I caught a LM while fishing a Z-nail in about 15' of water down between two weed banks. I get him up into the boat and start to remove the hook when I realize that I can't see the hook anywhere just the Z-nail. My first thought was that the hook was swallowed down in the gut, but when I looked the bass over I didn't see any blood.

I got the plastic out of the fish’s mouth and saw that the hook was snagged on the gills. There was no penetration from the barb. The hook just passed between the gills and the business end must have come back through again when I set the hook.

I got a second pair of pliers, cut the line, and carefully backed the hook out the gill. I am really glad I took the time to look that fish over before I started to try and remove the hook, or else I might have killed it. Hopefully that one will get even bigger.

Nice man most people probably wouldn't have taken the time to do that and give the fish a chance at life. You are a true fisherman

How big was it?

I've never seen that but I did land a nice river smallie without actually hooking him. While fishing a tube he some how got the line wrapped around a pectoral fin. As soon as I lipped him and took the pressure off the line it fell right off.

Nice to hear that you were craeful with the fish. Wish that everyone was as considerate

Nice man most people probably wouldn't have taken the time to do that and give the fish a chance at life. You are a true fisherman

How big was it?

I never put it on the scale, but I guess it would have gone 1-1/4 lb.