Fish Landing Technique 2025

AZfishrman01 reply :

When landing fish I try to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Depending on the size and the strength of my line I will either opt to lip the fish myself or do a "pro flip" (using only the rod and line to hoist the fish onto the boat or dock).

My general rule is that if I have a fish 3 pounds or under on 12 pound test mono or higher, I'll pro flip it.(braids are a completely different story) If any of the requirements are not met or I just feel more comfortable, I'll lip the fish.

What are you takes on landing fish? I'm hoping to get into competitive fishing one day and would like to know the least time consuming manner while still keeping the fish's health in mind.

Ineedanewscreenname20170204 reply :

I don't pro-flip anything over 1 pound or so. I kinda like reaching down to lip the bass. Sometimes those crankbaits in a thrashing bass make me think twice though... I don't catch so many fish that I have to worry about the extra 5 seconds to lip the fish...

fathom reply :

you need to look at the fish-thumb post.

not as quick but, much more rewarding. 8-)

bass or bass ? reply :

I lip land all bass and crappies. Smaller catfish I grab behind the dorsal and pectoral fins, larger cats and anything toothy I use a net. Hey AZfishrman01, are you here in Arizona? If so where? Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

RLinNH reply :

I Lip Bass that are caught with a Soft Plastic or any other Lure that has a Single Hook. Only when it looks like I can do it SAFELY Though. When it comes to Crank Baits (my favorite way to fish), or any other bait with 2 or more hooks, I always use a Boga Grip. I Boga Grip the fish, then lip it to remove the hooks with Hemostats. Sometimes, when it looks like a Single Hook is in a spot that could stick me, I'll use the Boga.

Ya see, just last year, I had a situation with a Rapala DT6 series Crank Bait. One of the Hooks on the treble in the fish, the other hook, on the same treble, firmly planted in my finger. Fish was thrashing about. Rod in other hand. So, I released the fish by cutting my line, then promptly made my way to the Hospital. The hook was that burried in me. So, when landing a fish, safety is always option 1 for this guy.

That whole lift the fish from the water to the boat thing works for me. But I ony use it on a RARE Occasion when the fish is less then a lb.

Culln5 reply :

I may be the minority, but I still like to use my net for decent fish.

Btech reply :

Whats the " Thumb " Thread that was mentioned above anyone have a link?

T-Bone reply :

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Whats the " Thumb " Thread that was mentioned above anyone have a link?

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1235670106

Back to topic: I prefer to lip my fish, if it is possible.

fishfordollars reply :

Flip, lip, net, or sling. Any way to make sure that fish clears the top deck and comes to rest in the livewell.

Fishing is a bloodsport. It is not for the faint of heart.

Calcutta reply :

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I may be the minority, but I still like to use my net for decent fish.

I always use a net.

1. Ive lost big fish trying to "flip" them into the boat.

2. Ive removed treble hooks from my hand before.

.dsaavedra. reply :

if they're over about a pound i lip them.

under a pound they get swung in the boat.

i've NEVER had an issue with lipping bass caught on crankbaits. it just takes confidence and speed. i think you're more likely to get snagged on a crankbait if you sit there and hesitate while you are trying to lip it.

thetr20one reply :

Net them always in tourneys. When fishing for fun lipping or flippin em in is fun.

AZfishrman01 reply :

Quote
I lip land all bass and crappies. Smaller catfish I grab behind the dorsal and pectoral fins, larger cats and anything toothy I use a net. Hey AZfishrman01, are you here in Arizona? If so where? Happy fishing.
~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

no haha those are just my initials.

AZfishrman01 reply :

I'm sure you've all see the pros when they fish. they waste no time landing a fish because it will either come off from it being able to thrash around and throw the hook or they want to just preserve time if they're on a good bite. I hardly ever use a net. This is just a personal opinion, but I think learning to lip a fish quickly is a much needed skill and a net takes away from that.

Thank you all of you for your feeback

AZfishrman01 reply :

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Flip, lip, net, or sling. Any way to make sure that fish clears the top deck and comes to rest in the livewell.
Fishing is a bloodsport. It is not for the faint of heart.

my thoughts exactly! haha

basscat1102 reply :

Flip, lip, net, or sling. Any way to make sure that fish clears the top deck and comes to rest in the livewell.

Fishing is a bloodsport. It is not for the faint of heart.

I like this guys attitude. I Agree.

jack1 reply :

I always net decent fish. The smaller ones, I don't care if they get off at the boat side, but I've lost way too many nice fish next to the boat...too many heart breaks. So, I always have my net on board at all times.

SuskyDude reply :

I like to lip them, unless they're tiny, like one pound or less. Then I'll just lift them out, then lip.

I'm not in it for the blood. No need to man-handle them when you intend to put them back.

When I feel like pointless blood...I can go to a bar and pick a fight...

cart7t reply :

What's a net?

I thumb everything but the smallest. I will swing a smaller fish into the boat but it never hits the carpet unless it comes unbuttoned from the hook. Whether I'm in a tournament or not, I respect the resource to take as good a care of it as possible. Money is not an excuse, IMO, for allowing a fish to go bouncing around the bottom of a boat.

Catt reply :

Quote
I like to lip them, unless they're tiny, like one pound or less. Then I'll just lift them out, then lip.
I'm not in it for the blood. No need to man-handle them when you intend to put them back.

When I feel like pointless blood...I can go to a bar and pick a fight...

Guess y'all had better stop using rods with braid cause that's man-handling em & while y'all are at it quite using hooks cause where there is hooks there will be blood.

Paul Roberts reply :

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if they're over about a pound i lip them.
under a pound they get swung in the boat.

Ditto.

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i've NEVER had an issue with lipping bass caught on crankbaits. it just takes confidence and speed. i think you're more likely to get snagged on a crankbait if you sit there and hesitate while you are trying to lip it.

Never say never! I've never been stuck, but I'm darn careful. I DO NOT want a 4lb fish thrashing around on the other end of a hook stuck in my thumb.

On some treble caught fish I may belly lift them first, pop a hook free so the mouth will open, then lip 'em.

I've also gone barbless on all my trebles now. They hold perfectly well and the hooks come out SO much easier.

Tucson reply :

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I may be the minority, but I still like to use my net for decent fish.

My method also.

nickb reply :

most of my life, i've been a bank fisher. and then, i would flip it up onto land, unless i had a big one. in that case, i would reel and back up at the same time, so that i wouldn't have to pick him up and risk breaking the line.

now that i boat fish, i am nervous to flip, but i'm also nervous to lip. (i've had a few hooks in my hand).

for me, it all depends on situation and opportunity.

SirSnookalot reply :

I do a lot of canal fishing with banks around 6-7', just flip most bass and peacocks up, over 4lb I go down and get them.

We catch a lot of snook at the inlet, about 12' down to the water, we "spring most of the ones under 28" up using 7' or 7'6 med rod, no broken rods yet but that's what lifetime warranties are for.

Bankbeater reply :

I flip dinks and lip hawgs.

burleytog reply :

124 grain 9mm to the head makes landing a breeze.

roadwarrior reply :

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I may be the minority, but I still like to use my net for decent fish.

Me, too!

8-)

THEbassmaster reply :

if its around 3# or over ill net it, if im in a tourney, all fish get netted unless its not a keeper.

aaron

32251 reply :

Net. Long handle. Amazing what you can save with one.

502largemouth reply :

Here is my only problem I have with a net, the dagone things always end up swirled around the trebles on my cranks and rattletraps, which is pretty much my favorite things to use.

It occupies a lot of time getting the net strands out of the hooks, time that I could be using to catch fish, so this year I think I am gonna try to work on lipping them fast or using that tool they mentioned earlier in the thread.

Cyas,

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
Here is my only problem I have with a net, the dagone things always end up swirled around the trebles on my cranks and rattletraps, which is pretty much my favorite things to use.
It occupies a lot of time getting the net strands out of the hooks, time that I could be using to catch fish, so this year I think I am gonna try to work on lipping them fast or using that tool they mentioned earlier in the thread.

Buy a rubber net...Problem solved!

8-)

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