My Dad and I were fishing at a small lake (only 2-3 acres) but surprisingly there are many 3lb and up bass (pretty big for ohio). My Dad caught one on a weedless frog, but it was hooked in the bottom of the mouth. We got the hook out quickly, and it swam away fine but it was bleeding pretty much. I was wondering if this fish will be okay because it is rare to catch a fish that size up here and I would hate to see it dead. thanks.

I would think the fish would survive depending what was bleeding.

Did you damage the gills taking the hook out?  Were the gills bleeding?

If not, then the bass should recover.

What do you guys think?????

I'm not sure if it was in the gills. It was in the bottom right side of the mouth... to the right of the tongue. So I dont know if the gills extend down there or not. Thanks

It should be fine.

Even bass that are gill hooked will survive if the damage is not too extensive. I wouldn't worry about it, chances are very good that the fish is just fine. Quick release is the most important key to survival. Bass are much tougher than you might think. The worst thing I think fishermen do is haul them around in their livewell all day, especially in the summer. Those fish become VERY stressed.

Even bass that are gill hooked will survive if the damage is not too extensive. I wouldn't worry about it, chances are very good that the fish is just fine. Quick release is the most important key to survival. Bass are much tougher than you might think. The worst thing I think fishermen do is haul them around in their livewell all day, especially in the summer. Those fish become VERY stressed.

Agreed! Bass are not as fragile as alot of people make them out to be.

Its hard to say but at least it wasn't the tongue. Most fish I've seen tongue hooked don't make it.

Thanks guys! We aren't going to use that lure anymore. Also we went back an hour later and we didn't see it floating so it should be ok.

First off, LMB are really tough, so it should be fine.

Secondly, I don't think you should stop using an age old, great top water bait like your weedles frog, just cause you made a fish bleed. It was probably a fluke, and to take such a fun lure out of your arsonal doesn't do you justice as a fisheman. Just an opinion. However, if the incident was kind of traumatic for you, then by all means don't use a weedless frog anymore. But thousands of people have caught LMB with weedless frogs and 99.929037519845% of those fish wound up just fine.

Lastly, if the fish had died after you released it, it most likely would have fallen to the bottom of the pond, as it is heavier than water. As any animal decays, gasses build up in their bodies.  With your bass  the gasses would have caused the body to rise to the surface after a few days probably.

todd

SHould be fine if she swam off ok and wasnt bleeding too bad.  My little brother brought ina  4.5 lber I hooked one time, had it right in the gill bleeding all over.  Released her after getting alot of water thru her gills for 10 min.  That fall I caught a fish with what I call a dead gill(real pink, not red) in the exact same pond and same sized fish.  She should make it.

What lake was it?

It doesnt have a name that I know of. It's by a church and way towards the back of a field. By the way, I wouldnt give up my favorite fishing spot!  ;D