Giant Illinois Smallmouth Bass

Comment

Comment by Jacob Hill on May 15, 2012 at 4:52am

alright thanks for sharing Leo, I usually just lip hold the smallmouth and set them in the net in the water

Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 14, 2012 at 8:42pm

Improper platform is any place that you put the fish onto with out the moisture to prevent the lost of the specialized mucus surrounding the fish body, to prevent bacterial and fungal infection. It can be a glove, a rough nylon towel, the boat's chair, the metal hull of the boat, the ground, the rocks/sand on the shore, and for me, my lap and eating container's lid. Bad me. Proper platform is a soft mesh, normally found on float tube, with a soft cloth towel soaked with the lake's/pond's/river's water. If you must hold the fish to remove the hook, make sure to place it onto the wet towel before taking photo. Rough surface will scrape and damage the fish natural mucus layer, and scale-epidermal layer. I'll take a photo of my pontoon on my next outing and show you what it looks like with the new platform.

Comment by Jacob Hill on May 14, 2012 at 6:58pm

By the way Leo what are these improper platforms of which you speak? I could use a little bit of knowledge.

Comment by Jacob Hill on May 14, 2012 at 5:53pm

I hear you Leo! Most of those fish were easy and quick to unhook because they were barely hooked in the top or side of the mouth. But I agree it is a learning process. I'll remember to hug my dad, seeing as he's showed me all that I know about fishing. Learning from some of the guys on TV you would think to chuck a fish back into the water!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 14, 2012 at 5:42pm

By the way, who ever taught you to hold and release the fish gently in the water, give that person a big hug and a "Thank you for the angling wisdom and knowledge!" from me. So many anglers failed to recognize the gentle release of small and large fish alike back to the water, after properly handling the fish. I make my mistakes in placing the fish onto improper platforms to do quick measurement and photographing at times, but I make sure to keep an eye out for them for the next 5 minutes to ensure their survival. Ultimate mistake would be pulling them out of the water to unhook them when I'm limited on time and space. However, that have all changed after I retrofit my pontoon.

Comment by Jacob Hill on May 14, 2012 at 5:40pm

Well I tell you we enjoyed those smallmouth. Not everyday do we get a dozen bass with a bunch over 4lbs in a day here in Illinois!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 14, 2012 at 5:36pm

Excellent job Jacob. A fish is a fish. It's the enjoyment of the catches. Love the rod doing the bendo.

Comment by Jacob Hill on May 14, 2012 at 5:23pm

Sorry not a bluegill video. Still thought I'd post it.