Catch a release is a wonderful practice for helping conserve our fish populations. But practicing proper catch and release is even better. And that’s something we can all be better at, myself included.
Fish are unable to support their own body weight when out of the water. So while it is always important to keep these tips in mind, they become especially crucial when handling larger ones.
Properly handling a bass comes down to four easy steps:
- Never torque the fish’s jaw at more than a 10-degree angle.
- When holding the the fish horizontally, always support its body with your second hand.
- Minimize the amount of time the fish is out of the water.
- Gently release the fish at water level, not above it.
Watch the video above for a quick tutorial and do your part to help foster a more prosperous bass population.
For more tips on how to properly handle fish, check out Episode 4 of the Nathan Woelfel Outdoors podcast below.
Nathan Woelfel Outdoors 
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