Just curious about something, so thought I'd ask around to see if this just happens to me.

When I set the hook and fight a bass back to the boat, I unconciously ram the but of the rod into my gut, just below my rib cage, for leverage. If I'm onto a lot of fish, I will usually come away with black and blue bruises on my stomach where the rod but has been resting (make that stabbing).  Of course I don't feel a thing when I'm fishing - but after a day or so I have some real beautiful shades of blue, yellow and green on my stomach.  

When I go workout at my local gym I get sympathetic looks from the other guys in the showers (I can see the jokes coming already) and I tell them that I was contact fishing bass wiht real attitudes.  My wife thinks I'm nuts for doing this to myself.  So, am I the only one to wound himself fishing like that?

i guess the only injuries i get are blisters between my fingers from holding the rod. i don't fight a fish with the rod in my stomach.

I feel your pain Fishguy. I always set the hook with the rod butt right below my ribs to give me more power on the hook-set. And if I accidently set the hook on a log or rock, that really hurts.

I've caught some stripers where the leverage has come into play, but I guess I've never caught a bass that big. When I'm fighting a big fish I try to use my forearm for leverage, but that doesn't always work.  You could get one of those salt water belts that you put the rod handle in. That would solve the problem.

Maybe you should consider using a rod with less of a butt

Ever since I developed back trouble it has taken all the fun out of self inflickted injuries.  

 It seems like I read some where, years ago that you can balance your rod or adjust the handle length and add weight and maybe it might help.   You would be wise to check around a little more before getting a saw.   Like I say it has been a while.  If the fish are large enough to require fighting the fish like that, I like RW's suggestion about the belt.  I would be concerned it could cause some damage over a period of time.

Hey Fishguy...I get the same thing..especially if I catch a few larger fish  while fishing from my one man boat.  I usually just tell my wife I had to wrestle a bear or  something before I could get on the water!!

LoL you made me grab my flipping stick to figure out how I set the hook. I use a long handle rod and with my left arm at a right angle the butt of the rod sits on my side rested between two ribs resting on the side of my body. I twist my torso to the right when I set the hook and the rod is still sitting on my left side using my side for leverage.

I also hear you Fishguy, and boy sometimes it gets real sore.

Here's an embarrasing story,

I was Fishing and throwing a Spinnerbait to the shore and slow rolling it back. I got a strike and when I set the hook I accidentally engaged the spool. I had no idea why this happened and this was the first and only time I've done this. Anyway, I had alot of pressure on the fish after the hookset and when the spool engaged the rod came back really quick and hit me right between the eyes. I had a bright red line from the between my eyes to the bottom of my fore head. Thats pretty much the most painful/embarrasing thing I've encountered in my Bass Fishing.

ouch. maybe my sex life isn't as good as most so my forearm and wrist seem to be able to take the brunt of the hookset! lol.

I do however have some type of buildup under the skin of my right ring finger where the reel actually sits against. I have a lump where a wedding ring would normally sit. I believe it's the bass gods trying to prevent me from ever being married.!!!!

lol, can that picture of your hand get any bigger?

question is,...will this lump get any bigger? lol

It goes away in the winter,...go figure!