Rat-L-Trap Shreds Bass' Lips

[toddwchandler]

I am strictly a catch and release bass fisherman and always do the best I can to return the fish to the water as quickly as possible with as little trauma as possible.

Tonight I tied on a Rat-L-Trap for the first time and promptly landed a 2lb bass. When I got him in I noticed that the front treble hook had carved up his lips pretty good and was tightly embedded and there was a lot of blood. I did my best to work quickly and remove the hooks but this fish was in rough shape with pieces of his lips missing by the time I got him back in the water.

Is this characteristic of a Rat-L-Trap or did thus particular fish just have bad luck? I did notice when taking the lure out of the package that the hooks were good and sharp.

To make matters worse, I was holding the fish firmly with my left hand while removing the hooks with my right. After I got him back in the water and resumed fishing I kept smelling a nasty smell. I looked down and the fish had crapped all over my left hand. Guess he did not take kindly to having his lips carved up!

[Cgrinder]

Turn down your barbs and try to minimize fish flopping. But yeah, that happens sometimes.

[Bluebasser86]

It happens sometimes with most any bait, obviously more so with treble hooked baits. The more you allow a fish to flop around the worse it will be. Keep them in the water, keep them from jumping, then get a tight grip on their lip while unhooking them so they can't flop around as much and you'll minimize the problem. 

[Grizzn N Bassin]

X2 what they said don't let them flop get control and you should reduce the ripped.. I caught all my fish on a trap the other day they all were fine no ripped lips... but yes occasionally it happens

[Marty]

I don't think that would be limited to a Trap and similar lipless crankbaits, but other crankbaits as well.

 

Just about all of us hate to injure fish, but just by the act of fishing we're willing to accept that every so often even though we try to minimize it. As was previously mentioned, crimping down the barbs will reduce the risk.

[Bass Junkie]

One aspect that seems to be overlooked is simply keeping the line taught. This keeps the hooks either buried in the fish or under tension in a direction away from them. From the moment I set the hooks until I lip the fish I want my line tight between me and the fish. 

[JD96]

I always feel bad catching fish on a treble hook, esp when they gulp down a little shad rap.. Makes me actually sad.

 

I figure as long as I do my part getting it out in a timely fashion, always keep a rag in the boat and long pliers.

 

Fish don't seem to suffer as much when caught on a jig or worm.

[BuffaloBass716]

I was fishing crankbait and I hooked a bass where the treble hook hooked the bass's lips together. It was difficult to get each part of the treble hook out of the bass without one side ripping in deeper because of the angle I needed to take them out. Just try to get them out as cleanly as possible.