Swallowing the Hook

[hookem19]

there has been a couple of times where the bass has swallowed the better portion of the hook... what should i do at this point? should i just rip it out and let the fish heal or cut the line and see if the hook will work itself out?

[johnbr19792003]

i cut the line as close as i can get it but not saying thats the right thing to do. I dont really know, doesnt happen much to me anyway. Are you using live bait.

[Muddpuppy]

I thought I just saw a recent post on here about removeing it through the gills. I quickly scrolled through the list but didn't see it it may be in the past posts. If I find it I will post the location.  I think it was Ku_Bassmasters post on page 3 http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.h tml

[basskid1]

I think the best way is to just cut the line so u dont kill the fish trying to jerk ur hook out ,because the hooks gonna disolve and ill rether waste a hook then kill a BASS !!!!

[hookem19]

when it's happened i have been using plastic worms and i think it's because i have been putting the hook down a little too far. i'll just cut the line from now on but i'll try and keep the hook higher

[Nick_Barr]

They have the tip on B.A.S.S. hompage in their fishing tips.

[Daniel_Hwang]

What I usaually do is have this one tool that used to take out deep hooks.  I'm not sure what you call it, but what the tool does is use the line as a guid and hooks onto the hook, then it flips the hook upside down and the weight of the fish should unhook itself.  Sorry for the bad expaination.

Here's a link:

It's not the same thing, but has the same idea.

http://www.projectsandhobbies.com/fishin4.jpg

[Cephkiller]

I don't know if this the tip to which you are referring, but I read it somewhere.

Reach up through the gill on the side closest to the hook point.  Grab the line with your finger and pull it down.  This should turn the hook around and allow you to remove it.  If not, cut the line and hope for the best.

[Redtail]

Are you letting the fish swim for a while before setting the hook?  A quick hook set will usually keep the fish from swallowing the bait.

[Cephkiller]

Oh yeah.  The best solution is what Redtail said.  I got caught up in trying to explain the fancy little technique and forgot the most obvious solution to your problem.

[mattdbrewster]

leaving the hook in is completely harmless and is surely the way to go. it will work out naturally and disolve just like ( another person on the topic said).

[BD]

Last thursday I had this exact same thing happen to me.

I tried gently removing the hook, and she started to bleed. I cut the line and put her back in the water.

She swam away just fine, so I also am hoping that hooks fall out in due time. I don't honestly know either way, but I didn't want to kill her for a bas hookset.

[Tiger95]

I deep hooked a bass using a Zoom centipede last week  at a local pond. I had read the article about removing deep hooks on here a few weeks ago so I thought I would give it a try. Once I had the hook eye pointed out through the gills, the hook point popped right out. I think I'm going to use this method more in the future.

[fatbass]

 By going under the gill cover, I worry about damaging the gill filament.  And, what if the fish is already bleeding bad.  I cut one loose the other day that was hooked way deep and I just couldn't get at the hook either way. I didn't have my long nose pliers either though.

 Regarding a timely hookset.  At least with the previous mentioned fish, I was fishing in very windy conditions using a tube bait.  Just when to pull the trigger can be awful touchy.  Too soon, missed fish too late deep hook.

[jbrazWI]

Actually, fish gills are very resilient--makes sense since bass and other species of fish will consume smaller fish species (panfish) which have sharp dorsal and anal fins.

I tend to believe In-Fisherman because of their commitment to write about new scientific studies and breakthroughs.  I have read the article Muddpuppy mentioned many times, but for some reason the link in his post just went to their home page.  Try this one:  http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.html

I started using the method mentioned in this article and it works great!

jb

[burneddude1]

Hey jb_spwi, excellent article. I think that should be read by everyone. I've never seen that technique before but I will certainly be trying it in the future. Now all I have to do is hook one! lol

[BD]

I am going to check that article out as well, thanks for the link.

[basskid1]

Redtail      Posted on: Mar 28th, 2005, 6:49am

Are you letting the fish swim for a while before setting the hook?  A quick hook set will usually keep the fish from swallowing the bait.

I think you should let the fish swim with the bait for about 5 sec becasue alot of the fish well pick up a bait that on the bottom by the tail and the bass is gonna run with the bait and then get the part of the bait with the hook in it.What ever works for you  though

[jbrazWI]

Hey folks,

You are welcome for that link.  Although Muddpuppy deserves credit as well!  

I just found the article I was looking for concerning this topic and what In-Fisherman writes is as follows:  "Hooks left in fish don't quickly rust away, don't quickly get digested by stomach juices.  Even bronze hooks may last for months and months, often until the fish dies-sometimes of starvation, if the hook blocks the gullet."

There are three other very good points about "myths" surrounding cutting the line in this article (In-Fisherman, February 2005, pp10-12).  Check it out and/or read the link in my previous post on this thread...very good information!

jb

[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.

[Smellycat]

I have the tool pictured in one of the replys.  I got it at Wal-mart for a couple of bucks.  So far it has worked great.  

[NBR]

First I use barbless hooks, they come out of the fish and me easier. The through the gill method works and there is a gadget called a Barbit. It follows the line into the fish and has a cutter to cut the barb off and a magnet to catch the pieces. As I recall its something like $16.

[GobbleDog]

First I use barbless hooks, they come out of the fish and me easier. The through the gill method works and there is a gadget called a Barbit. It follows the line into the fish and has a cutter to cut the barb off and a magnet to catch the pieces. As I recall its something like $16.

Good luck with that. There's no way in hell I'm cutting off the barbs. You're bound to lose a bunch of fish.

[JayDub]

  Heres something interesting... i don't know if it works for bass too.  My grandfather was catching catfish one day and instead of messing with the hook he would just cut the swallowed ones off and put the catfish in a basket.  At the end of the day when he went to take the fish out every single swallowed hook was lying in the bottem of the basket and the fish were fine.  If it was me i would definantly just cut the line.  

[GobbleDog]

The hook definately won't rust away in a week like in salt water. So the question is can most bass continue to eat and live with a hook stuck in it's gut/throat.

My guess is that most probably can't. I think they generally have the best chance of living by taking out the hook, no matter how gut-hooked it is.