How to Land Bass Without a Net

There are a number of ways to get a bass into the boat quickly and safely without a net. (Photo by Realtree)

We’ve all been there, at the moment of truth with a lunker bass on the line. The fish is bigger than you first thought, and growing rapidly as it thrashes near the boat. This one will make for a great photo, if you can land it. Possibly a tournament winner.

If only you had a net!

Early bass tournaments adopted a “no net” policy with the goal of combining some conservation with showmanship. We’ve all nervously watched television pros as they attempt to land a bass that could be worth six figures — sometimes unsuccessfully.

But the truth is most bass anglers don’t use nets. For some it’s a lifestyle, and for others it’s a rule. And for a small contingent of passionate bassers who are knowledgeable in fish care, a personal net ban is steeped in conservation. More on that in minute.

Holding a big bass by the jaw vertically, or while supporting it under the belly, is the safest way to handle it. (Photo by Realtree)

There are a few good ways to get a bass into the boat quickly, safely, and without a net. Much of it just depends a fish’s size and the bait used to catch it.

SINGLE HOOKS AND HEAVY LINE

Lures containing one large, stout hook secured with sturdy line make landing bass easy. Jigs, worms, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits all tend to hook and hold bass very well. Today’s hooks are inflexible and incredibly strong, capable of subduing fish much bigger and meaner than a largemouth. With single-hooked baits, once we’ve got him, we’ve got him.

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The most popular method of landing single-hooked keepers is with a boat-lift. Swingin’ him, as they say. Here, the idea is to use the line and lure as the landing device. A stout hook easily holds the weight of a bass without flexing, and line tests ratio above about 15 pounds can usually get the job done.

Jigs and soft plastics with a single, sturdy hook make it easy to land bass without a net. (Photo by Joe Balog)

As the bass approaches the boat, steer the fish toward you, keeping his head up. Simultaneously reel down until 8 or 10 feet of line remains between you and the fish. Maintaining momentum and with forward-progress on your side, transfer the hand holding your rod handle up closer to the first eye, supporting underneath. Turn and swing the bass aboard. Most often, the fish is brought into a bass boat near the driver’s console.

Here, an important conservation consideration must be addressed. Allowing a bass to flop around on the floor of a carpeted boat can be a death sentence to it. When bass make contact with carpet, much of their protective slime coat is immediately removed. It’s terrible for a fish that you likely intend to release, defeating the purpose. Also, the impact of hitting the floor, console, or seats may fatally damage the internal organs of a bass.

If you’re going to swing a bass, take lesson from pro anglers like Jacob Wheeler. Bass Pro Tour rules prohibit a bass from touching any surface, for reasons discussed above. Tour pros have adapted. They still swing bass, but reach down and grab the fishing line once the bass clears the gunnels, not allowing the fish to touch a thing. The next move is to lip-lock the fish to remove the hook. It’s a very effective measure to quickly land bass but still consider their fate. Just be sure you have strong line before attempting this maneuver.

SINGLE HOOKS AND LIGHT LINE

The old lip lock is always an effective way to land a bass, assuming they cooperate.

If not, an additional method we don’t see much that can be very effective for a single-hooked finesse bait involves grabbing the lure.

Providing a fish is hooked well, and you can confirm that near the boat, it’s sometimes easiest to simply reach down and grab the lure, trusting the same stout hook concept to do the heavy-lifting without straining the light line. Jighead minnows, shakey heads, and swimbaits all provide a convenient “handle” for anglers willing to grasp the lure’s head. From there a bass can easily be lifted aboard without breaking the line.

TREBLE HOOKS

Now comes the tricky part. Landing a bass with a face full of trebles — without a net — can be a daunting task. Swinging the fish aboard might work, but treble hooks are often small and flimsy, leading to a fish that falls off when pressure is applied.

Here, it’s best to lift the bass in by hand. Stay away from the hooks; don’t even try “lipping” the fish. Instead, handle the fish’s midsection.

Treble hooks add complications when landing bass. One of the safest ways is to gently lift the fish by the belly. (Photo by Realtree)

This can be accomplished two ways:

The most common method involves “belly landing” the bass. To accomplish, reel until a rod’s length of line remains between you and the fish. Get down near the water level and, while guiding the fish toward you on the surface, reach beneath it and cradle the bass in your open palm by the belly. The goal is to physically lift the bass by simply supporting it from underneath.

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Most of the time, bass remain totally inactive when supported this way, reducing the chance for transferring treble hooks to the angler. The belief is that pressure on the internal organs of the fish immobilizes them temporarily without causing harm. Whatever the reason, a belly-landed bass will usually remain calm and still in the hand of an angler without any additional pressure applied.

It’s best to immediately swing the bass on board (slimy fish can easily slip out of your hand) and re-grip by the mouth for hook removal.

Method #2 of “body landing” involves grasping the bass across the back. We often see this move by professional anglers who land bass from the driver’s seat of their rigs. It was popularized by Kevin VanDam, the legendary tournament angler who may have landed more bass than anyone. VanDam’s ability to grab a bass rivaled an osprey.

Again, as the fish approaches, reel down so a rod-length of line is out. Next, instead of placing an open hand under the fish, physically grasp the bass across the back and bring him in. It’s a real “fish hawk” move for sure, snatching the fish from the water.

For most anglers, this type of grasp is only possible with small to medium fish, say up to 3 pounds, as a bigger bass is simply too wide to securely grasp. When done properly, an angler’s hand should be placed just in front of the dorsal fin of the bass.

The methods outlined here give you a real shot at successfully boarding a bass without a net. We lessen the chances of getting hooked ourselves, and do the best job possible to reduce harm to the fish. Remember, once aboard, it’s always best to hold a bass vertically by the mouth, or support the entire fish from underneath. Wet hands help the cause. From there, releasing the fish is sure to be effective so we can someday perhaps see the fish and enjoy the thrill all over again.