I only had one fish last year that swallowed the hook, I tried the above method, and it didnt work, which normally it does. So I cut the hook as short as possible, and tossed it back. The fish was about 5.5-6lbs, which is pretty darn big for the lake I was fishing. Throwing it back knowing that the hook was still in there, and there was a good chance of it dieing almost made me sick. I still wonder if that fish lived or died.