a fish the suggested way,so why not do it if there is even a chance that it is better for the fish?

If I catch a bass that big I will pour it a glass of wine and maybe give it a deep tissue message before kissing it.

I thought I was doing a heck of a good thing by releasing my 10.3 so somebody else could hopefully be lucky enough to catch it. Now I feel bad because I didnt hold it properly while my wife took a picture of it. I guess that because of the broke jaw that I surely gave it and the good 2 minutes she was out of the water while I got the picture taken, she didnt stand a chance. I should of just kept it and got it mounted. Dang.

I dont believe it either. "Almost always", thats real scientific!! If you hold them straight up and down I dont think it would break but if you tork on it then thats another story.
Nets are bad for fish(slime coat) so you have to double hand a big bass from the water and cradle it all the way into the boat. I bet nobody does that.
With that said they should be treated as gently as possible.

So if you can't just hold it by the mouth...how do you get the hook out?

you don't. your just outa luck cause we can't hold them by the mouth.