Lipping fish outside of the boat

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

I see the pros do it on television all the time, but when I try it, they jump & splash to high heaven.  I'm scared to death to get hooked at the same time they start jumping.  That would rip a guy's finger in half.  

I don't have a large net and really don't want to buy one if I can learn how to bring the big boys into the boat.  

[fishfordollars]

I am very careful about it. If I am fishing a one hook lure I tend to do it; otherwise I either lift them in with the rod or net them. The cost of a net is miniscule when you compare it to a trip to the ER

Youy have to be careful if you try to lip a hot fish. It's best to let them tell you what to do. If I am tournament fishing it is always the net and my handle is ten ft long.

[tennwalkinghorse]

I use a lip grip it works great and don't hurt the fish makes it easy to get hook out all so. About 20 to 30 bucks

[Alpster]

The only drawback to netting is it can scrub some of the slime coat off. This is not a big deal if you get them back in the water quickly. Grabbing a bass by the lip is not difficult, you just can't hesitate. Thats how you get hooked or lose your catch.  If you don't have a lot of confidence, you shouldn't do it. JMHO

Ronnie

[bass wrangler569]

They have new nets now that are designed with a special mesh so that they don't damage the slime coat. I saw em at BPS if your interested.

[KvD]

They have new nets now that are designed with a special mesh so that they don't damage the slime coat. I saw em at BPS if your interested.

yeah bill dance is the one that makes em i saw em yesterday at bass pro... its like a plastic soft rubbery mesh and gives to the weight of the fish... theyre 49.99 i think it was....

Alex

[Brian_Reeves]

I'll lip fish if I play them out and they are behaving.  Otherwise I'll grab underneath them (around the belly) and pick them up that way.  Most of the time I can get a good lip on them.  I don't worry too much because most of my fish come off of jigs or soft plastic rigs, so there isn't a dozen hooks all over the place.

[muskyxl]

You should try lipp'n a musky!!  

[Bass XL]

You should try lipp'n a musky!!

I've made that mistake before.

[Under the Radar]

Try this from Cabela's. inexpensive and safe $12.99.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat90003&id=0012971013780a&navCount=1&podId=0012971&parentId=cat90003&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat90003

[jasone]

You don't need any fancy equipment. And nets qualify as fancy equipment. I don't keep one in my boat. If others want to bring one aboard fine. I think it harms the fish and seems unsporting especially when you use an 5 foot handle!!

The problem is that people watch Bassmasters and take the bad habits and leave the good.

Don't take the bad habit of trying to horse to fish to the boat. I've had partners get ticked at me for letting the fish play out.

Secondly, take the good habit, the Elite pros grab the line with one hand, that helps stabilize the fish and allows you to get a hold.

JMO

J

[daviscw]

You don't need any fancy equipment. And nets qualify as fancy equipment. I don't keep one in my boat. If others want to bring one aboard fine. I think it harms the fish and seems unsporting especially when you use an 5 foot handle!!

Ageed. And like Alpster said, just don't hesitate; when you go for the grab go quick!

[Andrew Coleman]

I'm new to Bass fishing and i touched the bottom lip of a bass and feels like if he would flip out it could tear some skin. Have you ever bled or got some pain by lipping a fish?

[Catt]

I'm new to Bass fishing and i touched the bottom lip of a bass and feels like if he would flip out it could tear some skin. Have you ever bled or got some pain by lipping a fish?

Yelp my right thumb stays that way

[jasone]

Yeah, what Catt said...

Anyways you don't place your thumb on the teeth, you slide it past the teeth and onto the tongue part.  Once you pull the mouth open the fish usually don't fight a whole lot.  

The thumb scraping is just something that happens when trying to pry the mouth open or as you slide your thumb past.

J

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

Great advice from everyone.  Thanks!

[paul.]

The cost of a net is miniscule when you compare it to a trip to the ER

and even the cost of an ER trip is miniscule compared to losing the fish of a lifetime. ;D  i have a good buddy this happened to and he still talks about it years after the fact, kicking himself for not having a net.  i've been lipping bass ever since i could walk, but i still use a net when a big fish is on the line if at all possible.   my vote is to go get a net - a big one.  costs just a little to buy it, might cost a lot not to.  just my .02.  good luck out there.  

[SnowBass23]

The only time I've used a net so far is for catfish.  However, I probably will add one to the boat soon.

One thing I do, if the bait is a crankbait, or something else that has several hooks (like trebles) is I reel the fish up to me, until there is just enough line to hold the rod handle in my armpit, pull the line tight with my non-dominant hand, and lip the fish with my primary hand (I'm right handed).

If he is hooked with a treble hook it usually means there are some free hooks swinging around, AND he is hooked in a way I usually can't lip him.  So I grab the hook that is firmly imbedded(whiche ever hook is actually holding him) with my needlenose pliers and then I can usually lip the fish with my other hand without worrying about the hooks suddenly moving in a shake.

Like others have said, as soon as you have a bass by the lip he will be immobilized.  You'll learn quickly to time your grabs as well.  When he's still being held by line (even still partially in the water) they'll shake, then pause.  That pause is when you want to grab them.

They will rough up your thumb from the teeth sometimes (especially in the early part of the year) but it usually doesn't hurt.

[Simp]

I have no problem doing this with bass. I mean come on they have a LARGE MOUTH!!!

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Dont let em splash yer partner either or he may start crying  : :

[dumb_dog11]

I'm new to Bass fishing and i touched the bottom lip of a bass and feels like if he would flip out it could tear some skin. Have you ever bled or got some pain by lipping a fish?

Ahhhh, the sign of a good day of bass fishing

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

click on the "MY FISHING VIDEOS" link in red below in my signature.

Watch the first few vids and you'll see lots of lipping.  The main idea is to make sure you keep your line tight by holding the grip of your rod with the non lipping hand and holding it behind you so as to keep it taught and keep the fish close.  It also keeps tension on the fish which helps to keep him from thrashing.

Start practicing this method using single hook lures, move up to trebles as you get better at it.  Remember though, with trebles, we all are vulnerable, even if you've been doing it for yrs.  It's a chance we take

[wickyman]

I will bring the fish up the boat, and watch it thrash a couple times, by then, they are so exhausted, that they won't do it as much.  Then jam your thumb on those teeth, and grip the bottom jaw, and pull him out of the water!  just be careful, the lip sometimes rips where the hook is, and it can get ya!  I haven't had it happen, but have seen it.  Bill Dance had it happen, I think, way back.  It was on video, and he said it wasn't that bad...  I think it was an incredible blooper reel or something...  Either way, just be patient, and you won't hesitate later on.    The pro's don't care if they get a hook in their hand!  Shoot, if I had a chance at a quarter million dollars, I wouldn't either!  lol