When it comes to bass, many anglers like to practice what is known as CPR – Catch, Photo, and Release. If that sounds like you, it’s important to know how to hold a bass properly and how to release fish to ensure their survival.
Last updated on March 4th, 2025 at 03:19 pm
SUMMARY: Proper catch-and-release techniques for bass fishing can help ensure the well-being of both the fish and the angler. Discover how to hold a bass without injuring it and how to unhook a fish and safely release it. Safety and fish survival are key priorities, emphasizing the importance of handling with care.
I tell people I’m too lazy to clean fish, but I’m not sure that’s the entire story of why I practice catch and release. Don’t get me wrong, I like a fish fry as well as anyone, so I’m not opposed to eating what I’ve caught. I just haven’t found the motivation to go there. Personal preference, I suppose. Some people will keep their limit. Some will keep a few to eat and put back the rest. Some pond owners like to have the bass culled on occasion — sometimes to remove the small guys, sometimes to remove a few lunkers.
For when you do plan to release your catch, here are some tips, including how to hold a bass without injuring it and how to unhook a fish after the catch. Bass respond well to catch and release because of their hardiness and have the ability to withstand minor hook injuries without compromising their ability to feed and without suffering damage to their gills.
Learning to handle your catch correctly can prevent injury to both you and the fish.
Have a Plan
I expect to catch a bass every time I fish. I’ve been known to be wrong about that, but I’ve never found myself unprepared.
That means having the proper tools with you: Tapered needle-nose pliers, a hook-removal tool, a line-cutter, a camera to document the catch, and something to measure and/or weigh the fish, in case you’re planning to tell your friends and family the truth. (I know. But at least you’ll have that option.) Here’s a pretty basic fishing trip checklist. And know the regulations. It’s often the case that you can’t keep the fish even if you want to because of size and/or quantity limitations imposed by your state wildlife agency.
Safety First
- Remember that reducing fight time will decrease a fish’s chance of dying after it has been released. No one’s watching or caring if your battle has drama and excitement. Just get the fish to the bank, appreciate it, then get it back to the water.
- Use recommended tackle and especially hooks designed for bass fishing. And consider barbless or crimped barb hooks to ensure easier hook removal. I’ve been known to crimp my hooks when I’m getting strike after strike and I want to ride the wave as long as I can. I can’t remember ever missing one because of it.
- Use dehooking tools, which can often extract hard-to-reach hooks. And consider having heavy cutters to cut the hook to aid in removal. Leaving a hook in the fish is preferred to ripping it out, but it’s far from ideal if avoidable at all. (Though some studies have shown in extreme cases, leaving the hook in can increase survival by two to three times.)
- And don’t keep a fish out of the water any longer than you yourself would like to be underwater. One to two minutes is a good guideline; less than that in warm weather and water, which stresses bass more than cold conditions.
How to Hold a Bass
First, let’s talk about how to hold a bass. It’s important to support the fish’s weight properly to avoid injuring it. You may not always be able to follow them all to the T, but here’s a good list of best practices:
- Before touching the fish, make sure you have wet hands or wet fishing gloves (rubberized, not cotton) to hold the fish. A fish’s slime coat serves to prevent infection, and dry hands, cloth gloves, or towels can remove that coat. Always minimize handling the fish to reduce disturbing the slime coat.
- Support the fish’s full weight by holding it horizontally, placing your hand under its belly as you lift it out of the water. If you have problems getting a grip on the bass, a knotless net can also be used.
- Don’t grab the fish by the gills or anywhere near the eyes
- Place one hand under the fish’s belly and the other hand around its tail or gently grip its bottom lip between your thumb and forefinger. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the gills and the sharp spines on the fins.
- Hold the fish gently but firmly and avoid squeezing.
- Avoid dropping the fish onto the ground, dock, or other hard surfaces
How to Unhook a Fish
When it comes to unhooking a fish, it’s important to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimize stress on the fish. Here’s how to do it:
- Use a pair of needle-nosed pliers or a hook remover to gently remove the hook, following the hook’s curvature, while avoiding any aggressive tugging or jerking.
- If the hook is deeply embedded, use a dehooking tool designed for this purpose. If it appears it will help, use a heavy cutter to clip the hook and allow it to be removed in pieces.
- If there is a second fisherman available, it can be advantageous to have one angler control the fish while the other works to free the hook.
- If all else fails, cut the line as close to the hook as possible and leave it in the fish. Many hooks will eventually dissolve.
- If the process hasn’t taken too long, you may have time for a quick photo or to weigh and/or measure your catch. But keep in mind that time is critical to the bass’ well-being, so be quick about it.
- When it’s time to release the fish, hold it gently in the water until it’s able to swim away on its own. If the fish seemed tired, move it in a figure-eight to pass water over its gills. Avoid pulling the fish backward. I know you see a lot of people casually tossing the fish back into the water. Don’t be one of those people, as this can cause injury or trauma to the fish.
- If you’ve done your best but the fish appears to be in poor condition with a low chance of survival, consider keeping it for consumption, in accordance with your state’s laws and regulations.
Practicing catch-and-release fishing can help to preserve our natural resources. By following these tips on how to hold a bass and how to unhook a fish after the catch, you’ll be able to enjoy a fun and responsible fishing trip.
Sources
More Resources
- Do Bass Survive After Catch-&-Release? (Complete Guide)
- How Long Can A Bass Live Out Of Water?
- How to Handle Your Catch
