LINCOLN, Neb. - If you’re lucky enough to hook into a nice Largemouth Bass on a summer day, it’s natural to want to hold it up and take a picture to show to friends and family.

But there’s a right way to handle a fish and a wrong way. From how you hold the fish while posing for a picture to how long they’re out of the water and get released, a number of factors can poses risks to the fish. To find out how to do it the right way, News Channel Nebraska talked with Daryl Bauer of Nebraska Game and Parks fisheries.

“Because you choose to or there’s regulations, there will be fish you have to release,” Bauer said. “To do that, you might as well treat them in the best way possible so they have the best chance to survive, otherwise, you’re not doing yourself any good by releasing them.”

When it comes to handling fish, the best practices vary by species. But Bauer says, there are a few keys to follow.

“Keep them in the water as much as possible and handle them as little as possible and get them back in the water as soon as possible,” Bauer said. “I think some tools are handy like a pair of forceps or a long nose needle… Maybe even a net to keep them in and near the water.”

And for taking pictures, Bauer says it’s best to keep fish horizontal, holding them form their underside. If the fish are teeth-less, you can also grab them by the jaw, but be sure to hold the fish straight up and down. Often times fish encounter jaw injuries when held at an angle.

“Fish are very resilient, they survive the best they can, so they can still survive with an injury, but it’s always better off if they’re as healthy as possible and don’t have to worry about something like that,” Bauer said.