Unfortunate

[EGbassing]

Well, I caught a probably 8 - 9 pound bass on a red eye shad today, but the trebles were hooked in such a weird way that it was like solving a puzzle to get them out. I finally did after 1 - 2 minutes and he swam away alright, but I feel awful about it knowing that he may not survive now. It's especially bad that it was probably one of the biggest bass in the pond. Should I start carrying bolt cutters for situations like this? I think I  could have gotten it a lot faster with those.

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Well, I caught a probably 8 - 9 pound bass on a red eye shad today,

Should I start carrying bolt cutters for situations like this? I think I  could have gotten it a lot faster with those.

Perhaps bring a camera ~ 

A-Jay

[Team9nine]

One to two minutes in this cool weather and water, not a problem. I'm sure the fish is fine. Wouldn't worry too much about it unless it looked like he was struggling to swim off, which doesn't sound like the case. Bass are pretty tough critters.

[EGbassing]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Perhaps bring a camera ~ 

A-Jay

I usually do, but I couldn't keep it out of the water any longer just to get a picture.

[Bankbeater]

Depending on how the bass is hooked, a 8 or 9 pound bass will fair much better than say a 1 or 2 pound bass. 

[EGbassing]

9 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

Depending on how the bass is hooked, a 8 or 9 pound bass will fair much better than say a 1 or 2 pound bass. 

That's what I thought. He swam off fine.

29 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

One to two minutes in this cool weather and water, not a problem. I'm sure the fish is fine. Wouldn't worry too much about it unless it looked like he was struggling to swim off, which doesn't sound like the case. Bass are pretty tough critters.

Thanks. I did dunk it once to get some water through its gills, so hopefully its alright.

[Sam]

Did you use needle nose pliers to remove the hooks?

 

If so, you did nothing wrong.

 

I am sure the bass will do just fine and you will catch her in the future.

[EGbassing]

33 minutes ago, Sam said:

Did you use needle nose pliers to remove the hooks?

 

If so, you did nothing wrong.

 

I am sure the bass will do just fine and you will catch her in the future.

I started out using my hands but it wasn't working and I cut myself in several places with the trebles so I got out my pliers. Thanks; I hope so.

[ratherbfishin1]

I wouldn’t be too worried. The bass should be fine.

[EGbassing]

Another weird thing I forgot to mention. I could somehow sense I was going to catch a huge bass today. The whole time I was fishing up until I hooked that one it was just looming over me. It got stronger when I walked over to the spot where I caught it. This sounds weird but I wasn't just imagining it. I remember thinking before I caught it that it was weird how I felt like I was going to catch a big bass. 

[Sam]

2 hours ago, EGbassing said:

I started out using my hands but it wasn't working and I cut myself in several places with the trebles so I got out my pliers. Thanks; I hope so.

EG, always be sure to have your needle nose pliers with you at all times.

[EGbassing]

43 minutes ago, Sam said:

EG, always be sure to have your needle nose pliers with you at all times.

I usually keep them in my tackle box but I might start carrying them in my pocket so I can get them faster.

[TnRiver46]

I hooked one in the throat with a spoon today, it bled all over the boat. I told my two buddies in the boat that I guess I was going to have to keep it, although I didn’t really want to as I have plenty of white bass and walleye at the ready. After I finally got it loose, I dipped it in the lake to let it get a breath and it bolted right out of my hand and swam down. 6-8 feet down I saw it thrash wildly, I don’t think it’s doing well this evening but accidents happen sometimes. I wasn’t trying to hurt the poor feller but I think I did . He engulfed my spoon. 

[EGbassing]

14 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I hooked one in the throat with a spoon today, it bled all over the boat. I told my two buddies in the boat that I guess I was going to have to keep it, although I didn’t really want to as I have plenty of white bass and walleye at the ready. After I finally got it loose, I dipped it in the lake to let it get a breath and it bolted right out of my hand and swam down. 6-8 feet down I saw it thrash wildly, I don’t think it’s doing well this evening but accidents happen sometimes. I wasn’t trying to hurt the poor feller but I think I did . He engulfed my spoon. 

I've still never hooked one really deep. Hope I never do.

[Sam]

11 hours ago, EGbassing said:

I usually keep them in my tackle box but I might start carrying them in my pocket so I can get them faster.

Good idea. Just be careful that they don't fall out.

[BoatSquirrel]

I have seen pros pour a shot of Mtn Dew in a bleeding fish’s mouth so I gave it a try last time I had a bleeder.  Supposedly the citric acid cauterizes the wound.  Seemed to work.  If nothing else, the fish will enjoy a delicious last drink!

[Koz]

I almost always use needle nose pliers with treble hooks because it's easy to accidentally hook yourself, especially if the fish decides to thrash about while removing the hooks.

[Bluebasser86]

I like to keep a pair of forceps clipped on the bottom of my shirt when I'm bank fishing. They lock so you can clip them on and lock them and they won't fall off. I always seem to drop my pliers if I put them in my pocket and then I have to try to backtrack and find them. 

[MN Fisher]

38 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like to keep a pair of forceps clipped on the bottom of my shirt when I'm bank fishing. They lock so you can clip them on and lock them and they won't fall off. I always seem to drop my pliers if I put them in my pocket and then I have to try to backtrack and find them. 

I got my forceps locked to the handle-strap of my tackle bag.

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎2‎/‎23‎/‎2019 at 8:05 PM, EGbassing said:

I usually keep them in my tackle box but I might start carrying them in my pocket so I can get them faster.

 

I have these. The pouch clips to belt. The bungee clips to my belt loop. They are always ready when I need them. Bungee keeps them from getting lost.

 

I also have a spot to store them externally on my tackle bag so they are quickly retrieved when needed. You can see them in the pic below:

 

[Gundog]

On ‎2‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 1:24 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I like to keep a pair of forceps clipped on the bottom of my shirt when I'm bank fishing. They lock so you can clip them on and lock them and they won't fall off. I always seem to drop my pliers if I put them in my pocket and then I have to try to backtrack and find them. 

^^^This.

[Derek1]

18 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

 

I have these. The pouch clips to belt. The bungee clips to my belt loop. They are always ready when I need them. Bungee keeps them from getting lost.

 

I also have a spot to store them externally on my tackle bag so they are quickly retrieved when needed. You can see them in the pic below:

 

What is that. 

[J Francho]

Looks like an otter.

[NYWayfarer]

34 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

What is that. 

It is an Otter that was hanging around the resort we were staying at last week. He was sniffing around my tackle bag. We even fed him freshly caught Bluegill, videotaped it as well

 

 

[Derek1]

Cool.