i read an article recently that reported on the numbers of lmb surviving being caught and released. while no specific time on the line was mentioned, the piece stated that more than 1/3 of the bass caught died with-in a week due to stress. fighting and handling time was the determined cause of eventual death. haul-em in fast, gently unhook them, keep them in the water if possible and gently let them go. you will loose almost no bass that way.
