After seeing this malnourished Bass, I realized what I was doing is right since day one. I never use plastic baits ever or any soft baits before. I always think what will happen to the fish If that fish get a chunk, will It digest, will It comes out ? Worms are dirty but edible enough for any fish species, It will make them healthy and bigger too. Although I recommended senko and other soft baits in the past, I did not use those though, only worms and Lures for me.
Testimonials:
I caught this bass today at my local lake. It looks like one of small bass you would get in a overstock pond, but if it was healthy it would of been a 3 + lbs. I was wondering if anyone else have ever caught one like this and what should I have done? The picture doesn't give it any justice it look extremely bad!! I didn't release it back. I was afraid it might had something that could be spread. I did catch two more on that spot that look fine.
I agree with the soft plastic digestive block theory.. I've read about that before...as far as my suggestion for what should you have done/should do: remind your fellow fishermen whenever you can that any litter on their outings can be destructive.
I agree that if you'd cut that fish open it's probably got at least a couple plastics blocking it up. Plastic baits discarded in the lake will at times get eaten by a fish and then swell up several times their normal size and become almost impossible for the fish to pass, starving it to death very slowly. You probably did the fish a favor and sped up it's ending.
Cut it open, and I bet you find a piece of plastic lodged in its digestive tract.
