Bass falling

[robbyjhgary]

My bass flopped off the scale as I was weighing him. He fell about 2.5 to 3 feet onto a half submerged rock. I grabbed him after he fell, revived him for a second. And then he swam off somewhat ok. Will he live?

[Skunkmaster-k]

Were his eyes focusing or were they crossed?

[slonezp]

If he does live he will have permanent brain damage and will probably require a wheelchair and diapers for the rest of his life.

[Bassin' Brad]

35 minutes ago, slonezp said:

If he does live he will have permanent brain damage and will probably require a wheelchair and diapers for the rest of his life.

I nearly spewed my tea when I read your stupid comment!!?

[NorcalBassin]

As long as he avoids bright lights and being on his electronics he should recover from that concussion in about 7 days. Should probably stay out of his school for a bit.

[Glenn]

Ok guys, enough with the comic relief. The guy is asking a legit question, so let's help him out.

2 hours ago, robbyjhgary said:

he swam off somewhat ok.

Not sure what you mean by this, but it depends on how hard he hit the rock, and what part of him hit it. Can you provide more detail?

[Bluebasser86]

Sounds like you were hanging him on the metal hook that most scales come with. Get a pair of plastic fish grippers to hang on the hook instead to clamp on the fish's jaw and you won't have that problem anymore. 

[Kenny Yi]

we can only hope he's okay, at least he swam off on his own... fish grippers are the solution

[schplurg]

Also hold it closer to the ground when you weigh it in case it falls off. I hold mine so they are barely above ground, or the water.

[robbyjhgary]

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

Ok guys, enough with the comic relief. The guy is asking a legit question, so let's help him out.

Not sure what you mean by this, but it depends on how hard he hit the rock, and what part of him hit it. Can you provide more detail?

He swam off. Just a not super quick. He hit his side not his head. So I'm not sure. I didn't drop him all that hard or far. Just needed to hold him over the water instead of next to it. Fish grips will be bought soon

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sounds like you were hanging him on the metal hook that most scales come with. Get a pair of plastic fish grippers to hang on the hook instead to clamp on the fish's jaw and you won't have that problem anymore. 

Yep. Need the ones that clamp the lip. One good shake and he fell.

44 minutes ago, schplurg said:

Also hold it closer to the ground when you weigh it in case it falls off. I hold mine so they are barely above ground, or the water.

Definitely man. Got exited about his size and held him too far.

[schplurg]

14 minutes ago, robbyjhgary said:

 

Definitely man. Got exited about his size and held him too far.

 

I totally understand "excited" hah.

 

I dropped one two days ago, musta slipped my mind before (ya that's it!). Was a dink and the hook was tough to get out. Grabbed him by the back/shoulders. I finally got it out and got distracted I guess, he shot out of my grip with some speed, face first onto the dirt, AND hit the base of a rock sort of at the same time. Nose dive. Then he flopped around a bit like normal. Seemed fine.

 

Your fish may have cracked a rib or two I suppose but it's probably fine. Mine probably has a concussion or a fat lip  And the best part is I have it on video so I can see it over and over again  

[robbyjhgary]

12 minutes ago, schplurg said:

 

I totally understand "excited" hah.

 

I dropped one two days ago, musta slipped my mind before (ya that's it!). Was a dink and the hook was tough to get out. Grabbed him by the back/shoulders. I finally got it out and got distracted I guess, he shot out of my grip with some speed, face first onto the dirt, AND hit the base of a rock sort of at the same time. Nose dive. Then he flopped around a bit like normal. Seemed fine.

 

Your fish may have cracked a rib or two I suppose but it's probably fine. Mine probably has a concussion or a fat lip  And the best part is I have it on video so I can see it over and over again  

? Tries recording mine for a vid. Camera ran out of batteries. He fought hard weighed in at 3.09. Got *excited and held him far up. One shake and flopped onto the rock. Grabbed him quick, picture, revive, then he swam out to a patch of grass.

[the reel ess]

It was probably fine. But then, simply catching it could have killed it. So don't sweat it. It's part of the hobby.

 

[gunsinger]

Fish are tough.  It'll be fine.

[CrankFate]

10 minutes ago, gunsinger said:

Fish are tough.  It'll be fine.

^ This

[HaydenS]

If you didn't see him swimming around the surface later or on his side, he should be fine.    

[Glenn]

I caught a 4-pounder and it flailed so hard in my hands I dropped it. It fell about 3', landing square on its side on the deck of my boat.  I thought it was fine and released it.

 

Then I saw it couldn't dive down.  It struggled on the surface, but couldn't go down.  So I grabbed him and put him in my livewell to recover.

 

He didn't.

 

Autopsy revealed he bled to death internally.  Could have been from the fall. Could have been from the fight. Or both.  But I got to enjoy a rare bass supper that evening!

 

[Bubba 460]

 

Man I dunno, my daughter was in the 82nd Airborne. She had 24  jumps under her belt and this is what happened. I'm afraid your bass will probably only be able to make left hand turns.

 

[robbyjhgary]

4 hours ago, HaydenS said:

If you didn't see him swimming around the surface later or on his side, he should be fine.    

I didn't see him after. Unless he was under the grass he look liked he swam off and never floated up.

5 hours ago, the reel ess said:

It was probably fine. But then, simply catching it could have killed it. So don't sweat it. It's part of the hobby.

 

True. I just take pride in trying my absolute best to save my fish. Get them in the water immediately and make sure they have the best chance possible. Just upsets me that he fell. Need to be more careful next time.

[Darth-Baiter]

bummer.  I can't watch videos where the fisherman just nonchalantly tosses the fish back into the water from a height.  or slams them into the side of the boat.  it's hard to watch.  

 

I bet your fish is fine, if it swam off.  kudos for caring about your catch.  get a lip gripper and swap out the hook.

[robbyjhgary]

12 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

bummer.  I can't watch videos where the fisherman just nonchalantly tosses the fish back into the water from a height.  or slams them into the side of the boat.  it's hard to watch.  

 

I bet your fish is fine, if it swam off.  kudos for caring about your catch.  get a lip gripper and swap out the hook.

Yep I can't either. Hurts my soul. I definitely need the lip gripper. 

[N Florida Mike]

Im scared to use the grip on my scale, because it grips their lip SO tight...afraid they’ll have lip damage !

By the way, Ive dropped some fish in my 46 years of bass fishing. Never have had one die on the bank, or had a “floater” that I released after it falling in the boat.

Wish I could say that for all the gut hooked fish...but they didnt die in vain...

[AmmoGuy]

14 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

Im scared to use the grip on my scale, because it grips their lip SO tight...afraid they’ll have lip damage !

 

This is right after you just ripped a big barbed hook through their mouth.... right? 

[WRB]

Think about how many bass get bounced into the boat onto the deck and carpet, do you think those anglers care about handling bass carefully?

Mistakes happen and a % of bass die from being caught.

Tom

 

[Happybeerbuzz]

If in doubt, eat them.  

 

Besides, have you seen the price of meat lately?  I may start eating them even if there is no doubt.