Like most of you I want to treat the fish with care and I like to keep them off the ground, but I've found that getting self-righteous about it without knowing the situation a bank angler was in when they placed a fish on the ground is sometimes an unfair attitude.  

5 minutes ago, senile1 said:

Like most of you I want to treat the fish with care and I like to keep them off the ground, but I've found that getting self-righteous about it without knowing the situation a bank angler was in when they placed a fish on the ground is sometimes an unfair attitude.  

There may be a good reason for having to lay a fish in the dirt. But please explain the situation where the bank angler has to take a picture of the fish in the dirt and post it online.

If they're going to be kept I don't see the big deal, just seems kind of sloppy. I kind of cringe if it's supposed to be released. Admittedly even my own avatar pic is questionable handling, laying on pleather boat cushions. Fish depend on their "mucoprotein" coating for a lot of things and aren't adapted to deal with anything dry coming in contact with it, it strips the coat right off. Grass and dirt probably aren't as bad as modern materials, boat carpeting seems like it'd be the worst. I don't know what difference all this makes on fatality rates after release though, maybe none for an otherwise healthy fish if it was quickly released after a clean hook. 

What we really need for the problem of how to take pictures alone is a waterproof remote control camera people can mount on their boat's bow or wherever. Yes.. kind of like a "selfie stick." Has to be able to be ready to go all the time though, I do NOT have the time to set up a timer and fiddle around with stuff when I'm trying to release a fish safely.

I think many, myself included, take the point of view of a steward of the water. As such, you should be aware that it reflects on all anglers the impression you make on non-anglers.

LOL , of all the things I have to be worried about a dirty fish isnt one of them .

It doesn't bother me. Bass are a tough species. They are not like trout. I've caught bass, had them drop off my lure and hit the dirt. I pick them up, took a pic and release them and they are fine. Even if someone decides to take their limit and fillet them and eat them I got no problem with that. 

On 4/24/2016 at 10:51 AM, slonezp said:

That's an old pic. This one is from yesterday, no bass in this one. Nothing like cold water panfish.

Point I'm trying to make is a little bit of dirt isn't that bad. Watch the way some of these showboaters hoist their bass and swing them around for a photo op. I'm surprised I don't catch more fish with broken jaws. On the other end of the spectrum you have these fly fishermen who handle the 6" brook trout they catch like they are fragile eggs. What would be hilarious is to watch one of the fly fishermen do everything he could not to touch the fish during the unhooking process and then immediately after the release see it get eaten by another predator.LOL

OP, Nature is not a friendly place

 

 

Mixed bag acquired

It doesn't do a fish picture any justice when it looks like you're breading it with dirt, mud, and leaves. I'd rather not see those pictures, but it's better than the big fish in the driveway/kitchen/garage pictures. I don't lose any sleep over it, it's just like taking a picture of a really nice car that needs washed. 

Only if they are long dead.

21 hours ago, J Francho said:

I think many, myself included, take the point of view of a steward of the water. As such, you should be aware that it reflects on all anglers the impression you make on non-anglers.

I really admire this point of view.  I love fishing and have respect for all native species.  Being a 'steward' of the water is a really great way of looking at it.

22 hours ago, J Francho said:

I think many, myself included, take the point of view of a steward of the water. As such, you should be aware that it reflects on all anglers the impression you make on non-anglers.

 

1 hour ago, avidone1 said:

I really admire this point of view.  I love fishing and have respect for all native species.  Being a 'steward' of the water is a really great way of looking at it.

We all need to think this way.  Too many people out there think these fish are an unlimited resource. 

doesnt bother me one bit. bass are a lot tougher than many of you give them credit for being. their not fragile little glass figurines or RG3, they dont come bubble wrapped. im not saying i advocate blatantly mistreating fish either, dont confuse, im saying it aint really hurting nothing. these fish dig holes in the dirt every year and survive it, simply laying them in the dirt isnt going to cause them damage. the real problem is people treating bass better than they treat their fellow man...

This thread reminds me of a time I was bank fishing for snook at a very popular spot.

The catching was good and some nice slot wish were reeled in as well some over the slot limit.

I saw a guy land a beauty.  He measured it and it was over the limit.   He cursed loudly and threw the fish back in

like he was throwing a bucket of **** out a Bronx tenement window. Tthe fish hit the water hard on its side, was stunned a moment then

swam away.   I don't doubt that the fish survived.  Snook are a very hardy fish, but it was the contempt HE showed for this magnificent animal that turned my stomach.