How To Properly Hold A Bass

 Most bass anglers take the extra step and release many of the fish we catch to preserve this finny resource for the future..

But did you realize that you can still cause significant harm to a bass just by how it gets landed and held before release?

Over-extension of the lower jaw can result in damage to the jaw bone and permanent injury to the fish…

This frequently happens when the bass is held out horizontally with the only support point being the lower jaw grip…

One of my Twitter followers and avid bass fisherman, Dan Pittman was kind enough to “Tweet” an image detailing perils of improper fish handling as shown below…

@BassFishnTips This is something everyone must practice. It will reduce the chances of death from a broken jaw. pic.twitter.com/mew2Hr3DRU

— Dan Pittman (@FunkMasterPitt) July 8, 2013

 If using the vertical hold be careful not to over-extend the lower jaw to preserve your catch for the future.

If using a horizontal hold, again don’t “jack the jaw” wide open and hold the fish about 3/4 of the way to it’s tail supporting the weight.

In all cases, minimize the contact with the bass and get it back into the water as quickly as possible…