I have seen on multiple fishing shows they flip the bass up into the boat.  I fish from shore and there are a few spots where it is very troublesome to reach down and lip the bass. I usally fish with a medium avid and a mh extreme and want to know at what size do you think it would be a bad idea to lift the fish with the rod.

Thanks

I am going to work on my mistake habit of flippin every fish in the boat. I even do it with smallies and light line unless they are around 4lbs and up. Always have. I have lost very few fish doing this but, I feel it is a little traumatic for them to be slammed to the bottom of the boat and allowed to flip around. I started towards the end of last year lipping all of my fish and releasing them immediately, after a kiss. I guess I am getting soft in my old age.

If they aren't very big, I usually lift them with the rod.  Anything 5 lbs or up I usually kneel dwon and grab them by the lip.  I nevr flip them into the boat, mainly due to the fact that I want to be as gentle with the bass as possible.  

I only boat lift fish under 2 or 3 pounds but yeah like others said I am tryin to stop doin that..I have been doin it since I was usin a baitcaster (12 years young)watchin too much TV I guess.. not 3 years later I am startin to stop..

I net almost everything, unless it a small fish. have lost to many fish buy trying to lift them in the boat

i lip all my fish, even if that means getting in the water.

Catch and release is rather meaningless if you hoist the fish into the boat and allow it to bounce all over the carpet which rubs its slime coat off.  

I'll hoist fish up but grab them in the air for smaller fish under 2lbs, anything larger gets lipped.

I use a gaff for most of them small or big.  

Just kidding, anything over a couple pounds I lip, the small ones I usually just pull up with my rod and grab in the air.

Like HPBB said I net all my fish.

Falcon

Despite what the so-called "Pros" do on the fishing shows, I am inclined to use a net whenever possible.  It's a more sure way of landing the fish, and it puts less stress on the fish.  Also, it's a more sure method of keeping hooks out of your fingers.

Lifting fish into the boat is also a good way to overstress a rod..........Al

I wade or fish out of a canoe, so I'm realy close to the fish. Anything cought with treble hooks gets netted, all other bass gets lipped.

Other species get the net. Especially the toothy critters :-/

I lip everything but the big ones with a mouthful of treble hooks I use my boga grip.  I'm in a kayak so flipping them into the boat would not be pretty.

Mike,  the action of rod boating fish is more of a quick swing than a lift.  I do this regularly and have never had a problem.  If landing the fish is important, make sure you have them hooked well or you could lose a fish.  If I am in question I sometimes set the hook again, especially with small treble hooks, I sometimes replace hooks on cranks/lipless cranks with smaller ones so they become more weedless.

The dinks I lift up with the rod.  Anything of any size I lip.

Lifting fish into the boat is also a good way to overstress a rod..........Al

quote cart7      

     Catch and release is rather meaningless if you hoist the fish into the boat and allow it to bounce all over the carpet which rubs its slime coat off.

C'mon guys my eight year old daughter lips here bass

Just bend down and stick your thump in her mouth

that way nothing gets hurt,( Bass or rod)

There have been studies that show lipping bass causes harm as well.

There have been studies that show lipping bass causes harm as well.

What studies?Link?

I can see that Lifting large bass by lipping could possibly cause jaw damage

this is my the big girls get another hand under that big old belly taking weight and pressure off the jaw  JMHO

Looked for more info on this here is what i found

LAND FISH QUICKLY, AVOIDING DAMAGE TO SLIME COATING!

Grasp fish by lower jaw only, holding them vertically.

Support large fish with a wet hand under the belly.

Use soft, knotless nylon or rubber landing nets.

Do not allow fish to touch boat carpet and rub off protective slime.

Remove hooks quickly with as little tissue damage as possible.

I am not saying anyone is right or wrong, this is just what i belive and try to practice

just my .02