cassie Posted July 12, 2010 Posted July 12, 2010 I've been fishing for a lot of years, but just recently started fishing where the predominant bass in the lake is the spotted bass. I really enjoy catching them because they fight so hard, but unlike the largemouths I am used to, they don't behave as well when you "thumb" them by the lower jaw! I have recently had to remove a treble hook from one of my fingers and it wasn't any fun!! If anyone else fishes for these hard fighting bass, please give me some ideas on how to handle them safely. I don't want another incident with both of us attached to the same plug! Thanks! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 Get a rubber landing net. Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 Get something similar to a boga grip. Quote
Super User NorcalBassin Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 They're very 'teethy" as well and give you a nasty case of bass thumb. I stick with a rubber net and a nice set of needle nose pliers. Quote
Super User Hammer 4 Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 Ha, you should try lipping a saltwater spotted bay bass..no fun sometimes. I find if you gently grab them over their gills, they Stop fighting you..then you can use pliers or whatever to remove the hook, or get one of those lip griper things.. Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 With a net or not, you gotta handle em, and open the mouth, to get the hooks out. boga is out bc they can damage jaws, esp if the fish is feisty. Well... people are gonna roll eyes : And J Francho is gonna call me PC -I''m gonna roll eyes right back at that one : LOL. ...but... You can try going barbless. I, and some buddies, have done this and it works just fine -to the tune of several hundred bass now. Not only does it hold fish fine, but they are VERY easy to remove -from the fish or your thumb. Just my 2cents. Try it before you knock it. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 Excellent advice Paul. You can add several thousand bass (spots, smallies, and largemouth) for me with no barbs. Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted July 12, 2010 Super User Posted July 12, 2010 Excellent advice Paul. You can add several thousand bass (spots, smallies, and largemouth) for me with no barbs. You PC too Wayne??? ;D Quote
CAdeltaLipRipper Posted July 12, 2010 Posted July 12, 2010 smack em on something and stun them and throw them back so they can attract eagles and ospreys or eat em. Don't get me wrong, i like spots and all, but they took over our lakes and its hard to catch good fish sometimes because the spots are so bad that theyre over populated and theyre all like 7 inches to a pound. I mean youll catch a good number of good ones too, but that usualy just happens on certain days with us. They're fun, aggressive, and they fight really well, and they also come up sooner than largemouth do after winter so you can start fishing faster lures earlier cause u can just catch those to keep you saytisfied,but we need to thin their numbers over here. And theyre the WORST when you lip them because they thrash and thrash sometimes. Thats why u gotta be quick and stick it to em with the thumb . Eh i don't really care i fish the delta a lot more anyway than our lakes Quote
CAdeltaLipRipper Posted July 12, 2010 Posted July 12, 2010 With a net or not, you gotta handle em, and open the mouth, to get the hooks out. boga is out bc they can damage jaws, esp if the fish is feisty. Well... people are gonna roll eyes : And J Francho is gonna call me PC -I''m gonna roll eyes right back at that one : LOL. ...but... You can try going barbless. I, and some buddies, have done this and it works just fine -to the tune of several hundred bass now. Not only does it hold fish fine, but they are VERY easy to remove -from the fish or your thumb. Just my 2cents. Try it before you knock it. Bogo grips are awesome and work great for fish 2 lbs and up, and are good when you're catching fish on hooky lures like crankbaits and spooks, but your right i wouldnt recommend them for smaller fish because they tend to thrash and have less tissue. Ive had it go through their lip because they kept a shakin Quote
cassie Posted July 13, 2010 Author Posted July 13, 2010 Thanks to all who responded - I really appreciate your help! I think I will start with Paul's idea and mash down the barbs on the hooks. Then I will make sure I use a net and some good needle nose pliers to keep some distance between me and the hooks! Quote
Super User Hammer 4 Posted July 13, 2010 Super User Posted July 13, 2010 Keep in mind that while fishing Barbless, your bound to lose a few fish...so keep the pressure on them, and try not to let them jump.. The hooks will just pop right out. Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted July 13, 2010 Super User Posted July 13, 2010 Keep in mind that while fishing Barbless, your bound to lose a few fish...so keep the pressure on them, and try not to let them jump.. The hooks will just pop right out. Mebbe. But not as much as you might think. IMO: NEVER go barbless with a jig however. Quote
Super User Hammer 4 Posted July 14, 2010 Super User Posted July 14, 2010 I fish completely barbless for sw spotties, and have lost a few. I have also lost a few Nice LMB to, it will happen, but is worth it imho. Quote
Super User fourbizz Posted July 14, 2010 Super User Posted July 14, 2010 Billy club or steel toes. Quote
Nibbles Posted July 14, 2010 Posted July 14, 2010 Grab em with your palm on the belly and your thumb in one gill and index finger in the other. I would imagine that they would stop fighting so much. Personally haven't tried this on bass yet, but it seems to work well for river carp. They struggle like mad, but seem to calm down after I grab em that way. Quote
zbigbadaaron Posted July 14, 2010 Posted July 14, 2010 You could grab them around the gills and use pliers then your hand never has to touch their mouth. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 15, 2010 Super User Posted July 15, 2010 With a net or not, you gotta handle em, and open the mouth, to get the hooks out. boga is out bc they can damage jaws, esp if the fish is feisty. Well... people are gonna roll eyes : And J Francho is gonna call me PC -I''m gonna roll eyes right back at that one : LOL. ...but... You can try going barbless. I, and some buddies, have done this and it works just fine -to the tune of several hundred bass now. Not only does it hold fish fine, but they are VERY easy to remove -from the fish or your thumb. Just my 2cents. Try it before you knock it. I actually caught a fish on a crankbait recently, under weird circumstances. Earlier, it was snagged on my shirt, and I clipped the one hook point off the treble, just below the barb. I was just fun fishing, so I threw the bait without replacing the treble, figuring the two points would be fine. Well, one of the fish was only hooked on the clipped hookpoint, LOL. I'm still sticking to my guns on the barbs. 8-) Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted July 15, 2010 Super User Posted July 15, 2010 ;D Ever heard of velcro fishing? Some (I assume ultra-PC, or ultra-sporting) fly-fishers have gone to tying flies on velcro loop strips. It hangs in the trout's teeth. From what I remember landing rates aren't very good, but the idea is to get the fish to take the fly. The rest is anticlimactic. Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted July 17, 2010 Super User Posted July 17, 2010 OT risk again. I'll leave it at this... It's about refinement of the challenge. In FF for trout, "presentation is 90% of the game". But, after you have presentation down (no small feat), the right fly becomes HUGE. I've seen grown men, MD's and CEOs, cry at repeated refusals. "Are 'dose itty bitty twout (OK...20inchers) boddering you??" Mid-life crisis usually follows. ;D Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.