I post this every spring because every spring someone seems to benefit from it. Follow the link to a gut hook removal technique that, in my experience, is 95% successful. I've only lost one fish in 5 years of using this technique. You may want to print off the attached if you never used it before or seen it done. Do it right and you'll be surprised how easily the hook comes out. You will never have to leave a hook in a fish again.
The illustration is with walleye but it works the same for bass.
http://www.walleyesunlimitedus...e.pdf
Jake