3 hours ago, WRB said:

Think about how many bass get bounced into the boat onto the deck and carpet, do you think those anglers care about handling bass carefully?

Mistakes happen and a % of bass die from being caught.

Tom

 

True. And that's part of it for me. I try now to flip them all crazy and let them flop. That's the only part that upset me is usually I get a nice clean release. It's just the unfortunate reality that things happen sometimes.

5 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

Im scared to use the grip on my scale, because it grips their lip SO tight...afraid they’ll have lip damage !

By the way, Ive dropped some fish in my 46 years of bass fishing. Never have had one die on the bank, or had a “floater” that I released after it falling in the boat.

Wish I could say that for all the gut hooked fish...but they didnt die in vain...

Thanks for that. Honestly I'm not sure if he made it. But I think about 75% chance he made it fine. Never had one float up either. 

4 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

 

This is right after you just ripped a big barbed hook through their mouth.... right? 

I was using “scared” figuratively. More like “ slightly concerned “.