How to hold a bass!

Here ya go! The proper way to hold a bass. I stumbled across this informative picture on the interwebs.

I didn't know that....now I do!

Makes sense to me.  Thanks, good to know

Agreed. Always support the bass with your hand when lipping, or hold it straight up.  Bending the lip is a no no unless you're keeping that guy.

Great post Pat.  I recall reading a scientific paper some years back about the adverse effects of holding bass "Bill Dance Style", especially large bass.  It's a habit that needs to die out.  Most of the time I try to keep my fish as horizontal as possible to limit internal organ damage and, if I'm holding them by the lip, reduce unnecessary strain on their jaws.

Ill bet its safe to assume this applies to rockies too

This is something I've always assumed but never seen a diagram like this. Thanks for the heads up. Be gentle with those fish y'all.

-FF

This is how my brother holds his bass. Seems to have good results?

Hows this?

You were a little off Craig ...  The pinky goes in the anal cavity to support the posterior end of the fish.

This is how my brother holds his bass. Seems to have good results?

Totally not OSHA approved.  If you brother were released back into the wild, there would be a seriously elevated risk of internal organ damage.  Best to harvest him.

As I understand it... Heart is located just behind gill openings Both trout and bass are damaged by putting pressure in that area. Holding vertically by lower jaw or horizontally by jaw and supporting fish across belly rear half is the safest way to do it. this site shows fish anatomy for Bass...  http://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/fish-anatomy.html

This is how I hold my ice cold bass.

As I understand it... Heart is located just behind gill openings Both trout and bass are damaged by putting pressure in that area. Holding vertically by lower jaw or horizontally by jaw and supporting fish across belly rear half is the safest way to do it. this site shows fish anatomy for Bass...  http://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/fish-anatomy.html

Oh thank you your majesty.

Here ya go! The proper way to hold a bass. I stumbled across this informative picture on the interwebs.

As I understand it... Heart is located just behind gill openings Both trout and bass are damaged by putting pressure in that area. Holding vertically by lower jaw or horizontally by jaw and supporting fish across belly rear half is the safest way to do it. this site shows fish anatomy for Bass...  http://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/fish-anatomy.html

Good to know and this is why I hang out with you people.  Cuz I learn stuff.