Class sounds pretty interesting and had pretty good reviews, why not!
Last month was pretty rough on me too
I won't touch the "why" (I'm pretty sure we all know why it's important) but I'll go over the how (I do it at least). I'm not a big bass expert but this is the universal way I handle any big fish I want to return. The fish in the pics isn't a supa cow, but it's a good size for me.
1. Don't try to be all sporty and shoot a rhino with a .22! Sure it's fun catching a fish on light tackle but it really wears on the fish. Lactic acid builds up quick and when it does the fishes chance of survival decreases significantly. I'm not saying horse in a green fish when you are on a rock ... because if you do she will whoop yer arse
) Just make sure your drag is set in relation to the strength of your line, play the fish a little and get her in.
2. There is a lot of talk about using boga's and other lippers on big fish because the strain on her jaw. I'm not sure just how bad it really is, I just try to think about someone holding me up by my lower jaw. Depending on where the hooks are I will grab a fish I plan on releasing by the lip to take the plug out, but I try not to lift the fish all the way out of the water or off the rock by just the lip. If I'm gonna pose for a pic, I support the fish by it's belly. I also try to be as quick as possible.
sb1.jpg
3. Reviving the fish is probably the most important part of a successful release (aside from length of time out of the water). Nothing irritates me more than seeing someone take their sweet time, unhooking, parading around, then measuring and parading around a little more before literally throwing a fish back into the water. I try to say to myself "hey crabs gotta eat too", but it honestly really pisses me off... To the point of saying something on a few occasions actually.. but I digress! Rock the fish forward and backward for as long as it takes for the fish to swim out of your hands. That could be the second she touches the water or 15 minutes. Bottom line, she needs to swim out of your hands. Not moving her tail side to side, but actually swim.
And this is when the drag is set to the strength of the line.. but not the hook
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