Lets start by saying this topic/discussion isn't meant to piss anyone off, its only meant for education purposes only. I have a 11 year old son that loves bass fishing and is learning how important it is to properly handle the fish he catches. Thru experience and homework I've learned that bass need to be handled with care. It's my understanding that bass can be out of the water for about as long as we can hold our breath, one important reason to get them back in the water as quickly as possible. I also understand that we should try our best not to touch the bass's body if possible as they have a protective slime coat. Also when lipping them try your best not to bend the lip too much (especially on larger bass) as this could break their jaw. A few things I didn't realize is that a bass can actually hurt (bruise internally) themselves if allowed to flop around the ground or boat. I also didn't realize that we should reel them in quickly as possible to help avoid fatiguing them out. When releasing the bass we take the time to make sure the fish is revived and will swim off on its own.

Is there anything else that I should know?

Lastly, I've seen some anglers tossing their bass back in the water. What's everyones thoughts on this? As I stated earlier I've read/learned that this can actually bruise/harm them.

Wet your hands before handling.

you can set them back in the water or drop them from a foot or so and it does nothing to them, ever seen one jump while hooked? they can go over 2' easy and dropping them back in is the same.

I will revive them when needed and even put them in the live well with some please release me till they are good to go.

I figure they probably like that a heck of a lot more than the 215 lbs of pressure I put on them setting an extremely sharp # 4 hook right between their eyes! It's good that you are trying to teach him the right way but they are fish. They eat their own. 25 years ago you wouldn't have to worry about how u released them. They would have been in the skillet!

my son and i were fishing last sunday for crappie(we are bass fishermen)but we were catching bass on alost every throw so we crushed our barbs and made it a little less stressful on them but according to other post that makes us pu##ies for doing so

when i release them i always have a little fun with the fish under 2lbs or so like 90% of what i catch lol. when i hold them i try not to bend them usually hold them verticle and then slowly release them tail first in the water and slowly release them and bout 90% of the time they jump straight out of the water kinda fun to watch...

I have seen guys on fishing shows say that it is good to drop the bass vertically, head down, into the water from 1 1/2 to 2 feet. The theory is that the speed and momentum of the fall will force water through the gills and help a tired/stressed fish get some oxygen without expending much energy.

If they're not too big and they've been hooked well (in the lip and quick to get the hook out) I just throw them back quickly. It seems to me they react pretty well and always disappear immediately. Now if they're bigger fish and I had a rough time getting them in the boat and unbuttoned, I'll baby them more and make sure they're full of oxygen before letting them swim away.

I'm all for handling them properly and do my best to do so... But at the end of the day they are just a little green fish...

Do what to you can but come on guys don't over think it

You guys actually release fish ?

what about crappie/paper lips, How many times have you caught them and the mouth that a big tear. What about tarpin, they'll pull you out the boat. What damage is done to them jumping 5' out of the water.

[quote=Jerry Brown]I figure they probably like that a heck of a lot more than the 215 lbs of pressure I put on them setting an extremely sharp # 4 hook right between their eyes! It's good that you are trying to teach him the right way.


You would be surprised at how little pressure you actually have on them setting the hook. WAY WAY less than you thnik.

Best to store them in an ice chest so the meat will keep better.


Seriously some of our lakes need thinning of the smaller ones.