Besides the classic "thumb", are there other ways to hold a bass? Aside from just letting it rest on your palm like a football. A friend of mine said KVD had a video on YouTube during the recent Classic and he had his two fingers over its head in the gills. Not sure of that maneuver. Any insight? Joe

Do it like this, and you won't do any damage:

 

Largemouth:

 

Sideways:

 

Smallmouth:

 

 

Sideways:

 

 

I don't particularly care for the over the nape/behind the gills, but sometimes you gotta what you gotta do, especially with dinks.

I found out that if you hug them a little bit...and whisper in their ear...they'll tell you where the others are hiding.

if you do hold them behind the head or sideways be sure to get your hands wet first.

I just use a gaff....

J Francho nice pics!!!

Lol aharris!

Just watch an episode of Bill Dance if you want to see how to improperly hold a bass. When you hold them vertically try not to bend their lip out any more than you have to and don't hold them that way for too long. Holding them horizontally and supporting their stomach with your other hand is one of the best ways to hold them without harming the fish. 

Like this!?

 

 

The best way is under their belly.

 

However, we all hold them by their lower jaw.

The best way is under their belly.

 

However, we all hold them by their lower jaw.

 

The main thing is to get them back underwater within 60 seconds.  There is talk that the black spots we often see on fish, especially smallmouth, might be from handling them.  In that case, it may be best to just lip them.  Who knows...  all I can say, is be prepared, have the net ready, pliers close by, camera reay, etc.  One tip, for gys that have boats with livewells, is to give the fish a few minutes in the livewell, to recuperate, and then get a picture.  Especially if you took a while to get the hook out.

Puting smallmouth in the live well will also bring out the tiger stripes and darken the fish for a MUCH better pic!

You think?

 

See if you can blow up this pic:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/user/5051-fish-chris/

 

That is my "Favorite All-Time", but yours is GREAT, too!

Might be of interest:

http://www.mikelongoutdoors.com/proper-bass-handling/

 

Although most of us can only dream about the fish Mr. Long catches.

Might be of interest:

http://www.mikelongoutdoors.com/proper-bass-handling/

 

Although most of us can only dream about the fish Mr. Long catches.

Good link, thanks!

Agree Franco and Long, that is how I do it.

If you roll the bass over on it's back, belly up, they settle down fast and it's a lot easier to remove hooks.

The head collar grip forces open the month and easy to remove hooks on small bass and toothy fish.

Tom

I hold em with the hook on the scale and hope the fish breaks it.

I found out that if you hug them a little bit...and whisper in their ear...they'll tell you where the others are hiding.

They have ears!?!   

they exact way you hold them doesnt matter as long as you support the fish. the things you dont want to do  is be stupid and shake them like ike. and remember this important tip when you take a fish of any species out of the water you start holding your breathe because the fish is doing the same thing. so the quicker you get it back in the water the faster it can breathe. good luck and tight lines

I hear that If you hold a bass over 7 pounds by the lower lip it CAN do damage...

 

Not sure but thats what I have heard, but when I catch a 7pounder I will hold it how I want!