hypodermic needle, where to get them

[TCook]

Jav that has to be the case because he was upside down within 5 min, and I believe 20 ft is deep enough.

T

[smbassman]

Tractor Supply Co. has them.  Buy a bunch and use one per fish to prevent any virus spread.  Wipe down with alcohol or heat up with a lighter to sterilize them after the tournament.  I am not a medical professional, but I think this should reduce the risk of spreading any diseases.

The only problem I have found with fizzing is the angle of insertion seems to be different on smaller 3-4# fish and 5-6# fish using the 1 1/2" needles.  I won't give actual instructions on where to poke them, cause I don't feel I am an expert yet.

When regular fishing or prefishing, don't fizz the fish - let them go and they will be fine.  When bringing them in to weigh in, I feel fizzing is the best method to help the fish survive.  Weighting fins may keep them alive in the livewell, providing the weights don't fall off, but what happens when the tournament organization dumps the fish with their inflated air bladder back into the lake without weights?

I have had great success fizzing fish and the fish appear very healthy through the remainder of the day and after weigh-in.

[DDBethke]

I agree the information in contradictory. For example you never hear them mention fizzing on any of the televised BASS or FLW tournament shows (or at least I've never heard it). I always wonder why especially when the fisherman says he caught them deep. Nor do I recall any instructional fishing shows talking or educating people about it either. I often wonder if they intentionally omit that stuff so not to cause an uproar from animal activists who already think fishing alone is bad enough. When you are trying to really grow a sport like this that is the kind of bad press you don't want.  Just a thought.

-Gary

Gary,

BASS does, see the link below...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2662881&type=Columnist&imagesPrint=off

Duane

Thanks Vic and smb, I got a pk of 25 @ TSC for $8.00 (18 Guage - 1 1/2")

[BassinGT]

Duane,

That is a great article. But I'm referring to not mentioning the process on television, specifically in these big production tournament weigh in shows.

Thanks for the info!

Gary

[flipclip]

There is a better way...no needles, no cages and start the treatment on the fish as soon as you catch it.  Take a look at this: http://www.flipclipfishing.com

[DDBethke]

flipclip,

I assume these clip to the bottom fins?

Do you have to remove the weights everytime you move from spot to spot (say on St. Clair in the afternoon during a weekend tournament when you are running rough water)?

I'm always intersted in a product that would protect our Smallies!

Duane

[cr]

There's a article in the 2008 In-Fisherman BASS guide , Dealing with deepwater Bass , but it was kind of confusing . A lot of info but no definitive answer, but it showed a pic of fizzing through the mouth . It looked easier than going in the side . Is one better than the other ?

[bassmandan]

GT

i do believe that Trip Weldon BASS director, said something about it at Falcon lake, i think he said that some of the pros do not know how to fizz, and he said that officials will handle the fish if they have not been fizzed, i have always wondered if the pros fizz the fish also, and its a good thing i know how to do it too, derrek showed me how last year

[flipclip]

The Flip Clip is attached to the anal fin Duane, just behind the pooper.  You don't have to take them off when moving, they stay on well.  I've been working on this for several years, the trick whas to come up with the right amount of weight, a strong clip, and the right shape.   Too heavy, they pull off too easy.  The air bladder of a bass is about 7 percent of it's body mass when full.  You would need to "flip" about 14 cubic inches of air on a 20", 4 lb smallmouth.  If you have Bubba in your well, you may have to put two on.
You should be able to get these at Landbigfish, Cabela's and Bass Pro within the next couple months.  Darby Comas at http://www.jdcbaits.com has some in stock now too. 

Good luck guys, Keep 'em alive. 

http://www.flipclipfishing.com

[Revtro]

There's a article in the 2008 In-Fisherman BASS guide , Dealing with deepwater Bass , but it was kind of confusing . A lot of info but no definitive answer, but it showed a pic of fizzing through the mouth . It looked easier than going in the side . Is one better than the other ?

Just my $.02.  Last year a good friend of mine was kind enough to show me how to fizz through the mouth.  It is MUCH easier and way less dangerous to the fish.  In fact, as long as you don't let too much air out, it's virtually problem free and safe for the fish.  This is with Smallmouth, I'm uncertain about Largemouth, however we don't often pull a Largemouth up from 40 feet, so I don't suppose it's an issue.

I'd love to find a diagram of it because its so easy.  But basically, you hold the tongue of the fish down and you can see right where the air fills a little tube looking vessel near the back of the tongue area.  Have someone show you before you try it though.  Get 18 guage needles for horse injection at Tractor Supply Company.  They're cheap.  Get a few and clean them with bleach at the end of the day if you use them to avoid the spread of VHS.

Here's one pic I found regarding this technique: http://www.azbasszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45128

Another article: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/columns/story?page=b_col_bt_1106_fizzing_procedure

I think the reason some experts say not to fizz is because someone who is inexperienced will often do more harm than good.  But it seems like the general consensus is that fizzing deep water bass is better for them and gives them a greater chance of survival as DK noted in an earlier post.  Ok, so that was like $.27 or something.

[champion_206]

http://usacproshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1077 gonna try these this year and I also use a 16 ga. 2 in needle also

[flipclip]

That would work great for a trout Champion, but a bass uses it's bloodstream and respiratory system to change pressure in the air bladder.  Trout can "burp" but bass can't.  The reason this http://www.flipclipfishing.com works is it allows the fish to turn back over and use it's own mechanisms to balance the pressure. Any comments or feedback is greatly appreciated.