TIPS & TOOLS

Avoid using the net if possible as it will rub off the fishes protective slime coating, increasing his chance of sickness and infections. If you must use a net, use a rubberized kind. These reduce the damaged inflicted.
If a bass weighs over 3 pounds, don't hold him up by his lip alone, you may break his jaw. Instead, support his weight with your other hand by cradling his belly.
If you're having a hard time removing the lure, use needle nose pliers and gently pry the hooks free. Yanking and twisting the hooks only causes more damage.
If the hook is embedded in the throat, cut the line instead of trying to get the hook out. Leave about 18" of line and chances are the bass will dislodge the hook himself. Trying to pry the hook out of this delicate area can kill the bass.
Before you measure your fish (especially on hot days), place the measuring board in the water to avoid damaging the fishes protective slime coating.
Keep your live-well water temperature close to the lake temperature. A 5 degree difference is stressful to the bass, an 8 degree difference can be fatal. Use non-chlorinated block ice (in small quantities) if necessary.
Keep your live-well aerator on. You can't over aerate a fish! Pounds of bass, higher elevations and higher water temperatures all deplete the oxygen levels of a live-well.
Bass expel ammonia when they "breath", recirculating the water with your pump and or use of live-well chemicals such as "Catch & Release" help reduce the ammonia content in the water.

LIVE WELL CARE

3 Enemies of Bass:

Oxygen Levels

- Circulate Water

- Oxygen Tablets

- Aureate Water with Spray/Fizzer

Water Temperature

- Surface temp vs. Live-well Temp vs. Depth of where you pulled the fish.

- Imagine jogging for a few miles, coming home and jumping in the Jacuzzi.

- Cool the Live Well water during the Summer, or if water temp. is above 75 degrees

- Blocks or chunks of ice* Take 20lbs for the day and add as needed

- Caution not to lower the water more than 10-15 degrees.

Water Ph

- Water from the Back of the boat, thru plastic bilge, PVC Hoses, into a plastic tank*

- Keep your Live wells Clean

- Wash thoroughly, use Peroxide before each use.

- Use “Please Release Me” or “Bass Saver”.

- Acts as a tranquilizer to calm the fish, helps protect and rebuild their slime coat, and also controls the Ph level of the water by reducing the amount of chlorine in the live well.

- Follow the instructions on the amount to add to your live well. Too Much is good. Too Little is Bad.

Deep Water – Extended Air Bladder

- Bass can suffer from a condition similar to the "bends" when they ascend more rapidly than their air bladders can compensate. Fish caught from depths of 20 feet or more and is most common with winter and summertime. - Symptoms are fish that float belly up in the live well and fan their pectoral fins rapidly in an attempt to right themselves. This can be fatal to the fish if corrective actions are not taken.
- Deflate with an acceptable “Fizzing” Needle if unable to upright in live-well. Must be done soon after catch.

- Use a Wire Mesh Basket with 2-3lbs of lead weight. Place fish into the basket and lower to the depth you caught the fish. Allow to sit at this depth for 1 min. Then slowly pull up in 10ft increments and repeat wait period, until the fish is at the surface.

Step By Step Deflation:

Step 1: Lay the fish on its side on a firm wet surface.

Step 2: Locate the dorsal notch or area where the dorsal fins meet

Step 3: Draw an imaginary line from that notch to the lateral line

Step 4: Mark a spot approximately 1” below the lateral line, in line with the dorsal notch and remove one scale with the tip of the needle.

Step 5: Insert the needle at a 45 degree angle toward the fish's head, you may or may not hear a release of air at this time.

Step 6: Place the fish under the waters surface and watch for air bubbles, if there is air coning out of the end allow the air to flow naturally but do not remove all of the air from the fish. If there is no air flow, remove the fish from the water, remove the needle and check for any blockage then repeat step 5 & 6.

Step 7: Place the fish back into the live-well if it still cannot right itself repeat the procedure, if it can right itself, it is ready to be released.

•Fizzing Tools

•The tools are pretty simple and can be kept in your pocket, the lid of you live-well or any other convenient place.

•16-20 gage 3” - 5” hypodermic needle

•A piece of wire to clean the needle with, I use an old mojo rig tool, insert it into the needle and clean it out after every fish.

•That's all you will need.

•Deep fishing pioneer Don Iovino offers a fizzing kit for $5.00 + S&H, it includes a needle, wire all in a compact case. (818) 848-6180

•You can also obtain at Tractor Supply.