Hey have you guys checked out FishGoFree yet? It's a unique tool that removes hooks from fish while they're still in the water for a safe catch-n-release. This is especially useful for toothy creatures, but also for hands-free release of bass.

Fishgofree

The Catch and Release Stick - Fishgofree

A Few Words About UsWelcome to FishGoFree Better Ways to Release Fish: We are committed to catch and release fishing. This concept is important for even the average angler who is trying to catch enoug

Thoughts?

Don't want to spend the time looking it up. Hard no for me. Ruins 2/3 of the fun. The strike, getting them to the boat, then landing them without a net. That's how i like to do it, just watch those hooks...

Hummmm, definitely a different mouse trap. For me I think a more complicated device laying in the boat looking to get broken.

At $30.00 I would have to pass.

Not for me. If I don't put my hands on them, I didn't catch them.

I'm intrigued, but I worry that the a hook would entangle in the stick, but wouldn't free itself and then I've hooks in the netting and the fish at the same time.

Those things are for people that actually catch fish, so it’s a no for me…purely because I wouldn’t use it…

That said, if it came in multiple colors, sizes and was JDM, I’d buy probably 10.

Seems like a version in betwen the two sizes might be useful. I could see it being nice for people not wanting to bring a fish into the boat or kayak. I'd personally rather not bring a drum or catfish into the kayak if I catch it while fishing for bass most of the time, but it's pretty impossible to lean over far enough in my kayak to reach them and unhook them. I'd think there'd be a good number of guys that felt the same way about pike and pickeral.

I need to jump into this topic in that I am the owner of FishGoFree and inventor of the device pictured and discussed above (the Catch and Release Stick). However, this item is relevant to muskie fishing and not really a good fit for bass. I wouldn't pay $30 for it either if I planned to use it for releasing bass. We have a second product (the FishGoFree Hookout) that I use all the time for releasing bass and all kinds of other fish caught on single hooks. The idea for both of these devices is to quickly and easily release fish that you don't want to keep or photograph. Good catches are worth handling like you usually do. The Stick works for fish caught on treble hooks (like muskie bucktails) and the Hookout works for fish caught on any kind of single hook.

The Hookout costs $7.95 for a two-pack and is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket. For a decent bass you probably want to lip it and take a photo. But for small ones, or any kind of by-catch that you just want to get back into the water, this small device works great. You can shake the fish off quickly without needing to touch it at all. Saves damage to the slime layer of the fish, and prevents getting your hand slimed. In salt water we can get dangerous fish like sea catfish and stingrays off much more easily and safely. There are also some by-catch species with bass fishing (pike and gars come to mind) that can be dealt with in this way.

Anyhow, I just wanted to clarify things. If you need more information you can look up FishGoFree. Our only products have to do with releasing fish, not catching them. We are always looking for better release methods and are presently developing a third product that is being tested now.

Here's how the Hookout works:

https://fishgofree.com/

Ahhh, @psohnle I totally see the “big stick” being more target focused towards pike and such. Visualizing using it in the bass world was my shortcoming.

Thanks for posting and clarification of it’s intended use.

And Welcome to Bassresource.com

Ah yes, my favorite part of fishing...removing treble hooks from netting material.