I have a question relating to whether or not a fish was caught in a tournament approved way. Or if it was even caught at all. Many trout swallow tiny hooks when they are caught. Most keep the true for the reason. most people use leaders as well. I caught a few trout today that had leaders in their mouths. Would it be considered a legal catch in a tournament if i hooked the other persons leader but not the fish?

Depends on individual state fishing regulations to define a legal catch. Bass tournaments don't allow hooking bass outside the mouth in some states, hooking someone else line attached to the bass... haven't ever had that happen in over 60 years of bass fishing. I did snag a fish stringer with several trout still alive on the stringer and release them.

Tom

Good question... just read through my club's by-laws and rules. It only says all fish must be caught by accepted and conventional fishing methods. 

Although trolling, live bait, a-rigs, wading, and flyfishing are not allowed. (Flyfishing has an exception if both boater and non boater agree in advance) so according to our rules I think it would be fine. In fact, keeping her hooked up all the way to the boat would be pretty impressive! 

Depends on the state laws. I remember watching a BASS Elite where KVD caught a bass on a 6XD square in the back, on camera, and toss it in the livewell. Some states they must be hooked in the mouth though.

It's kind of hard to see, but my buddy caught a spotted bass on a crankbait while we were night fishing a few years ago by hooking the loop knot of someone's leader that was still in its mouth.

I did that once, i.e. sense a strike, set the hook and when the fish came to my boat I'd hooked the loop of the pre-fab snelled hook & leader.  Made me say, " huh".   Anyway, the hook was in pretty deep  and it was a short fish anyway so I just threw it back & it swam away.

On 4/11/2017 at 1:12 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

my buddy caught a spotted bass on a crankbait while we were night fishing a few years ago by hooking the loop knot of someone's leader that was still in its mouth.

Thats exactly what happened, the fish was gut hooked, so someone released it, and i caught their line.

interesting story. don't have an answer , but thought it was kinda cool. be hard to repete