Long story short i had a terrible morning walking the river bank. On the way back to my truck i decided that id toss a mepps out to see if that would change anything. It did, however because it was such a slow day i was lazy and tied a junk knot. I landed the fish (2.5ish smallie), had my thumb in its mouth when it started fighting again. I lost my grip but caught the line as the fish fell. The last thing i saw was the fish tumbling into the water with my lure still in its mouth. The knot slipped.....  I ended up catching a small largemouth so i wasnt skunked but man i was so angry at myself. 

I say that you got that fish. But it doesn't matter what other people think

I hate losing lures eacpcially to fish! Last night I went through a whole pack of senkos in 3 hours.

Another day I was using too water frogs and like an idiot I made 3 horrible casts into trees and lost 3 different frogs! The line got wrapped around the branch and so I had to cut the line. What are the odds I lose 3 different snag proof lures in one day.

I hate losing lures eacpcially to fish! Last night I went through a whole pack of senkos in 3 hours.

Another day I was using too water frogs and like an idiot I made 3 horrible casts into trees and lost 3 different frogs! The line got wrapped around the branch and so I had to cut the line. What are the odds I lose 3 different snag proof lures in one day.

i know that feeling too. I had just bought a new frog last year and after 15 mins of fishing it i lost control of my cast and put it in a tree  that i couldnt get it out of. I forgot to add yesterday that  I was fishing a worm in the beginning and just as i was pulling it out of the water to re cast a small rock bass or something hit the tail and pulled the worm clean off the hook. 

If you were in a tournament you couldn't have weighed it in, no catch!    Last year when I kept track of every bass I caught I had to have complete control over the fish for it to count. 

If you were in a tournament you couldn't have weighed it in, no catch!    Last year when I kept track of every bass I caught I had to have complete control over the fish for it to count. 

but if i were in  tournament i would of been in a boat and it would of fallen into the boat. I was standing on a rock that probably had 4'x4' sticking out of the water  Im making excuses i know..... 

 

I read somewhere that if you put your thumb on their tongue they settle down, any truth to that? Ive never consciously went for the tongue, i just stick my thumb in there.

but if i were in tournament i would of been in a boat and it would of fallen into the boat. I was standing on a rock that probably had 4'x4' sticking out of the water Im making excuses i know.....

I read somewhere that if you put your thumb on their tongue they settle down, any truth to that? Ive never consciously went for the tongue, i just stick my thumb in there.

i always take my ring finger and put it in between the bottim of the jaw around the base of its gill plate they usually stop fighting then

but if i were in  tournament i would of been in a boat and it would of fallen into the boat. I was standing on a rock that probably had 4'x4' sticking out of the water  Im making excuses i know..... 

 

I read somewhere that if you put your thumb on their tongue they settle down, any truth to that? Ive never consciously went for the tongue, i just stick my thumb in there.

Just because they fall in the boat doesn't mean they make it to the livewell. Then again, just because they make it to the livewell doesn't mean they make it to weigh in! I've watched more than one bass launch over the side of the boat when an angler opened the livewell to check on his catch. 

 

If you cradle them under the belly or grab them behind the head and turn them upside down they will usually quit flopping. 

You caught the fish and landed it.  Be happy you lost that lure as the lesson learned is far more valuable the cost of that plug, lesson being........don't get lazy with a knot.

If the fish touches land I count it as a catch. When Im fishing with friends and we are fishing from shore I would rather they get off by themselves and flop back into the water. That is less time I have to spend unhooking them. The only time I get mad is if they are big and I want to take a picture of it. I make sure to grab it by the lip and hold tight. I feel the more you squeeze on the lip the less the bass tries to squirm. I mostly fish lipless cranks and I try to get those hooks out as quick as possible for the safety of the fish and myself. If you had the fish lipped then thats a catch in my book. Who cares what everybody thinks though. If you think its a catch thats all that matters.