Found this spot out in S.W. Ranches and have Pulling out 1-3.5lb(My largest) Bass. Most were taken from the bank on 4.5" Watermellon/Black Flake weighted Flukes.

Nice fish, but in the future don't hold them like that, it can kill the fish.

Nice!

Nice fish, but in the future don't hold them like that, it can kill the fish.

Ok, thanks for the advice. How should they be held? Always seen pics of Bass being held like I was above so figured it was the right way.

Ok, thanks for the advice. How should they be held? Always seen pics of Bass being held like I was above so figured it was the right way.

You can lip them, just don't hold their body horizontal like that, it puts a lot of pressure on their jaw. Keep them as horizontal vertical as possible. Not a big deal with little guys since their isn't much weight there but once they get over probably 2 pounds I try to take extra care and make sure they don't get hurt.

You can lip them, just don't hold their body horizontal like that, it puts a lot of pressure on their jaw. Keep them as vertical as possible. Not a big deal with little guys since their isn't much weight there but once they get over probably 2 pounds I try to take extra care and make sure they don't get hurt.

Did you mean vertical maybe?

Did you mean vertical maybe?

Yeah haha I don't know how I didn't catch that

You can lip them, just don't hold their body horizontal like that, it puts a lot of pressure on their jaw. Keep them as horizontal vertical as possible. Not a big deal with little guys since their isn't much weight there but once they get over probably 2 pounds I try to take extra care and make sure they don't get hurt.

Gotcha. Thanks again, makes sense.

If you want to hold them horizontally use your other hand to support the bottom of the fish.

If you want to hold them horizontally use your other hand to support the bottom of the fish.

^^^^^This

^^^^^This

everythingthatswims avatar is a good example of how to hold one horizontal, mine is a good example of how to hold one vertical. Watch an episode of Bill Dance if you want to see all kinds of examples of how not to hold a fish. 

 

OP, that's a very nice fish from a creek or ditch I guess?

everythingthatswims avatar is a good example of how to hold one horizontal, mine is a good example of how to hold one vertical. Watch an episode of Bill Dance if you want to see all kinds of examples of how not to hold a fish. 

 

OP, that's a very nice fish from a creek or ditch I guess?

Thanks, it's the dead end of a canal feeding from both the Everglades and the Intercoastal waterways. Caught Bass, Cichlids and a tiny Pea and seen Gar, Reffish and a tarpon in the same day... It's my go to spot.

Watch an episode of Bill Dance if you want to see all kinds of examples of how not to hold a fish. 

 

This right here is why I can't watch that show.  It is almost obscene the way he handles fish.  It is like he is trying to molest them or something...  Holding them at odd angles, opening and playing with the gills, smacking them, not to mention he plays with them for far to long before landing, then after groping them he just roughly tosses them back.

^^He's always got his fingers stuffed in their gills. Great fisherman; a legend, but he has some bad handling habits.