GobbleDog

I've always assumed they'll die if I don't get the hook out. They can't eat, that's for sure. And it certainly isn't going to rust away like in salt water. (in salt water, it'll be gone in less than a week) I think the fish's best chance of survival is for you to try remove the hook, no matter how much it rips him up.

From my experience, when you see bass schooling up and you're able to cast into the area within literally seconds after they start hitting... it doesn't matter what you throw. They'll eat anything. I always keep a topwater ready to throw in case it happens near my boat (usually Zara Puppy), but any worm usually works too. The only things that probably won't work are rattle traps, spinner baits and jigs. Problem being they move out of the strike zone too quick. But when bass get into a feeding frenzy like that, it's easy pickens.

I've been serious fishing for over 15 years. I've caught literally THOUSANDS of largemouth bass. My biggest: 8.5 lbs. : ( and I've caught plenty of them. I just can't break the double digit 10 lb mark for the life of me. However, I only throw artificial lures. With monster shiners, it probably wouldn't take too long.

I bet they do feel pain, but when you hook into a fish, I think they're mostly feeling fear . I doubt they feel actual pain in the cartalidge part of their mouth. That's like putting a hook through your finglernail. But if you hook them in the gut or the roof of his mouth.... yeah, I definately think they feel it and it probably doesn't feel too good.

I've caught them after the rain and before the rain, but rarely during the rain.