Pros should be the number one promoters of proper care, but I guess many of them only see them as money. I really don't support the format of keeping them for weighting, mortality rate is huge. 

4 hours ago, WRB said:

You all have a protractor on your hand; spread between index and middle finger = 30 degrees.

Tom

 

I'm not flipping you off, I'm showing you 1/2 base times height...

2 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

One solution is to quit taking selfies of every fish you catch...especially if its small.

Trow it back ASAP and get on with the next cast.

I leave the phone in the car, when I really want to catch them

11 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I leave the phone in the car, when I really want to catch them

If I left the phone in the car and my wife couldn't reach me all I'd catch is a beating.

2 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

If I left the phone in the car and my wife couldn't reach me all I'd catch is a beating.

I'd almost prefer that to the 'intense look of disappointment' I got the last time I forgot my phone.

Just another reason I HATE tournaments.  

9 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Would like to hear from a fish biologist what their recommended thresholds are, by weight, for this and even for vertical. --- I assume that lipping a six pound fish probably isn't great for the fish, either, but i have no expertise or data.

I wish I could remember where, but I read a long article (with some autopsies) that once you are in the 10-ish class, even a vertical hold is high risk, and to use the top lip to weigh them.

24 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

If I left the phone in the car and my wife couldn't reach me all I'd catch is a beating.

LOL, after a while the calluses, scaring, and nerve damage makes it bearable...

Professional fishing is all about product endorsement and self-promotion.  I'm betting most of these guys know better, but they also believe it looks better in a photo to hold the fish sideways.  

I don't think they're thinking twice about it.  They should.  It's probably not intentional, but maybe they could be intentional.

If you wanna really be cool like the new YouTubers, you hold it with its head lower than it’s tail. Still haven’t figured that one out, but oh well. Maybe they are trying to make the blood rush to it’s head ? 

19 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't think they're thinking twice about it.  They should.  It's probably not intentional, but maybe they could be intentional.

 

I agree, 100%. It's probably just muscle memory but that doesn't mean they can't break the habit!

 

I wrote MLF this morning (probably should have done that first) to see if they would consider implementing a rule against it. I'll report back if I hear something, but it seems like it's universally despised - which is great ?.

We probably still haven’t done the best job as an industry with clear and concise messaging in this area. Some aspects can be a bit confusing, like vertical holds.

Ralph Manns piece on proper fish holding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^^^agree^^^

Anytime your thumb is holding the mouth open it’s problematic. Hand landing the bass by it’s lower lip without the thumb inside the bass mouth is difficult. If you use a 2 handed technique helping the bass vertical doesn’t over stress the jaw hinge. It’s isn’t easy to remove hooks from a bass without a vertical hold, no easy answers.

Since the non use of nets more bass could end up with broken jaws. I am not landing bass caught on multiple treble hook lures by hand and use a knotless net, safer!

Tom

 

 

On 5/19/2022 at 11:42 AM, Deleted account said:

holding the fish up to your temple Carnac The Magnificent style

I bet Johnny Carson could have told us what are bass are thinking...

On top of that how about keeping a limit of fish in the live well getting bounced around all day so Chad or Brad can get a cool photo at the ramp. I think this is even more important when the spawn is happening. 

 

I “get it” for tournament, but what is the need when one is just out to fish recreationally? I mean if you’re worried about weights either keep a list or use a scale that does it for you. 

I think the fish much rather perfer a human holding them "incorrectly"   with a 15 second out of water than the photoshoot paparazzi guys holding them the "Right way" for more than a few minutes.  Being 100% frank could care less about holding the fish correctly, I'm more worried about catching a hook in my hand. 

I do not watch any bass contests that drive around with loads of bass all day in a tank. Then dump each days total catch into the same places............ God bless the Fish & Game officials for protecting our fish.

 

 

2 hours ago, bigspirit said:

On top of that how about keeping a limit of fish in the live well getting bounced around all day so Chad or Brad can get a cool photo at the ramp. I think this is even more important when the spawn is happening. 

 

I “get it” for tournament, but what is the need when one is just out to fish recreationally? I mean if you’re worried about weights either keep a list or use a scale that does it for you. 

  "Chad or Brad" do that because their heroes from the he man mines bigger than yours tournaments do that.