This is going to sound like a very stupid question but I have to ask it.  At the end of tournaments I see fishermen who use one of two methods to getting the fish out of the livewell for weigh in.  Some pin the fish and use the tag to secure the fish into the bag.  Others seem to easily grab the fish out of the livewell and into the bag (no tagging).

 

I struggle when trying to get the fish out of the livewell if they aren't tagged.  Kind of embarrassing for me but for some reason I can't get them to settle in my hands like I see the pros/more experienced anglers do.  What the heck am I doing wrong?

 

Pros/cons with either method?

When getting them out of the livewell without culling balls or anything I just grab them from the top behind the gills. Occasionally you get spiked if you miss but that's all part of the fun. If the fish is too big to actually lift out like that I just grab it the same way and then turn it over a bit and get the lip also.

I grab behind the gills also

takes a good firm grip and they usually don't struggle i do get finned sometimes tho

Belly grab them, or use a small, 12" bait net.

Belly grab them, or use a small, 12" bait net.

 

 

 

How am going to get those 6lb smallies out with a 12" bait net J?

LOL, I just use it to pin them to the side, and lip 'em. Or net their head, and belly them. I just have an old, wood handle aquarium net - comes in handy. If your livewell hatch is bigger, use a bigger net. My Bullet has narrow hatches.

I have a small net I use. It's made for trout fishing but fits a livewell nicely .It works very good. I got mine from Bass Pro about 10 years ago. They still sell them for about $12 . It's about 8" wide and about 13" long. I've done #7lbers but nothing bigger. It gets the head half in the net and that's all you need. :>)