31
Jul
If you are not comfortable holding the fish you can try to twist the head from side to loosen the skin. Hold the fish firmly in two hands and bring it as close as possible to the waters edge before letting it wriggle free.
If using a horizontal hold again dont jack the jaw wide open and hold the fish about 34 of the way to its tail supporting the weight.
How to hold a bass fish. There are two common ways of holding bass fish and these are. Holding them vertically and holding them horizontally. To safely hold the bass vertically here are the simple steps that you have to do.
Begin by grabbing the lower jaw of the bass fish. Fishing experts agree that the safest way to hold a bass is vertical with its mouth facing the sky and its tail pointing ground-wards. This relieves any pressure on the bass jaw from the weight of its body.
When you hold a bass vertically make sure your thumb is placed inside the mouth of the bass to firmly keep a hold of its bottom lip. This hold provides more support so you can hold the bass up with your other hand. For this youll put your thumb in its mouth grabbing the lower lip.
While holding it vertically you will then take your other hand and place it underneath the belly of the fish to support their weight. The only way to hold a bass in this method is by the lower lip without using the other hand for support. This method can damage the jaws of the bass as all the pressure lies on the jaws of the bass.
Holding a bass only from the lower lip can also cause the slipping of the bass which results in the death of the fish. The proper way to hold the fish is vertically if you are grabbing it by the jaw. This process will remove any tension and stress on the jaw of the fish and still allow you to grip it firmly.
The problems come when you try to raise the bass to a horizontal position with only the jaw. If using a horizontal hold again dont jack the jaw wide open and hold the fish about 34 of the way to its tail supporting the weight. In all cases minimize the contact with the bass and get it back into the water as quickly as possible.
Example of a vertical hold. When holding a larger sized bass above 2-3 lbs there are two possible ways to hold the bass which ensure its jaw isnt harmed. The vertical hold is where you grip the fishs lower lip and let its body hang vertically in a straight line to the ground.
Its important to keep a firm grip in case the bass starts to thrash around. Hold the fish horizontally with your hand behind the gill plate. Placing your fingers behind the gill plate or the flaps on either side of the fishs head will typically give you a secure grip.
Be very careful not to touch or insert your fingers in the actual gills which are delicate organs necessary for the fishs. So the next fishing trip you will be a complete angler who can cast hook reel and hold bass. There are different styles of holding a bass such as.
This style allows you to hold the bass with its weight hence at a vertical position. This is because the saliva that the fish uses to defend itself can quickly dry your skin and you will lose your grip. You need to learn how to hold the fish by biting into one and holding it against your mouth until you can get a firm grip.
If you are not comfortable holding the fish you can try to twist the head from side to loosen the skin. Fishing for Beginners - How to Hold a Bass - YouTube. The most comfortable and safest way to hold a bass is by holding it vertically.
This means that the tail of the bass should be directly underneath its mouth in a straight vertical line. Holding the largemouth at any other angle can cause severe damage to the fishs jaw. The best way to hold a bass is by the lower jaw in an upright vertical position.
The diagram below illustrates what a minor variation in the hold of a bass can do. If you desire a horizontal presentation cradle the belly with your hand and support the weight of the fish. Simply holding the fish with two hands in a horizontal position will work best.
A purely vertical hold by the lower lip is okay for smaller fish only. Large bass those fish over 3 pounds suffer an elevated potential for internal damage from the vertical position which should be avoided. Horizontal Bass Hold.
To hold a bass thats larger than about 2 pounds horizontally follow these steps. Lift the bass vertically. Place your other hand under the body of the bass at the belly or behind.
Now you can lift the lower half of the bass and hold it horizontally. The reason you want to follow these steps is to protect the bass. The safest way to hold all bass is to hold them vertically.
However with a big bass you may find it is safer to hold it horizontally with one hand supporting the fish underneath its body. Horizontal holding is also safe as long as you have supported the weight of the fish under its body. As for smallmouth bass you can hold the body of the bass lightly to support.
Ensure that the weight is evenly distributed throughout the body. Holding bass vertically is the ideal way to hold all bass especially those of larger sizes. By Ralph Manns Lets Hold and Release Bass RIGHT.
Last year David Campbell of TPWDs Tyler Hatchery announced anglers were breaking the jaws of lunker bass brought to him under the Lone Star Lunker Program. Since then Honey Hole In-Fisherman and many other fishing magazines have reported his comments. Think of it as when youre hanging from the monkey bars as a kid.
Youre grip is going to give up long before your shoulder or elbows do. This is ok for fish this big. Now another way to hold the fish is to support its weight and then you can hold them sideways.
Again Im just supporting its weight. When you hold a bass by the lower jaw you usually place your thumb onto or to either side of this symphysis and your fingers fit directly behind it. So in some of the holding positions you put excess pressure on this area.
Slip the fish into the water. Do not throw it. If you throw the fish at the surface of the water it may be stunned or killed by the impact.
Hold the fish firmly in two hands and bring it as close as possible to the waters edge before letting it wriggle free. If the fish doesnt swim away gently move it back and forth in the water.