Fizzing questions.....

[Bassnajr]

Hey all....

Since I live in a state where the fisheries are no more than 20 feet deep, I figured I ask these questions here?

At what depth does a fish need to be fizzed?

If a fish caught BELOW that depth is not fizzed, what is the likely hood that the fish will survive?

Any links around on "how to"??

Discussion also welcome. 

Thanks,

Alan (bassnajr)

[gobig]

when ever the fish floats on its side.

[Gatorbassman]

This is the best video I've seen on fizzing a bass. (it's in HD)

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/how-to-fizz-a-bass.html

[Glenn]

The depth thing is a myth. You can catch a bass in 10 feet and still need to fizz him.  Why?  He probably JUST came up from deep water.

So anytime a fish is having trouble righting themselves, fizz 'em....and NOT through the throat, unless you're absolutely 100% certain you know exactly what you're doing.  There's a main artery right there that, if poked, will bleed them out and kill them.  Therefore, inserting through the side is the recommended approach.

 

[MrWrinkle]

How common is it that you have to do this?  I've never had a bass that had trouble swimming off, but I very rarely catch them deeper than 10-15ft due to the relatively shallow waters I fish.

[gobig]

Its a fairly common occurrence on deeper lakes. Its not unusual to catch fish in 50ft of water and I have caught them as deep as 70ft. If the fish is released right away there does not seem to be a problem. Its when they go in the live well.

[OHIO]

Do you guys that do this on occasion carry the needle whenever you fish?

[WRB]

Bass roll over for 2 reasons; stress when they are about to die and over inflated air bladders.

Fizzing or needling the air bladder is needed if you plan to keep the bass in your livewell for a few hours.

If you plan on releasing a bass with over inflated air bladder; slip a 8 oz torpedo sinker into the basses mouth/throat and lower the bass back down into deep water, then retrieve the weight, the bass will swim away.

I use a swimbait rod and clip on the torpedo sinker, works very good.

Over inflated air bladders occur when a bass is brought to the surface that has been living in water deeper than 35 feet. This condition usually occurs in deep clear lakes without a thermocline.

Bass that roll over from stress need first aid, not fizzed. Check your livewell temperature is within 5-10 degrees of the water temperature the bass came out of, dissolved oxygen levels are good and the bass isn't bleeding.

WRB