I am truly astonished that people are still arguing the point of the original post. It�s not that you shouldn�t keep fish you intend to eat or that you can�t hold them by the lip.

The Point is: You can cut their F&$king head off if you�re going to eat them, who cares, but why break their jaw by holding them with their mouth 90 degrees to the ground if you plan on releasing them. Hold them like KickerFish29 is in his signature for instance. This is perfectly Okay.

There is really nothing to argue about in this post. When the debate points get as clever as �I can injure and then release an animal because it�s a free country� all I can say is.... WOW!

So if we go back to the OP, it was about Bill Dance and how he holds his bass.....It would seem as though he would have a private lake full of bass that have broken jaws. Sorry we got off track....

This why I filet all my big bass.. I don't have to worry about them starving because their jaw is broken and boy they are TASTY!

Was that Mr. Qwong? He really brought great rhythm to the forum! His succunlent baby bass recipes were really great!

WOW! You must be posting from the Short Bus.

The OP is not really about Bill Dance or his private lake. Its about good practice for handling fish you intend to release.... Hey, why not just poke their eyes out too? It's a free country right?...

Don't talk bad about people who ride the short bus! That's not nice! They have to get to school too!

Actually, since you bring it up..... I bet you have had a hook poke an eye out on a bass? Am I right?

Would you rather have a broken jaw or missing an eyeball if you were a fish?

I'd take a broken jaw anyday! Bass don't chew! They swallow!

They use their eyes to locate food.

I have caught more bass with one eye than I have with "broken" jaws. Makes you wonder where we put our emphases? (Glad the fish was facing towards my bait...since he only had one eye)

Wonder why we don't see complete blind fish? Cause they ain't gonna live long....that's a fact.

Of course I have, but that�s not the point. The point is why not handle them the best you can if you intend on releasing them? If you plan on putting them in the skillet, who cares what you do to them.

Do you use single barbless hooks when you fish? When you plan on releasing them?

What if they get a hook in the eye? What do you do? Cull him to the fryer?

I'm simply making discussion. Look up Catch and Release methods and you will see there is much more than holding up a fish.....we can't pretend we are taking care of our resources, but the truth is.....holding a bass by his lip is only one aspect of the C & R.

If we really want to look at good C & R practices look at the fly fishing guys...they use wet nets, keeping fish in the water throughout the unhooking process, they actually revive their fish by swooshing water in their gills, using barbless hooks, light line and light rods to not danger or over work the fish. ON and on and on.....

BUT all that would put a damper on our fun! Right?

About all you can throw on a circle barbless hook is a wacky worm.

Arguing over an internet forum is really not my bag. Also, I am no saint when it comes to fish care, but I honestly do try. If you are merely playing devil�s advocate and I�m misreading you, I apologize.

Just making people use their brain and make their own decisions ....also trying to provide a little humor along the way.



What else is there to do today? I'm trying not to work.

Are you serious? Fish have to open their mouth to swallow... Which uses the JAW. And lol at bass being blind equalling death. What do you think they can "see" in 30 fow? I'd take the missing eye over the jaw anyway if I had receptors on my body that help me locate food. At least I would still be able to eat.

Yes, fish can see in 30' of water. Ever been to Amistad?

How about 2 missing eyes?

Can we weigh in on bowfishing?

Always is a great topic to stay entertained.

I know where the tilapia are thick! Carp already did their thing....tearing up bass beds!