Flipping Fish in the Boat or Netting

I prefer to flip the fish in the boat when using swim jigs, frogs, tubes, etc. The only time I do not is when using lures with treble hooks, shakey heads and spinnerbaits because it seems they break quicker. Obviously if I notice the fish is not hooked well, I will net the fish or grab him.

The reason I am asking this question is while watching FLW (where there are no co-anglers on the final day) I noticed that many pro’s (specifically David Lawson) prefer to net their fish than flip them in. I also noticed that many times the fish is sitting on top of the water with his head out of the water. During this point of one second or two while they’re getting the net, there is a lot of pressure being applied to the lure. In this situation I would think that it would be better to just flip the fish. What do you think??

Personally I see it as a money issue, losing a fish could cost them too much money, I think I’d net everything in a tourney.

I see it as a money issue as well…that is why I believe flipping the fish in is the less risky move.

In a tourney every fish counts. If the fish is still mostly in the water he doesn’t have as much strength to break the line or throw the hook compared to when he is in the air. Plus if he does come undone with the net under him he has no way to get away.

I’m not worried about the line breaking…65 lb powerpro doesn’t break easily. I also understand that in a tournament, every fish counts and that is why I think flipping the fish in is superior because it eliminates the 2 seconds where the fish is sitting in the water with his head out of the water while you are reaching for the net.

I disagree that the fish doesn’t have a lot of strength while on top of the water, that is actually when I lose most of my fish because of the hook coming out.

Most likely if a fish comes off while being flipped in it will be at the time when his body is leaving the water and the cause of it will the hook coming out because of the increased weight on the hook. So if the fish is sitting on top of the water with his head out of the water, isn’t that basically the same as having the fish sit there with his head out of the water waiting for a net?

Its a crapshoot! I prefer to flip them in…especially if you are alone. If I am useing light line or light hooks then it is better to net.

Now they we talking about how great this guys hooksets were…but to me they looked weak and it seemed the rod was going to fall out of his hands.

I agree….those hooksets were weak.

Did you see George Cochran holding his rod in the power fishing skit????

flip them in is the only way to go IMO. You never know if your net man isn’t paying attention or whatever. I’ve lost so many fish from reaching for the net, or the fish diving at the net, hitting the net and popping the lure out etc. and when the fish is partly out of the water, how many times does it happen where it jumps completely out of the water and spits the hook
I flip them all in unless I’m using a really flimsy rod like my cranking stick, or spinning gear. I mean at that point it becomes a “dead lift” and either you break your rod or line of the fish shakes loose. Froggin, man you can flip 4+ lbers in the boat all the time. Won a tournament tonight with my friend, and the winning fish was a 3 lber (we had 2 3’s and it was a 2 fish limit) where he flipped it in the boat. as soon as it hit the driver’s seat the spro popped out but honestly the only time I’ve seen them come off on a flip is when either
A) fisherman executes incorectly, fish hits the side of the boat
B)fisherman reels too much line up on the rod and fish shakes off
C)Fish is not hooked well, is flipped in the boat, hook pops out when the line goes slack

As long as you execute correctly, and don’t dilly dally; get ’em in ASAP, I am fully confident that I won’t lose a solid hooked fish 99.5% of the time. and honestly, truly HONESTLY I think nets are overated. Like I said before, sometimes its a fish deflector when not used properly.

Quote:

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Won a tournament tonight with my friend, and the winning fish was a 3 lber (we had 2 3’s and it was a 2 fish limit)…

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Was that the Ace Monday nighter?

CR

Alot depends on the situation, but when it comes to it. Net the fish.

Money on the line, of course. Lighter tackle/ finesse fishing, yes. Flippin or pitching probably not unless the fish is a distance from the boat. If you are reeling fast and have the fish coming to the boat, flip it in.

I look at it from a rod builders perspective. Flipping fish breaks a lot of rods. More and more rod companys are putting limits on their warranty because of breakage due to abuse.

yeah it was Curt!

I like your justification Cade.

I flipped all of the fish in my last report with no problem , scum frogs with 65lb p pro. but if I was in a tourney all of those fish would have seen the net. well no they wouldnt have because I never catch fish like that in a tourney