Operation Bass Whisperer: How To Be A Bass Friendly Superstar!

AKA: Don't Be A Bass Terrible Angler!

"Treat every bass like it's your BFF (Best Fin-Friend) – with kindness, respect, and a quick selfie before sending it home!"

Do you know the rules for proper "catch and release?"

Reel Girls! You've just landed a monster bass, heart pounding reel in, Bent rod ready for that brag-worthy pic! But before you accidentally turn your finned friend into a stressed-out sushi roll, let's talk about being a true Bass Whisperer. Because catching 'em is cool, but releasing 'em happy and healthy? That’s superstar status, Central Florida style!

Being a fishy super heroine means having the right gadgets and handling your finned friend with care. Here are some tips:

1. Always wet your hands before touching a bass to protect its special protective slime coat.

2. When holding a bass for that epic photo, support its weight horizontally with both hands – one hand under the belly, one near the tail.

3. Never hold them vertically by the jaw for too long, especially the bigger ones, as it's cruel and can seriously damage their jaw.

4. If you absolutely need "that" picture, snap it fast; quick photos are best! Ideally, keep your bass wet by unhooking and releasing it while it's still partially submerged to minimize stress.

5. Your detective toolkit should include barbless hooks (or crimped barbs), long-nose pliers or hook removers for safe hook removal.

6. With landing nets with rubber or knotless mesh, which are much gentler on their delicate slime coat.When unhooking, think of yourself as a gentle surgeon. Carefully examine how the hook is stuck and try to reverse the way it went in. Use your pliers or hook remover gently but firmly to dislodge the hook, avoiding any ripping or tearing.

7. If a fish is super deeply hooked in a vital area, sometimes trying to yank it out causes more harm than good. It might be more humane sometimes to cut the line as close to the hook as possible and release the fish.

8. If your bass seems tired after release, revive it by gently cradling it in the water, facing upstream, and moving it back and forth to help water flow over its gills until it can swim away strongly on its own.

9. Always release in calm waters away from strong currents so it can chill out and recover easily.

Be A Bass Buddy Not A Bass Bully

We're all about catch-and-release, not catch-and-torture. Be gentle, folks!

Just like there are rules for not hogging the last slice of pizza, there are rules for not harming our finned friends. Here are our 3 firm Reel Girls No-Nos:

1. Never hold them by the gills, don’t drag them across rough surfaces like rocks or boat carpets (you wouldn't like getting rug burns!).

2. Don't keep them out of the water too long (every second out is stressful!), and never throw them back into the water – gently place them in.

3. Also, avoid fishing during extreme temperatures, as very warm water has less oxygen, stressing the bass even more.

Here at Brooke & The Reel Girls, we believe the thrill of the catch comes with the responsibility of sustainability and catch and release. By following these care techniques, we can all be bass detectives dedicated to protecting the future of bass fishing and ensuring our finned friends thrive in our waters for generations to come. Let’s be kind keepers of our aquatic mystery friends!

What's the biggest bass you've ever released, and what was your trick for helping it get back into the water safely? We’d love to hear that!

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