Ok guys, I'm sure this has been posted before, but with more and more pictures of guys holding fish with one hand and tilting the fish (Myself included), I need to ask..

 Is this really bad for the fish? I just recently read somewhere that holding the fish with one hand and tilting the fish, and giving it no support can be very bad for the fish, and can keep it from being able to open its mouth to feed again.

I even see the pros doing it too, and one would think they wouldn't do anything to hurt fish, but then again you never know.

Is this at all true?

I'm guilty. And I've been wondering the same thing. But I have been better when catching one - two pounders as far as keeping them vertical and not horizontal for my pictures as you can see in my avatar. Is there any articles or science behind this as far as something that's been written in a book or written by a reputable author?

If I'm going to hold mine horizantol than I support the belly with my other hand so there is NO pressure on the fishes jaw.

If I hold them vertical than it I'm not going to bend them at all. Only straight up so again no pressure is placed on that jaw.

I read somewhere on here a while back that if the fish is a big fish it is better to support its belly when holding it horizontally. Holding a large fish horizontally by the mouth only could result in doing harm to that fish's jaw. I dont think it matters much with small fish 2 LBs or less though.

whatever bill dance does---do the opposite. that guy jacks the fish up by the lip, slaps the fishes belly, and puts a finger in the fishes gills and spreads them. davis is right--if holding a big bass by the lip, support the belly with the other hand.

I always hold the fish by the lower lip and support the belly. I hate to see guys tilt the fish.

Falcon

Exactly the way you are holding the bass in your photo, two hands one in the mouth and the other under the anal fin. To get the mouth open look you can place your thumb inside the mouth and finger on the outside on the back side away from the camera and hold the mouth open about 1". There is no need to bend the mouth wide open. Also practice holding your breath and not breathing while you have the bass out of water and return the bass when you are out of breath, because the bass can't breath air either.

WRB

best to have a horizontal pic with you in it, most people are judgemental on size of fish if you only hold it with one arm.

1-9lbs vertical, or horizontal

10lb+ horizontal, take the pic within less then 3ft range. I did take the pic of tropy fish acouple of feet away from the person, big mistake because it makes the fish looks half its size.

I read somewhere that even holding the fish verical was harmful because the guys all move down due to gravity and its an unnatural position for the fish, but who knows.

whatever bill dance does---do the opposite. that guy jacks the fish up by the lip, slaps the fishes belly, and puts a finger in the fishes gills and spreads them. davis is right--if holding a big bass by the lip, support the belly with the other hand.

Bill Dance IS terrible about this!!  Geez...I swear he's trying his best to bust their lower jaw right off their head the way he handles them.

"With common sense". It seems almost funny to me that some people would need to be told, that torqing a fishes jaw, with one hand, to try to force the fish into a vertical postion, might be damaging to the fish....

This reminds me of the label on catfish stinkbait, that says, "Not for human consumption" ..... No ! Really ? Darn..... so now what the heck am I having for dinner :-) LOL

Now, at the same time, I think that a lot of guys have taken the whole "holding a bass with one hand" thing, way too far. Try landing a big bass, while fishing by yourself, supporting the fish with two hands the entire time, between the landing, weighing, photos, and release. Think that through for a few seconds. Nearly impossible. But obviously not critical either. I've caught enough big bass that were temporarily handled with one hand before the release, only to re-catch them a week, a month, or a year later.

When you do have to hang one vertically, just be as easy on the jaw as possible.... but don't drop the fish either. Maybe even more importantly, don't "hold the fish out of water for too long" whether you use 1, 2, or 9 hands to do it.

Just be smooth, easy, and fast. Get her back in the lake and swimming ASAP. The two most important things here are, having your scale, camera, and livewell ready ahead of time...... and practice with the handling of big fish.

Peace,

Fish