Good article on bass release & handling

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http://www.bobluskoutdoors.com/articles/summer-temps-take-toll-on-big-bass-2018-06-4386


Keep in mind; eight to 10-pound bass are entering senior citizen age. The average life expectancy of a largemouth is 10-years. Those fish could be six to eight years old. Imagine yanking them from a shaded, cool, 10-foot depth to a shocking near 90-degree surface temperature. That’s stress! Like leaving air-conditioned comfort and getting in a sweltering car. Some of us relate when recalling that mowing the lawn at age 65 isn’t as easy as it was at 35.
  • During this season, fish early morning and late afternoon to sundown. Working a topwater on a moon-lit night is exciting.
  • Land and release fish quickly. Keep them in the water while unhooking. Please don’t hold them for extended periods to photograph. A bass can breathe out of water about as long as we can hold our breath.
  • Soft plastic baits are popular now. If one swallows the hook, cut the line, and leave it. Surprisingly, body chemistry will erode the hook and cause less injury than attempted removal.
  • Don’t hold big bass horizontally by the jaw. It could break the jaw. If holding horizontally, place your hand under their stomach to support weight.
  • Harvested fish should be placed in a cooler with ice. They will not survive current surface water temperatures on a stringer or in a live well.
 
We used to end tournaments at 12 noon in CA during the hot summer months. Too many fish die in livewells if you don't really recirculate the water well. I fished a lot of the Central Valley lakes out there and it was freaking too hot most afternoons.
 
Funny this should come up..... I happened to see a Bass Tournament this past weekend while surfing channels and besides the angler in the boat there was also an official that would immediately weight the fish when caught and the angler immediately turned the fish loose. The fish wasn't out of the water more than 20-30 seconds. Released right where it was caught and there was no handling or even touching the fish.
Things have come a long way in that sport, thank goodness.
 
Funny this should come up..... I happened to see a Bass Tournament this past weekend while surfing channels and besides the angler in the boat there was also an official that would immediately weight the fish when caught and the angler immediately turned the fish loose. The fish wasn't out of the water more than 20-30 seconds. Released right where it was caught and there was no handling or even touching the fish.
Things have come a long way in that sport, thank goodness.

I fished a few tournaments where we were issued paper rules type things and you measured it and released it immediately. These were club events with very little money on the line. Just went by total length. Fish were immediately released and they didn't have to ride around all day in our livewells.
 
I fished a few tournaments where we were issued paper rules type things and you measured it and released it immediately. These were club events with very little money on the line. Just went by total length. Fish were immediately released and they didn't have to ride around all day in our livewells.

What struck me about this show was the "official" had a tablet and was transmitting the weight info and keeping the angler up to speed as to where he stood in the rankings. To me a fishing show ranks right up there with watching my hair grow in the mirror but this kept my attention for almost 20 minutes, which for me is a new personal best......
 
What struck me about this show was the "official" had a tablet and was transmitting the weight info and keeping the angler up to speed as to where he stood in the rankings. To me a fishing show ranks right up there with watching my hair grow in the mirror but this kept my attention for almost 20 minutes, which for me is a new personal best......

I think they use a program called Fishstascore.

(competition guys will get it)
 
What struck me about this show was the "official" had a tablet and was transmitting the weight info and keeping the angler up to speed as to where he stood in the rankings. To me a fishing show ranks right up there with watching my hair grow in the mirror but this kept my attention for almost 20 minutes, which for me is a new personal best......

Yeah, most fishing shows are unwatchable. Some sports just aren't made for TV. And im humble opinion fishing is a better hobby than sport.
 
I don't worry too much about the handling/releasing part, a nice 6-8lb Bass, a big circle hook, them big Blue and Flathead Cats love a nice Bass dinner. You want to catch big Cats, use big bait.
 
I don't worry too much about the handling/releasing part, a nice 6-8lb Bass, a big circle hook, them big Blue and Flathead Cats love a nice Bass dinner. You want to catch big Cats, use big bait.

Flatheads eat anything and everthing..
Put a flathead in a farmpond, then come back in a year. You will find one giant flathead, nothing else. They are well known for this and are often used to "reclaim" ponds that are overrun with stunted panfish.
 
If I’m fishing just for fun I will pinch the barbs closed on my hooks. Makes removal a lot easier, and have only had a few get off.
 
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