Fish Froze Up After Being Pulled Through A Weedbed?

[Bassun]

I can't agree on the net thing.  I personally love using a net, especially with anything more than one hook.  It's not always just about the fish, but about protecting yourself.  A nice fish on a bait with multiple trebles hanging around its mouth is just asking for trouble when you go to lip it, especially if its a smallmouth or green when you land it.  Sure if you have a jig, you're less likely to get stuck, but if you have a jerk bait with three sets of trebles flopping around...yeah, I'll take that net please, lol.  No point in adding extra risk to yourself if you have a good net right there. 

 

I find it even more important on steep banks and especially if you are fishing light line which I usually am if I'm on a bank.  You may look funny with a net down by the bank, but the first time you don't have to worry about landing that big fish, it's all worth it.  Now, if you are fishing for dinks that you can lift with the line, then maybe go ahead and skip the net.

 

But, that's just my opinion.

[J Francho]

I think a net would really help a guy that is already using a glove to handle the fish. 

[Hattrick7]

Man this happened to me tonight. Hooked into a nice one and realized drag was too loose. Kept taking line so I go to tighten drag down some more and then it's just dead weight. Nothing moving on the other end. This lake normally doesn't have a lot of weeds but as I continue to pull there's a good mass of it.

We'll my knot breaks and there's this hunk of weeds just sitting about 15' away from me. No movement in the water. I tied on a lipless to drag the weeds in and this one time I felt the bass hit it and swim off.

Interesting behavior.