How To Hold And Handle A Bass: The Complete Guide (2025)

I'll never forget the sinking feeling in my stomach when I watched a beautiful 5-pound largemouth slip from my grip and belly-flop onto my kayak deck. After wrestling it back into Lake Travis, I noticed its jaw hanging at an odd angle. That's when I learned I'd been holding bass wrong for years - and potentially killing fish I intended to release.

Since that day three summers ago, I've made it my mission to master proper bass handling techniques. Whether you're pulling in largemouth from your fishing kayak or targeting smallmouth in rocky rivers, knowing how to hold these fish correctly can mean the difference between a successful release and a death sentence.

Do Bass Have Teeth? Understanding Bass Anatomy

Yes, bass absolutely have teeth - and they're sharper than you'd expect! I learned this the hard way during a dawn session on Lake Austin when a feisty 3-pounder scraped my thumb raw. Bass teeth feel like coarse sandpaper or tiny needles, all pointing inward toward their throat.

These teeth serve a specific purpose: they're designed to grip prey and prevent escape, not to chew. Largemouth bass have what I call "velcro teeth" - hundreds of tiny, needle-sharp points that:

• Run along both the upper and lower jaw
• Extend about an inch back from the lip
• Face inward at a backward angle
• Feel rougher when you pull your thumb out than when inserting it

The infamous "bass thumb" happens when anglers repeatedly catch fish and get their thumbs scraped by these teeth. After a productive morning catching 20+ bass from my pedal kayak, my thumb looked like I'd been working with 60-grit sandpaper.

Different Bass Species, Different Teeth

Largemouth Bass: The roughest teeth of the bunch. Their sandpaper-like grip covers more surface area.

Smallmouth Bass: Slightly finer teeth, but don't let that fool you - they'll still leave their mark.

Sea Bass: Generally have larger, more pronounced teeth that require extra caution.

The Three Ways to Hold a Bass (And Why Two Can Kill)

1. The Vertical Hold (The Gold Standard)

The vertical hold saved my fishing karma. Here's exactly how to execute it from a kayak:

1. Secure your kayak: In calm water, I let my kayak drift. In current, I'll use my anchor trolley system to stay positioned.
2. Approach the bass: Reach over with your dominant hand, keeping your kayak balanced.
3. Insert your thumb: Gently place your thumb inside the bass's lower jaw, pressing down on the tongue area.
4. Grip firmly: Curl your fingers under the jaw. Your grip should be firm but not crushing.
5. Lift straight up: Keep the fish's body completely vertical - tail pointing straight down.

This position puts zero stress on the bass's jaw structure. I've held 8-pounders this way without issue, though anything over 5 pounds starts getting unwieldy from a seated kayak position.

2. The Horizontal Hold (For Photos and Big Fish)

Last month, I landed a personal-best 7.5-pound largemouth while fishing from my Ocean Kayak. The horizontal hold was essential:

1. Start vertical: Always begin with the proper vertical hold.
2. Support the belly: Slide your other hand under the fish's belly, just behind the pectoral fins.
3. Distribute weight: About 60% of the weight should be on your supporting hand, 40% on the jaw grip.
4. Keep it level: The fish should be horizontal or slightly head-up - never let the body sag.
5. Quick photos: From a kayak, you're already low to the water. Lean forward slightly and snap fast - every second counts.

3. The Angled Hold (The Fish Killer)

I see this disastrous hold in fishing photos daily: angler holding the bass by its lip while the body hangs at a 45-degree angle or worse. Here's why it's deadly:

When you hold a 5-pound bass horizontally by just its jaw, you're putting the entire weight of its body on a joint that wasn't designed for that stress. Imagine hanging from a pull-up bar by just your jaw - that's what you're doing to the fish.

From my kayak, I've watched bass swim away after an angled hold, only to see them floating belly-up 20 minutes later. Their jaws dislocate or break, preventing them from creating the suction needed to feed.

Kayak-Specific Bass Handling Challenges

Handling bass from a kayak presents unique challenges I never faced fishing from shore:

Stability Issues

My first season kayak fishing, I nearly flipped trying to land a 4-pounder. Now I:

• Keep my center of gravity low
• Never reach too far over the side
• Use a kayak net when conditions are rough
• Practice the "kayak lean" - shifting weight opposite to where I'm reaching

Limited Space

Unlike on a bass boat, you can't walk around to get a better angle. I've adapted by:

• Installing a measuring board on my kayak deck
• Using a lip gripper tool for quick measurements
• Keeping fish in the water beside the kayak whenever possible

Quick Releases

In summer heat, every second out of water matters. My system:

1. Pre-stage my phone or camera in a waterproof holder
2. Keep pliers within arm's reach
3. Practice one-handed unhooking while maintaining the vertical hold
4. Never lay fish on the hot kayak deck

Protecting the Slime Coat

That slimy feeling when you hold a bass? That's their protective mucus layer - essentially their immune system. I learned its importance the hard way when I kept seeing the same scarred bass in my favorite cove, likely infected from poor handling.

To preserve the slime coat:

• Wet your hands before handling
• Never use a towel or rag to grip the fish
• Avoid laying bass on carpet, grass, or your kayak deck
• Minimize handling time - get them back quickly
• Use rubberized nets instead of nylon

Safe Release Techniques from a Kayak

Releasing bass from a kayak requires extra attention to detail:

The Revival Process

If a bass seems sluggish after a long fight:

1. Hold it vertically in the water
2. Gently move it forward and back to push water through its gills
3. Support it horizontally if needed, keeping its head underwater
4. Wait for strong tail kicks before releasing
5. Watch for at least 30 seconds to ensure it doesn't float back up

Deep Water Releases

When fishing deep structure, bass can suffer barotrauma. I've found success with:

• Using a release tool to get them down quickly
• Fishing shallower during summer months
• Moving to new spots after catching several fish from deep water

Common Mistakes I See Daily

During guide trips and tournaments, these errors pop up constantly:

Death Grip Syndrome: Squeezing too hard out of fear the bass will escape. Trust me, a proper lip grip won't fail.

The Swing and Fling: Swinging bass into the kayak instead of reaching down. This stresses the jaw and risks injury to both angler and fish.

Deck Surfing: Letting bass flop on the deck while you fumble for pliers. Keep them in the water or in your hands.

The Hero Stretch: Holding bass at arm's length for photos. This usually leads to the deadly angled hold.

Special Considerations for Different Bass Species

How to Hold a Largemouth Bass?

Largemouth are the most forgiving to handle, but their size can be challenging from a kayak:

• Use two hands for anything over 4 pounds
• Their larger mouths make gripping easier
• Watch for treble hooks - they love to shake

How to Hold a Smallmouth Bass?

Smallmouth are acrobatic fighters that require extra care:

• Expect aerial displays - keep a firm grip
• Their smaller mouths need precise thumb placement
• They tire faster than largemouth - revive carefully

How to Hold a Sea Bass?

Sea bass (like black sea bass) require different techniques:

• Larger, sharper teeth demand respect
• Thicker lips can handle slightly more pressure
• Spiny dorsal fins need careful navigation
• Consider lip grippers for larger specimens

Essential Gear for Safe Bass Handling

My kayak always carries:

• Lip gripper tool (for measurements and difficult unhooks)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Line cutters (sometimes it's better to cut hooks)
• First aid kit (for bass thumb and hook injuries)
• Polarized sunglasses (see what you're doing underwater)

Bass Handling for Beginners

If you're new to bass fishing from a kayak, start with these fundamentals:

1. Practice on smaller fish - 1-2 pounders are perfect for learning
2. Stay seated - Don't try to stand until you've mastered seated handling
3. Use a net initially - There's no shame in netting fish while learning
4. Keep one hand on your paddle - Maintains kayak control
5. Start in calm water - Add current and wind after you're comfortable

Conservation Ethics: Why Proper Handling Matters?

Every bass I release is a future catch for someone else - maybe even my kids. Poor handling leads to:

• Delayed mortality (fish dying hours or days later)
• Inability to feed due to jaw damage
• Increased predation on weakened fish
• Reduced spawning success

Since switching to proper handling techniques, I've recaught tagged bass months later in perfect health. That's the reward for taking a few extra seconds to do things right.

FAQ Section

Do bass have teeth that can hurt you?

Yes, bass have small, sandpaper-like teeth that can scrape your thumb raw after catching multiple fish. While not dangerous, "bass thumb" is uncomfortable and can last several days.

What's the safest way to hold a bass?

The vertical hold with your thumb in its mouth and fingers under the jaw is safest. Keep the fish completely vertical with its tail pointing straight down to avoid jaw damage.

Can you lip bass like other fish?

Yes, bass can be "lipped" safely, but only if held vertically or with proper belly support when horizontal. Never hold them by the lip at an angle.

Why do bass die after being released?

Poor handling causing jaw damage, excessive time out of water, damage to the slime coat, or barotrauma from deep water can all lead to delayed mortality.

Should you wet your hands before handling bass?

Always wet your hands first. This helps preserve the fish's protective slime coat and reduces the chance of infection or disease.

How long can you hold a bass out of water?

Keep air exposure under 30 seconds when possible. In hot weather, even less. Remember: if you can't hold your breath that long, neither can the fish.

Is it better to use a net for bass?

Rubberized nets are excellent for bass, especially from a kayak. They're safer for both angler and fish, particularly with large bass or in rough conditions.

What size bass needs two-hand support?

Any bass over 3 pounds benefits from two-hand support. For true lunkers over 5 pounds, it's essential to prevent jaw damage.

Final Thoughts

After thousands of bass caught from my kayak, proper handling has become second nature. That damaged bass from Lake Travis still haunts me, but it transformed how I approach catch-and-release fishing.

Remember: we're borrowing these fish from future generations. Whether you're targeting bucketmouths from your fishing kayak or chasing smallies in moving water, take those extra few seconds to handle them right.

The bass you release today using proper techniques might be the wall-hanger someone catches tomorrow. See you on the water - and keep those bass vertical!