More fish care tips...fizzing

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Byrne on March 23, 2009 at 11:47pm

You may have missed the swim bladder or there was damage to other organs, if you waited too long to fizz there was damage. You have to be kind of fast at the fizzing or there will be some damage. Going through the mouth is the best way, I never go to the side, you just don't know what you are hitting.

Permalink Reply by Mike Stahlman on March 24, 2009 at 11:00pm

David like Mark said going through the mouth is much better. You have to have a longer needle to get there obviously but it's way easier to fizz them that way.

If you look in the mouth of smallie you will see their two pads right above their throat. Stick the needle right in the middle of those two pads. Once you do it or someone shows how it's much easier to do it this way. Another point is that once you have fizzed them keep a close eye on them for a while. You may have to do it again. I have had to fizz them more than once before.


Mike

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on March 25, 2009 at 6:38am

you can get a longer needle at auburn sports and marine. It cost like 4 or 5 bucks, and I think the brand is edlers or something similar.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on March 25, 2009 at 7:50am

If the bass was still upside down it had to still have air in the swim bladder. You likely removed some of the air but not enough. As Mike stated above, often you will have to deflate more than once, and you should continue to do so until the bass can achieve an upright position.

As far as the debate about deflating through the mouth vs. the side, I would comment that more research needs to be done before I am willing to commit to deflating through the mouth. I suspect that it is completely safe, but I have no proof or even anecdotal evidence.

We do have scientific proof that the side method works when done properly, and I have also proven this to myself by having caught the same tagged bass from deep water 3 times and after fizzing it twice myself (over a 2 year period).

To my knowledge nobody has done any testing of the mouth method to check on delayed mortality rates. Again, I suspect that it is perfectly fine, but I would feel better knowing there was some scientific evidence to support this like there is for the side method.

Once you put your bass in the livewell be sure to keep checking it regularly. A needle hole heals quickly in a swimbladder, and gas expansion will likley continue throughout the day requiring repeat fizzing.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on March 25, 2009 at 3:38pm

Thanks for all of the information guys! I definately will try multiple times in the future!

Permalink Reply by Mike Stahlman on March 25, 2009 at 6:02pm

Hey Marc I am glad you brought up the question about "Fizzing" and does it have any after effects. I have wondered the same. In the recent Bass Master magazine there is a University I think in Texas that is going to be doing a study on the after effects of bass after fizzing.

Can't wait to find out what they come up with.

Mike