Deep hooked fish

[Andrushkin33]

Need an advice.

In situation where the fish have swallowed the hook pretty deep what would be the best choice of action.

Cut the line and leave the hook in, or attempt to remove the hook?

Reason for question is that I got in that situation over the weekend. Bass have swallowed the hook very deep and my attempt to remove the hook would of ended up with fish not making it out alive. Normally I would of just kept the fish once hook is removed but with bass being not in season now I was left with only choice available to me by cutting the line and letting it go with a hook inside.

Still worries me that even with a hook inside fish would not survive for long, if survive at all.

Any output is appreciated as always.

Andre

[zhitoman]

It will be fine if you cut the line instead of sticking your fingers inside the fish and trying to get the hook out for half an hour, like some people do.

[Rickhem]

I usually just cut the line. Sometimes you can then pull the hook through from the barb side, but sometimes not.
Also try crushing the barb with your pliers, line tension still keeps them hooked and the hook almost falls out once you lip them.

[Eskimo]

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Accidently deep hooking a bass is a sad, no-win situation.
According to the latest research, a deep hooked bass is in a lot of trouble.
In a no-harvest situation, the best thing you can do is cut the line about eighteen inches from the hook and say a prayer for the little fighter.

Here is a really good article about the latest research on catch-and-release of deeply hooked fish:
http://www.recycledfish.org/safe-angling/deeply-hooked-fish.htm

Other than what the article states, the only thing you can do to prevent deep-hooking a bass is to set the hook quickly, before the bass has a chance to swallow the bait or lure.
When I fish from the bank, I use a fairly tight line and then hang a ring made from the top of a styrofoam cup from the line. The moment the line goes out, I can see my strike indicator move (the ring goes up when the line goes out) and I can set the hook.

If an angler creates a situation where he can't set the hook quickly, he is going to inadvertently kill a lot of bass. For example, if he sets up 17 rods on the shore then goes and plays volleyball until he sees a rod bouncing out of the rod-rest. That bass had a lot of time with the bait and has long since swallowed it by the time the angler sets the hook.

It is better to use some time of strike indicator if an angler isn't holding the rod in his hand and then set the hook in a reasonable amount of time to minimize the chance of deep-hooking the bass.


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[jimcnj]

I saw guys using prescription bottles as strike indicators. At least that what I thought they were. Can someone explain that setup to me?

[lunkertaker]

I cut the line. Always gives me the worries, but better to give the fish a shot than to rip out the hook and know the fate. I have agonized over this for years, but came to the same conclusion, cut the line and HOPE!

[flatcreek]

Maybe use inline circle hooks when you don't intend to keep your catch.

[Andrushkin33]

Thanks all.

Eskimo,

That some solid advice with strike indicators, forgot all about them.

Andre

[saxmatt]

For pike and musky this is what I do. First of all you have to use single hooks, not trebles and you need jaw spreaders and a long pair of pliers. Carefully go through the gill plate with the pliers and grab the leader and pull it back out of the gill plate. Pull the leader back towards the tail of the fish, this should rotate the hook and you'll see the eye and bend of the hook come out of the gut. Now you can go in through the mouth with the pliers, grab the bend of the hook and pop it right out. This is easy to do with some practice.

[Chrisper4694]

def crush the barbs if using live bait and not right next to any rods being used. Saxmatts strategy is good, i've done it, needs to be done the right way though. If you can't even see the hook, you have to cut it, that's the best bet, even if it's not that good of a bet.

[NorthJerzyG]

+1 on the "don't sleep on a bait rod" suggestion. When soaking bait for carp/cats, I set the rod down and "crack one open". :) But if I'm throwing baitfish for bass/pike/pickerel, I still hold the rod like I'm lure fishing. Jerk here, twitch there, and set the hook quickly if I get a strike. And always use circle hooks, they work.

[Andrushkin33]

LoL,

I agree with not sleeping. Usually fish 3 Rods with one set up with bottom rig and two on bobbers.

But with bass I knew I missed it completely and did not hook it until it was late. To be honest was not expecting it, was hoping for crappie but immediately felt bad for the fella.

Plus with BBQ going, fishing kinda drifted to an afterthought so it was my fault all around.

Thank you for suggestions and advice.

Andre

[Jigman13]

For pike and musky this is what I do. First of all you have to use single hooks, not trebles and you need jaw spreaders and a long pair of pliers. Carefully go through the gill plate with the pliers and grab the leader and pull it back out of the gill plate. Pull the leader back towards the tail of the fish, this should rotate the hook and you'll see the eye and bend of the hook come out of the gut. Now you can go in through the mouth with the pliers, grab the bend of the hook and pop it right out. This is easy to do with some practice.

X2! Matt showed me this on the ice. Pretty slick technique w the right tools.

[Heronimo42]

Use circle hooks.

[AndrewT]

Hook cutters can be a big help at times (not all the time). If the barb end is showing, cut below the barb as low as possible, then slide the rest of the hook out using pliers. Helps a lot if you have two people, one to hold the fish, one to operate on it.

[Almaink]

The best advice is to not use bait during the closed season or if you don't intend on keeping the fish. Lures catch just as many fish as bait, maybe more. IMO it's more fun tossing lures than watching a pole anyway.

[NJSquatch]

Hook cutters can be a big help at times (not all the time). If the barb end is showing, cut below the barb as low as possible, then slide the rest of the hook out using pliers. Helps a lot if you have two people, one to hold the fish, one to operate on it.

I carry a pair of diagonal pliers (dikes) with me and can usually cut the hook close to the point and get it out as AndrewT stated. They will work on thin wire hooks and if you can get enough pressure cut through some of the thicker gauge wire as well.

I beat myself up when i have to release one with a hook in its gut. My only solace is that I have caught bass with a hook coming out of their anus!

Diagonal plier example.
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-84-105-6-Inch-Diagonal-Cutting/dp/B0001IW89W/

[Andrushkin33]

Hook cutters and circle hooks sounds like a solid idea.

To Alma,

You are correct of course but to be honest with live bait I was not trying to target bass at all was going for crappie. Area where I caught at Spruce was a complete surprise to me and I was not expecting it at all.

And to be honest I am completely hopeless when it comes to artificials but I am working on that.

Working toward being a better catch and release fisherman. Everyone output on pike released helped me a great deal and resulted in successful releases of those beautiful specimen.

Andre

[FishinFool247]

Hey I'm not sure if this helps or not but check out these pics of a bass I caught 2 years ago! It had wire leader and a swivel coming out of it's anus...lol I'm not sure how he made out in the end, but he was alive and strong when I caught him.

[Chrisper4694]

fish survive more than most people think, i believe. although sometimes you get em in quick and release them quick and they go belly up for no reason...anything is possible. we're fishermen, we jam hooks into their mouths and bring them out of the water against their will so i mean we can only do so much to protect and release them, but hopefully we all take precautions and do our best unless we're fishing for a meal.

[bassmasterG13]

I don't bait fish so I rarely gut hook bass, but if I do I try to get the hook out with out ripping the stomach or making the bass bleed. if this isn't possible cut the line! try to cut the hook if possible. it will rust out in some time. I have caught many bass with hooks in their mouth that are almost completely rusted out, and I always remove my hook and the one that has been stuck there. They are tuff they will make it

[justin1982]

I just cut the line, say a prayer and feel like crap for the rest of the day! I guess it's better than pulling and hurting the fish further

[JDTuna]

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Other than what the article states, the only thing you can do to prevent deep-hooking a bass is to set the hook quickly, before the bass has a chance to swallow the bait or lure.

If an angler creates a situation where he can't set the hook quickly, he is going to inadvertently kill a lot of bass. For example, if he sets up 17 rods on the shore then goes and plays volleyball until he sees a rod bouncing out of the rod-rest. That bass had a lot of time with the bait and has long since swallowed it by the time the angler sets the hook.


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I respectfully disagree. If you use non-offset circle hooks, you will hook a vast majority of the bass you catch on bait in the mouth, even if the hookset is not immediate. However, the circle hooks must be non-offset. Octopus circles (such as those made by owner) are offset and will hook a fish just as deeply as a J-hook.

Additionally, even if you set up quickly using J hooks and bait, you will still inevitably hook some fish deep as a result of how bass feed. I have successfully used non-offset circle hooks to land many freshwater species, including bass, and almost never gut hook a fish.