At what weight is it harmful to hold bass vertically?

[schplurg]

On 4/5/2019 at 4:42 PM, MN Fisher said:

Bass are 'stockier', so center-of-weight is towards the front. Pike, pickerel, muskie are LONG fish, so the center-of-weight is much further back.

 

Not that I'd ever stick my hand inside a pike/muskie's jaw - even with gloves...those teeth are SHARP.

 

No, I'm not answering how I know that.

 

Aah, so that IS a missing 6th finger in your avatar photo!  

[TnRiver46]

What about all those poor fish MLF weighs vertically???

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

What about all those poor fish MLF weighs vertically???

I think after each fish is weighed 3 times a day, three days in a row, they kind of get used to it.

?

A-Jay

[Pat Brown]

Here are three things that you should probably care more about if you like to preserve bass:

 

How long was the fight?  People who enjoy the fight and try to play the fish longer actually aid in the buildup of lactic acid in the bass's muscles and some times the older ones don't make it after a really long fight in the hotter months.  You're also way more likely to lose a big fish that you play...so...get them in as quick as you can if you love catching em!

 

How deep did you catch the fish?  If you caught the fish out of deep enough water fast enough, you could be causing a buildup of CO2 bubbles in the fish's bloodstream, which could immediately be fatal. Learning how to fizz your fish is very important if you fish in deep water a lot.  This is often a problem in the deep winter and summer when fish are often caught deep.

 

Where did you hook the fish?  Yeah those fancy sharp treble hooks with really good barbs and EWG bends sure do have good hook up ratios, but a couple of those hooks in the tongue or in the back of the throat can mean certain death for even the toughest specimens.  I rarely opt for this type of bait in general and typically only use it when they're nipping at my baits or when I can't catch them other way.  Weightless Texas rigs are also dangerous for gut hooking fish, but you can learn some simple techniques that can dramatically increase the survivability of fish that you have gut hooked.  Gently turning the hook with forceps through the gill has saved me some bass.

 

To the OP's initial question: Dottie was a 25 lb female that probably lived over 12 years.  Most Bass don't even make it past the fry stage.  Dottie was never harmed mortally by being caught, she was a morbidly obese sedentary ANCIENT LMB.  She lived a year after her last time being caught which is NOT delayed mortality from being released, sorry.

 

If you're going to hold them by the lip, hold them completely vertically do not hold them at a angle greater than 90° without supporting their belly.  (If and when you ever catch a giant bass you will see how absurd it would be to try to hold a bass like this anyway. But I guess some people are still going to do that sort of thing).

[hunterPRO1]

On 4/6/2019 at 11:04 AM, roadwarrior said:

Nope, she (Dottie) died later that year.

Dottie actually died multiple years after that picture.

That picture is from March of 2006. Dottie was found in May of 2008.

 

Dottie first weighed over 20 pounds when mike long caught (probably intentionally snagged) her in April of 2001 and she was 20.75. That fish weighed over 20 pounds for 7 years, anyone who says that fish died of anything other than old age is wrong.

[Darth-Baiter]

i think there are worse things we can do to a caught bass.

 

laying it on a hot dry surface, or grass.  keeping it out of water too long.   i had a friend catch a 5lb fish and he was alone.  his friend were not around.  he carried that fish, and kicked his kayak to find them..while holding the beast.   everyone was cheering him on, and i said, "let the fish go".  

 

it didnt survive.  i saw him coming from ways out, holding that thing.

[PaulVE64]

Thankfully, we're not arguing about native Cutthroat Trout.

Those guys are extreme.

[the reel ess]

I haven't found the weight at which you can't hold a bass vertically. How else would you weigh it?

[thediscochef]

Heck yeah I love old threads

 

I have basically nothing to add, LM are tough as nails and incredibly adaptable, it's what makes them such an effective invasive species. Holding vertically seems to be just fine. I've never worried about the integrity of their jaw after I get pics. But yall see how I hold them. No bendy, no angle. Just vertical bass.

 

If a bass isnt in the larger class for its water, it's ideal to hold them horizontally in oil with your favorite seasoning. Trying this vertically may cause problems 

[gim]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I haven't found the weight at which you can't hold a bass vertically. How else would you weigh it?

This is one of the reasons I measure mine. Although I will admit that I do weigh a big one every once in a while too.

 

Something not mentioned yet here is water temperature. Mortality goes way up in warm water. There is a lack of oxygen in warm water.

 

My personal opinion is that the fish should not be out of the water for more than 30 seconds.  Get your stuff organized and ready to use. Pliers, camera, measuring board, and scale should all be accessible and easily used when needed.

[the reel ess]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

This is one of the reasons I measure mine. Although I will admit that I do weigh a big one every once in a while too.

 

Something not mentioned yet here is water temperature. Mortality goes way up in warm water. There is a lack of oxygen in warm water.

 

My personal opinion is that the fish should not be out of the water for more than 30 seconds.  Get your stuff organized and ready to use. Pliers, camera, measuring board, and scale should all be accessible and easily used when needed.

I started keeping a grip attached to my scale so I can get a pic, weigh and get her back in. But if I'm fumbling trying to get it together I hold the fish in the water, something easily done from a kayak.

[1984isNOW]

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I said, "let the fish go".  

 

it didnt survive.  i saw him coming from ways out, holding that thing.

 My buddy is new to fishing, I got him totally hooked the past few years. I ended up moving across state essentially and we only get to fish together a few times a year now, or really get together at all.

 

The last time we fished together we each caught a few, and at one point he pulled a bass in between some bushes over the bank. Maybe a pound or so, and to put it back he just launched it over the bushes.

 

I absolutely freaked on'em! He's my friend, so I can freely say "whatbthe fudge are you thinking you moron, why would you do that? Is that what your kids do so you think it's okay, just punt a fish like that into the water? Could you imagine doing a belly flop on that same scale you idiot! Next time get as close as you can and as softly as possible get the fish back in, sometimes a little throw is just how it has to be, but don't shot put the d**n thing"

 

If I saw him kayaking at me holding a big bass out of the water I mightve whacked'em with my paddle and reminded him he's now destroyed the chance of one of his kids (or any kid) catching that awesome bass.

 

Here's a related question @ALL how do you prevent a bass from thrashing when holding by the jaw? I was weighing a chunky bass a few weeks ago that started thrashing pretty good once clipped to the grippers and scale. I tried to tell'em to stop, and apologized as I unclipped him and let's go.

5 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I started keeping a grip attached to my scale so I can get a pic

Same, good call

[PaulVE64]

I've heard that turning them upside down will stop them from thrashing