I don't mean to hate or anything, but wtf chuck?

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h234/TackleAsCollateral/RagoCR.jpg

Jerry doesn't keep bass, he's just taking a picture. Not defending laying them on the deck but I'm sure they were released fine.

The funny part to me about that pic is that it was posted on swimbaitnation as being from Don Pedro but the pic is at Casitas. I don't think that's a secret since you can get the full sized pic and anyone who has been to casitas will immediately recognize it. Whoever is posting the pics for Jerry should check what lake they are from first lol.

I also saw that at Swimbait Nation and noticed it wasn't Pedro. I didn't want to stir the pot so I didn't say anything. It could of been a mistake on his part or he might be trying to drum up some business in norther Ca......Either way they are nice fish.

I'm not trying to stir the pot either. I'm sure Jerry himself didn't post the pic, he barely gets online. Someone else probably posted the pic and got the wrong caption. Jerry has caught 50lb bags at Casitas and Pedro this year so either way...

The whole macho-bassman thing is ridiculous. Let the fish go. No fish should be laying on the deck of a boat like that. Get a clue.

I don't think it's a matcho thing either, Nor is it pedro in the pic but as slough crew said still nice fish, the back ground should not be important to viewers anyway. Just the fish. If you don't take pics then it is just a story. Many do have Roland Martin syndrome LOL!(as storys go) It also is proof of all in one trip. I don't see a problem in laying them on the deck for a pic. If this is a bad thing then all fish in the basket at the tourneys stacked on each other is even worse. Right? Just a point. Congrats to ya Jerry on a nice bag of fish is more in line to me.

Don.

You don't mean to hate, all you have to do is look at your past posts about Jerry to see that is not true. Jerry did the gang picture holding all 5 fish but noticed one of the fish was being poked by the dorsal fin of the other fish and put them all down, took the picture and let them go like all his bass. All anyone has to do is watch a B.A.S.S. , FLW or weekend event weigh in to watch 5 bass put in a acrylic box and see them jump around poking each other and hitting the hard surface and sometimes the stage or ground to see that Jerry laying the fish on wet carpet and then promply releasing them is perfectly fine. Do you post personal hits at Kevin VanDam, Dean Rojas, Mike Iaconelli, etc. I was just looking through Bill Siemantel's book the other night and there is a picture of a bass laying on the deck, for that matter go through the gallery on this site and you will see all kinds of deck photos. Save the hate for the real enemies of this world.

Those pros are kooks for the most part.

maybe I should have rephrased so the affiliated people wouldn't get their panties in a bunch.

I don't have a problem with Jerry at all, I just figured someone like him "big bass guru" would be a little more careful.

I am sure he was.

I think Jerry probably didn't keep these fish on the deck too long. Just a personal feeling. I mean, I've seen guys(amateurs obviously) keep a bass out of the water for at least 5 minutes before they release them. And the bass swims away fine. Even the big girls. Personally I like to keep the fish in the water as much as possible and take some quick pics if I want them. But Jerry Rago, I mean, come on. The guy is probably pretty good at C&R.

I think on the pro tour bass have it harder. I personally think the idea that a pro should will anything under 2 up into the boat is crazy. The fish get good care once they're in the livewell on the tours. But it's pretty tough on a fish to be pulled 3 feet into the air by it's lip without any sort of injury. Anyways, how many times have you seen a pro lose a nice fish at the boat,on ESPN, tryin' to do the air lift?

I agree about the tournament scene

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the problem i see is the fish's slime coating, a boat deck is not a good place even for a short time. even in the pro tourny's these fish are getting injured, its cool if they were released, but you have to be carefull of the fish's coat. i know the pro tour always touts thier high release rate, but just because the fish swims off does not mean the fish isnt dying 2 weeks later because of infections. and to add, that is 1 nice limit o bass!if a fish is going to be released they have to be handled correctly.

straight up