Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

So at the CBL pre take off, the TD mentioned that there were a lot of floating fish that needed to be fizzed after the first tournament. It took their fizzer over an hour to fizz the fish. It was suggested everyone learn how to fizz their fish before weigh in, because the odds are if you let the bloated fish go it's going to die anyway. So in my opinion it didn't make sense. If I fail at fizzing, I'm weighing a dead fish for a penalty. So maybe I should wait until after the weigh in, but hauling around a floating fish in the well could kill the fish too. I've consulted many YT videos about how to do it "the right way" and some say through the crushers, others 5 scales past the pectoral fin laid flat or some say a line from the dorsal fin down. Another thing is fizzing the fish is in the water or out of the water, and which side of the fish to poke. To me it seems that if the fish is out of the water more air could get sucked in, so I don't know.
Too bad someone couldn't come up with a jig similar to a measuring board with a hinge overlay that would place a pin hole over the area of the bladder to poke and relieve the pressure.
With winter upon us the knowledge to fizz is definitely needed by every angler especially a tournament angler imo.
So I guess there's a few bass dinners in mt future.
TL
FE

Your TD should take time to demonstrate the proper method to fizz a bass.
The mouth method isn’t a good idea, vital organs in that area.
Laying the bass on its side and needling it below the lateral line works, it takes about 30:seconds.
The needle hole doesn’t inflate the air bladder, it’s under pressure when you needle the bass letting air bladder deflate.
you only need to fizz caught in water over 30’ down, shallower bass and not belly up don’t need to be fizzed.
Tom

I've been fizzing between the Crushers for over 40yrs and like it the best. Not saying thru the side is bad/wrong, just the way I do it. And, I've fizzed fish from 15' down ! If I catch one deep, I fizz before putting in the well, otherwise, I check on one shortly after to make sure it doesn't need it done. YouTube is your friend to learn how

Mitch Eastman is bad for deep water bass blowing up if you bring them up to fast. In 50 plus feet of water in winter there are two area that hold the bigger bass from Dec to march

It's all bull$%^#... most of the time a tournament director tells you to fizz your fish and the truth is, in my opinion, they just want the fish to sink or be able to swim down so people at weigh ins or dfg dont see the floating fish. Not good for the sport. First off my opinion is based off experiments I did while running tournaments in the past. So after doing a weigh in at an event I would go to the ramp where all the fish were released. Even though most fish were fizzed there would be some floaters. I then fizzed them myself, which i know how to do, and would go home. Living on Pedro I was able to come back to the ramp in the morning to visually see the outcome from the weigh in the day before. It wasnt good. You could see the dead fish on the bottom and lots of them. I did this many times and it was always the same results. I would even watch weigh ins from other orgs. and saw the same results. I brought it to there attention many times and noticed the different orgs would start weighing in at the marina. Well that made sense to me because instead of all the released fish being at the ramp in shallow water where the dead fish can be seen now the fizzed fish were let go in deeper water which hid the visual evidence of their mortality. I feel very confident after many tests that sticking a fish w/a needle is no good. I never needle my fish based on what i learned. If i am in a tourney and have floaters i attach a weight to the bottom fins to hold the fish upright then once weighed in I take them and put them in a weighted hoop like net and drop them down to about 15-20 feet then tug on the hoop and it releases the fish.

That why I use a lot 4,6,8 Maxima green mono on my spinning rods you don't yank the fish out of deep water just work them out of deeper cover without a lot of pressure bring them up. I like the fight and peeling drag that the fun of it. I don't have to worry about bass blowing coming out of deep water. Eastman is the worst for some reason from last two week in Nov til first part of March. I even use 6,8 Maxima on my casting rods same set the hook without yanking the bass out of deep water and cover. It works for me.

You can buy a descending device 2 for $15.00 at Bass Pro

Fast Eddie wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:38 am So at the CBL pre take off, the TD mentioned that there were a lot of floating fish that needed to be fizzed after the first tournament. It took their fizzer over an hour to fizz the fish. It was suggested everyone learn how to fizz their fish before weigh in, because the odds are if you let the bloated fish go it's going to die anyway. So in my opinion it didn't make sense. If I fail at fizzing, I'm weighing a dead fish for a penalty. So maybe I should wait until after the weigh in, but hauling around a floating fish in the well could kill the fish too. I've consulted many YT videos about how to do it "the right way" and some say through the crushers, others 5 scales past the pectoral fin laid flat or some say a line from the dorsal fin down. Another thing is fizzing the fish is in the water or out of the water, and which side of the fish to poke. To me it seems that if the fish is out of the water more air could get sucked in, so I don't know.
Too bad someone couldn't come up with a jig similar to a measuring board with a hinge overlay that would place a pin hole over the area of the bladder to poke and relieve the pressure.
With winter upon us the knowledge to fizz is definitely needed by every angler especially a tournament angler imo.
So I guess there's a few bass dinners in mt future.
TL
FE

Ed... if your going to wait to fizz at least use the fin weights so the fish can stabilize and not have to work hard trying to keep upright in live well... I used them all the time and they work !! Also fizz like Mitch says... between crushers... real eazy..lots of u tube videos on it...

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Fizzing fish is not that difficult. for spots through the crushers is easier or if the air bladder is in the mouth for largies and smallies the lateral line is pretty good. Anglers concerned about losing points vs learning how to properly care for the fish are being selfish. The Fish and Wildlife can revoke and fine an organization for fish kill or floaters at the ramp. Next time the TD or staff are fizzing fish go ask questions and fizz a few on the dock. I have shown a ton of dudes how to fizz fish.

Fizzing isn’t difficult. Anyone catching deep fish and not either immediately releasing of fizzing might as well put em on a stringer and take em home for supper. Even releasing immediately, an occasional fish will not be able to get back down and need to be fizzed. Almost certainly if put in the box.

Mitch wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:19 am I've been fizzing between the Crushers for over 40yrs and like it the best. Not saying thru the side is bad/wrong, just the way I do it. And, I've fizzed fish from 15' down ! If I catch one deep, I fizz before putting in the well, otherwise, I check on one shortly after to make sure it doesn't need it done. YouTube is your friend to learn how

This.

1st & foremost don’t fizz a bass unless you are in a tournament. Simply put a 8 oz torpedo weight tied on another rod, put the weight into the bass mouth past the crunchers and lower the bass back down 30’ and reel up the the weight.
Fizzing through the mouth you are not going through the crunchers, you should be inserting the needle into the air bladder pushing up the throat. This requires a longer needle device. If you insert the needle up though the crunchers the may not survive!
Tom
PS, killed bass with a hook up through the crunchers.

Fizzed everything from bass to crappie through the crushers. Haven't killed a fish ever in 40 years... I used to use our glue dispensing needles from where I worked at Raytheon until you could buy them. They shoot away from the boat when your done. I hold the fish and needle under the surface until the air stops coming out of the tube. Pull it out...Back to fishing....My needles are old but they look just like Fizz a Fish at Tackle Warehouse. I carry them always....

I was a Paramedic for 40 years and found that fizzing is much easier with a small needle and 3cc syringe.The syringe length allows a good angle to get to the crushers and also at a good angle to avoid vital organs, I see the roof of the mouth and crushers form a " y" shape and I insert the needle at that spot. I also keep the fish in the livewell with pumps off as to see the exhaled bubbles. Those clips for the lower lip and the fins do a great job and sometimes the needles are not required if the tight belly has diminished.

Lastly - If you taco fish in the winter take a look at your fish post fillet and see where the vital organs are for future reference...

Fizz in-between the crushers works every time and can be accomplished in the live well where you'll see the air bubbles deflated the bladder. Fish remains in the water verses being placed on its side laying on carpet.

-Not rocket science

Friend shoved an ice pick down the bass throat and claimed they swam away in good condition.
Tom