05-20-2004, 11:53 AM
Here's my take...
The mouth structure and feeding differences between bass and trout are why you can lip one (bass) and not the other (trout).
Bass feed by impulsion...they quickly expand their mouths & gills, sucking in water & food. Their mouth is designed to open very wide and is very flexible. A trout doesn't use the vacuum (well, very slightly) and their mouth does not have the broad hinge capability or flexibility, due to a more rigid cartilage. To lip a bass, you aren't moving him more than he's designed for. With a trout, he's got a limited motion range, which lipping would strain or severely damage.
Interesting thought on holding lipped bass horizontally. Makes sense, especially for one with weight.
Here's a couple of tricks for calming a hooked trout.
Shade their eyes with a cupped hand (but not touching the fish. You can also calm them by holding them belly-up. I do my best to not touch them, but if I do, I always wet my hands, and try to keep them in the water. If I have to lift them out, I only do so as long as I can hold my breath. If I need my air, the fish needs his.
As for the ponds & previously caught fish going belly up, sounds like either a fish that was hooked deeply, or most likely low dissolved oxygen. An aerator in the pond should help a bit, but temp will be the main factor. Dissolved gasses (read oxygen in this case) are more easily contained in liquids at lower temperatures. Higher temps just don't allow for lots of dO2. Avoid trout fishing in hot temps during the middle of the day unless you plan on keeping your catch.
Now...if I could just catch a bass that I can't hold horizontally. :0
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The mouth structure and feeding differences between bass and trout are why you can lip one (bass) and not the other (trout).
Bass feed by impulsion...they quickly expand their mouths & gills, sucking in water & food. Their mouth is designed to open very wide and is very flexible. A trout doesn't use the vacuum (well, very slightly) and their mouth does not have the broad hinge capability or flexibility, due to a more rigid cartilage. To lip a bass, you aren't moving him more than he's designed for. With a trout, he's got a limited motion range, which lipping would strain or severely damage.
Interesting thought on holding lipped bass horizontally. Makes sense, especially for one with weight.
Here's a couple of tricks for calming a hooked trout.
Shade their eyes with a cupped hand (but not touching the fish. You can also calm them by holding them belly-up. I do my best to not touch them, but if I do, I always wet my hands, and try to keep them in the water. If I have to lift them out, I only do so as long as I can hold my breath. If I need my air, the fish needs his.
As for the ponds & previously caught fish going belly up, sounds like either a fish that was hooked deeply, or most likely low dissolved oxygen. An aerator in the pond should help a bit, but temp will be the main factor. Dissolved gasses (read oxygen in this case) are more easily contained in liquids at lower temperatures. Higher temps just don't allow for lots of dO2. Avoid trout fishing in hot temps during the middle of the day unless you plan on keeping your catch.
Now...if I could just catch a bass that I can't hold horizontally. :0
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