Fish do die, it's part of nature.

And many fish caught in 10 feet or less need to be fizzed.

Take some time and learn and get a needle, it's really a simple procedure.

Through the mouth is better than the side

Google it, it's simple

+1

especially on big fish!

Everyone is missing where he said fish had no signs of being caught.

maybe they were just tired of all the boats at Fork and committed fish hari-kari

Bends mender deflator should be in everyone's tackle box. In this case it may or may not have helped... But, definitely worth a try.

Wait! What?

senko, I got some of the first made from the guys that invented them and they do work.
first time I had to use them was on texoma, club championship. I caught all my fish on some sunken structure at 35', clipped fish immediately and added my please release me to live well. surface temp on the lake was 101* (early sept. that yr I think) and all fish survived the day and swam off after weigh in.
I have used them a few times since and not one fish has died, all made it through weigh in and lived to swim off.

Thats funny right there.. and probably true!

When does a bass need to be fizzed? I see many mentioned deep water, but are there other standards or practices?

Also, just a question, but are bass different than other fish? Meaning, I have never heard of a catfish needing to be fizzed, or anything in salt water that comes from 100ft plus.

If they were floating like that they may have been caught but were hooked deep in the gullet and you wouldn't be able to see any damage or evidence of being caught. with a fish that big you would be able to get your hand in there and remove the hook safely. Happens quite a bit on C-Rigs and Senkos, at least to me it does.


The method of going through the mouth is not the best way to bleed the air from a fish. The side method is the best. Here is why. From the side as long as you stay below the lateral line there is nothing that you can poke with the needle that if you miss the fish can't recover from. However if you go through the mouth and you miss there is something there, a vein, heart or something if you hit it the fish will bleed out and be dead in minutes. I have seen it at least 20 times from those folks that think they know what they are doing. Also you can't tell the right amount of air to release, let too much out and the fish will sink to the bottom and die. Sure Life does not endorse that method anymore for that reason, not that they set the standard, just letting you know. I have been assisting the tournaments around Amistad for over 15 years with fish care, BassChamps, Bud Light, TTT, Permian, BASS and many others over the years. I say that because I am not some Arm Chair Quarterback Bonehead who thinks he knows about fish care, I do know what I am talking about. I am not trying to get into a argument or put you down for using the method you use, you are a guide and I am sure you are very good at it but for someone learning to bleed fish the side method is safer (for the fish).

You can get a needle from the feed store for about 40 cents there is no need to pay 4 dollars for the same needle with a fancy name.

I prefer through the side, too. Spinnerbait, so as not to confuse anyone...by "lateral line" you mean the actual line of nerves fish use to feel vibration, correct?

I hear so many fishermen incorrectly refer to the line of dark coloration down the side of a bass as the lateral line. Sometimes it's almost uniform, others it is just a series of big splotches with smaller markings around those.

Biggest question of all. Did u keep the fish? I do not keep largemouth. But if I were in that situation. I would have had a bass feast. If I do keep bass it's spots.

By the OP's description, these were slot fish. Illegal to retain on Fork.