Dc7182

That is very helpful. Thanks. I was always told that you shouldn't touch a fishes gills so I was afraid to do that. Thank you very much.

Yesterday I had three bass that were hooked in the throat. They were on sencos and I use the gamakatsu hooks that are kind of round. They are usually tough to get out. Two of the fish were largemouth and I eventually got the hook out of one of them with the pliers. The other I had back in the water because I didn't want to keep out too long and he got off himself. I also had a smallmouth that was bleeding all over the place and I did get the hook out but I think it was in pretty bad shape when I threw him back. I considered leaving the hooks in. Is this a better option? They weren't completely down the throat just hooked through the skin where the throat starts. Is it bad for the fish to take a hook out of that part of the throat? Could they survive with a hook stuck in the throat? I wasn't sure which is why I didn't want to leave them in.