Handling The Bass?

[MrTexasRigs]

Alright this may be a dumb question, but I don't know why this keeps happening to me. So when i catch a bass I try to get it in as quick as possible because catch and release quick and properly is what i shoot for. Though I keep having problems with some of the bass starting to shake and flail once I grab them by the lip. They seem calm at first and then they start flailing and i end up dropping them. Is there a way to stop this, or should i just grip hard when they start to do that. It just seems odd that I almost never see one of them do this when a "pro" is holding one. So if you could explain this to me, give me some tips, and what not.

 

Thanks!

[MrTexasRigs]

Is it because I'm getting them in too fast and they're still aggressive or what?

[Clackinrap]

Sounds like you're pulling them in so fast they don't have a chance to tire themselves out.  You can always grip them around their gills and they'll calm right down, but you generally want to avoid touching their bodies so you don't remove their slime.  Let them fight a little more and grip their lip a bit harder.

[MrTexasRigs]

Sounds like you're pulling them in so fast they don't have a chance to tire themselves out.  You can always grip them around their gills and they'll calm right down, but you generally want to avoid touching their bodies so you don't remove their slime.  Let them fight a little more and grip their lip a bit harder.

The only reason i haven't been, is because they say letting them tire out will put too much stress on them and could be bad. Though I know I could slow down a tad bit... lol

[Clackinrap]

The only reason i haven't been, is because they say letting them tire out will put too much stress on them and could be bad. Though I know I could slow down a tad bit... lol

 

If you think you've tired them out too much, just hold them in the water for a little to allow them to recooperate before you let them swim away.  They'll let you know when they're ready to go haha

[BassinLou]

Show the fish, who's boss when you lip them. Grab the lower lip firmly. Once they feel that pressure they settle down. Your grip is too loose.  

[MrTexasRigs]

Show the fish, who's boss when you lip them. Grab the lower lip firmly. Once they feel that pressure they settle down. Your grip is too loose.

That is for the most part, what i was thinking

[Shane J]

Yup. You're not holding them tight enough.

[Diablos]

I'm guessing you're paranoid about getting hooked in the hand.

 

Use a net or a fish gripper/boga grip

[Darren.]

Totally understand your situation. Agree that grabbing firmly to the bottom lip (not ripping it) helps immensely. Another option is to use a lip-gripper. Either one with a built in scale (Econo-scale, Boga), or a plain old model. My Econo-scale works great for this very thing, although I don't use it as much anymore for this purpose unless the teeth are noticeable and could puncture a vital organ.

 

You can also gently wrest the fish into your hand and hold it upside down. Your hand holding it on its dorsal fin side, think of holding a taco. They calm down right quick.

[JellyMan]

Almost every bass I catch will shake when I grab the lip. Reaction I guess.

 

I wait till they are calm then grab the lip as firm as I can because if he shakes and I dont have a good grip, the fish can throw that hook deep into your hand.

 

Grab em hard and dont let go!

[AK-Jax86]

Grip hard

I can't speak on that though with in the last two weeks I have lost 3 big fish all over 6lbs while taking the hook out I droped em when the flop around an watch em flop back into the water... Very frustrating. Now I back up from the shore further incase my butter fingers come back the fish has a longer way to flop into the water lol

[MrTexasRigs]

I'm guessing you're paranoid about getting hooked in the hand.

 

Use a net or a fish gripper/boga grip

Im definitely not paranoid about the hooks, I think my grips is just too loose and I rip then in really fast. I won't use a net or grip, I will always use my hand. Though Thanks for the input!

[MrTexasRigs]

Totally understand your situation. Agree that grabbing firmly to the bottom lip (not ripping it) helps immensely. Another option is to use a lip-gripper. Either one with a built in scale (Econo-scale, Boga), or a plain old model. My Econo-scale works great for this very thing, although I don't use it as much anymore for this purpose unless the teeth are noticeable and could puncture a vital organ.

 

You can also gently wrest the fish into your hand and hold it upside down. Your hand holding it on its dorsal fin side, think of holding a taco. They calm down right quick.

I don't think I'll use a gripper, but since you mention the econo-scale. How does your's work, does it accurately weigh? I've been looking around for a cheaper grip-scale.

[Darren.]

I don't think I'll use a gripper, but since you mention the econo-scale. How does your's work, does it accurately weigh? I've been looking around for a cheaper grip-scale.

 

While my ideal is to own the Boga, my econo-scale is actually pretty darn accurate. I've been pleased with it for the past 3 years. Also have a digi-scale. Both are extremely close to each other. Periodically test both with dumbbells, and known weights.

[Loop_Dad]

Alright this may be a dumb question, but I don't know why this keeps happening to me. So when i catch a bass I try to get it in as quick as possible because catch and release quick and properly is what i shoot for. Though I keep having problems with some of the bass starting to shake and flail once I grab them by the lip. They seem calm at first and then they start flailing and i end up dropping them. Is there a way to stop this, or should i just grip hard when they start to do that. It just seems odd that I almost never see one of them do this when a "pro" is holding one. So if you could explain this to me, give me some tips, and what not.

 

Thanks!

 

I can totally relate to this Mr TeaxRigs. I crank them in very fast myself. The reason is the same as yours to save as much of their energy as possible. I don't know how much time pro takes to get the fish in as I don't watch them on TV or anything, but a couple of clips I saw on KVD, he didn't play that long either. I do think the way you hold has something to do with it.

 

I use net to pick them up except for dink. Then I hold lip to unhook and everything. I used to have fish shake a lot on me at that time. They still do, but one thing appeared to help for me was hold in the way so that fish's mouth is opened. I used to pick the fish up by lip with more of their mouth closed. I realized this when I saw some of the pictures of me holding the fish. This might have been my counter reaction to seeing those pro like Bill Dance jerking the fish's mouth in the way fish is almost horizontal. Anyhow, I now hold the fish with mouth open on purpose when I hold with one hand, and this seems to make them calm better.

[superdak01]

make sure you have your thumb in their mouth deep enough also, you wont hurt them. Once you hold two or three of them and they shake around but dont get away, you will understand what to do and then its just an instinct.  Practice is what its all about.  Just dont do the same thing over and pver again and expect a different result, im guilty of that sometimes. 

[JD96]

First thing I do when I get a fish up to the boat, find my lure, if it's in his mouth where he can shake and hook me, it's a belly grab.

 

That happens more with cranks and other treble hooked PITA's. But with a jig or worm whatever single hook, you are safe to lip, but get a firm hold on the lip and remove your hook.