Is it bad to move a fish backwards in the water when reviving?  I always assumed that any water rushing over the gills was good.

I don't see how it could hurt it, if anyhting help, but i'm not a fish doctor.

It seems like there was a article on resucitating fish on the old Honey Hole Mag. site. I know it talked about punctureing the bladder when pulled from deep water. I don't think that the old site is still accessable. Glenn may have a link somewhere on here, or know how to find it. I know he has other articles from Honey Hole, the article may even be on here too.

The article that I mentioned is on here, but it doesn't say anything about moveing them back and fourth.  There are several articles under the Bass Biology/ fish care.

mudpuppy, true about the swim bladder. WHen we jig up bait for tuna fishing , they come from about 180 ft and sure enough the swim bladders protrude out of their mouths. A simple ***** w/ the rigging needle and into the "livey basket" they go., unhurt.

It does nothing to swish a bass back in forth through the water. To resuscitate a bass, hold the bass by the tail until if forceably swims out of your hand.

To move water over the gills the bass uses a combination of its mouth and gill covers. When you hold it by the mouth you are preventing it from breathing properly.

Do not be fooled by the bass that has not recovered. It will almost always make a surge for depth when released, but unless it is breathing normally, it will probably die.

Rememberto cover the fishs nostrils before giving 2 rescue breaths