Bad Hook Sets

[Scorcher214]

I fished with a frog yesterday and even though I only caught one using it, it was about 3lb and I was pretty happy about that. But the hook had gone through its tongue area. Man that was a pain to get out.

Then I had one on a jitter bug and it had inhaled the thing. Hooks in its bottom mouth area and in the gills. Bled all over the boat and on my pants and tore my thumb up while I was holding it. I tried pulling that hook out so hard my arm was shaking. Took a good 3 minutes but I eventually got the hooks out and the fish back in the water. I tried reviving it and it moving it around in the water and what not...went upright and swam off right below the surface...It was dark so I lost sight of it pretty quick. Felt bad .

Happened several times yesterday and it was just annoying the crap outta me. Ever have one of those days? I want to be delicate with the bass but Im starting to think that just ripping the hooks out as hard and as quick as possible would be better. Possibly damaging the bass a little more but reducing time out of the water. Thoughts?

[00 mod]

Make sure to have pliers!!! It happens. Fishing is a blood sport

Jeff

[ChrisAW]

If I hook in a sensitive spot like that, and I can reach the barb, I pinch it to make hook removal easier. Hooks are cheap and replaceable, makes removal much easier to do this.

[Scorcher214]

I am never without pliers. But dang, it can be a real pain getting the hook out sometimes.

[NoBassPro]

Sidecutters

[Michael DiNardo]

I don't know how to describe this but I'll try: push the hook forward slightly while pushing away from the barb then removing the hook. This opens the hole a little but hopefully gets the tissue out of the barb. Also the sidecutters are a good idea. It is pretty common in muskie fishing to sacrifice yuor hooks.

Mike

[islandbass]

Yeah, that's tough to experience. 3 minutes is an awfully long time to get a hook out for sure. I feel for you and the fish. It makes me seriously consider the use of barbless hooks. We're mostly catch and release anyway. But has anyone ever seen barbless trebles? In some areas of my state barbless is the rule of the land and I haven't noted an increase in losses via fish coming undone.

[Scorcher214]

I usually go barbless on single hook lures, but with trebles...I rather not.

[ChrisAW]

I usually go barbless on single hook lures, but with trebles...I rather not.

I don't actually fish anything barb-less. I just pinch them to remove from a badly hooked fish. I quickly replace them, and keep fishing. Even trebles.

[Scorcher214]

I don't actually fish anything barb-less. I just pinch them to remove from a badly hooked fish. I quickly replace them, and keep fishing. Even trebles.

Ya, by barbless, I mean I just smash the barb down and fish it like that.

[RobertBG]

I have a few lures that tend to really hook them pretty bad too,what i do is flatten the barb just a little.I dont go all the way,just enough to make it easier to unhook em yet retain some of the barbs purpose and havent noticed a difference in fish landed since doing this.

[SirSnookalot]

I do my best to make hook removal as clean as possible, but it isn't always possible. As said it's a blood sport, I don't dwell a badly hooked fish for very long.

[Crestliner2008]

I stopped using barbed hooks years ago, except on my drop shot hooks. Even my expensive cranks, I crimp down the barbs. Very rare to loose a fish unless they bite very short and break water a lot. The way I look at it, it's not imperative for me to land every fish (but that's just me). Hook removal is a breeze when going barbless too. I don't remember the last time I saw blood.

[A-Jay]

I stopped using barbed hooks years ago, except on my drop shot hooks. Even my expensive cranks, I crimp down the barbs. Very rare to loose a fish unless they bite very short and break water a lot. The way I look at it, it's not imperative for me to land every fish (but that's just me). Hook removal is a breeze when going barbless too. I don't remember the last time I saw blood.

I have not done this - but I'm going to try it.

I think I'd like the easier release - for both me and the fish.

I will say that using a boga grip (Thanks Dwight) to unhook and release fish on treble hook baits has been nice.

I usually can keep the fish in the water and it's definitely safer -

A-Jay

[georgeyew]

I stopped using barbed hooks after my first fish that I gutted. I even switched over to barbless circle hooks for most of my fishing. Haven't killed a fish since.

[Rumslo]

Barbless is the way to go. I would hate to see a really nice hawg torn up so bad it cannot be released. The next person to tie into that fish just might be my grandson. Why deprive the next person of the thrill of latching onto a big un?

[Crestliner2008]

A side caveat to crimping down all the barbs is that should you get stuck - which is bound to happen if you fish much at all - hook removal is a lot easier and safer, as well as for the fish!

[Jay Ell Gee]

I haven't had a ton of issues yet, but since I am just seriously getting into fishing, I can see it becoming a problem from time to time.

I also recently picked up a 7 wt fly rod with a nice reel. I just got my casting to a serviceable level and hope to land my first bass very soon. I am highly considering crimping my barbs on my flies just in case I hook myself on accident. I went out fly fishing with my bud for the first time last week and he whipped a back cast right past my head... It got me thinking to say the least!

[dale.m]

Pressing down the barb and sliding the hook out has worked for me. I'd rather sacrifice a hook than a fish.

[BassAssassin726]

My fishing buddy is notorious for gut hooking fish. I dont think he understands the concept of setting the hook. I try telling him as soon as he feel the tap to set it but time after time i see him get a thump and not do anything for a second or two then just start reeling, giving the fish that extra second the swallow it deeper. Everyone on here has told me to use barbless hooks. Bought a pack last night and are gonna try em tomorrow. IF they are hooked deep and you can see the barb bend it down with pliers and it should slide out. Or cut it at the bend with wire cutters and remove the pieces.

[hatrix]

Get a pair of needle nose. They are a MUST for fishing any thing with trebles. As for tearing your thumb up grab the fish behind the head and not the mouth. Catch 30 lbers in a day and grab them all by the mouth and your thumb will be sorry.

[ClackerBuzz]

did you see the pix on the hook removal posts? helps alot

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12981-how-do-i-remove-a-hook-a-bass-has-swallowed/page__st__15

[Bass Slayer 72]

Yup, needle nose pliers for sure, I also carry a pair of 5-1/2'' Forceps, you know they look like surgical instruments, they are nice to be able to get down deeper than the pliers and can really help backing out those hook sets, or lack their of.

[prjavelin]

if you damage a fish that bad, take home or give it to someone who would eat it. Dont let it go to waste.

[flyeaglesfly5186]

I had a bad hook the other day. First set of trebles hit the lip, second set completely ripped the eye out and it was dangling on the hook away from the fish. Not fun. But it happens.