Fish Hooked In The Throat

[CalebJ]

The past few days I've been wearing bass out on a t rigged worm. But every time i haul one in, its been hooked in the back  of the throat 8 out of 10 times. How can I help this because its a pain to dig the hook out without hurting the fish

[fishva]

Set the hook sooner.

[yukyuklee]

agree with above, don't try to pry the hook out just cut the line and release

[00 mod]

The past few days I've been wearing bass out on a t rigged worm. But every time i haul one in, its been hooked in the back  of the throat 8 out of 10 times. How can I help this because its a pain to dig the hook out without hurting the fish

 

 

Set the hook faster and if the fish is still gut hooked, see below...... 

 

agree with above, don't try to pry the hook out just cut the line and release

 

 

Do not just cut the line! If this is the only thing you ever learn from Bass Resource, please practice and master this technique.....

 

1) With the hook in the gullet, note which side of the fish's mouth the hook shank is toward. Note: For illustration sake, the line is eliminated here in steps 2 through 5. In reality, the line stays connected as this technique is performed.

(2) With a finger or two, reach in through the last gill arch on that side of the fish and push and pull down on the hookeye so the hook turns and . . .

(3) rolls out below the gill toward the side of the fish. At that point, amazingly, the hook, barb and all, almost always pops free from its hold in the fish's gullet.

(4) Reach into the fish's mouth and grip the bend in the hook (which is now up) and . . .

     

(5) lift it free. If the fish's mouth is too small to reach in with your hand, use a needle-nose pliers to grip the hook bend.

What needs to be emphasized is how resilient a fish's gills actually are -- far from being the fragile organs often suggest by some sources. And the occasional bleeding fish? Does it have to be kept? Just get the fish back into the water as soon as possible and, more often than not, the bleeding stops.

 

Jeff

[PondHopper96]

Bass are a lot more resilient then people think! There's a reason they've been around for millions of years

[Lund Explorer]

Bass are a lot more resilient then people think! There's a reason they've been around for millions of years

 

The real reason they've been around so long is due to being prolific breeders.

 

For the C&R crowd, the post Jeff made should be bookmarked, with a copy printed out for every tackle box.

[Preytorien]

Excellent illustration, thanks Jeff

[boostr]

I think there it's already a sticky for this somewhere on here.

[geo g]

Thanks Jeff, those are great pictures on how to do this simple technique.  If you learn nothing new this season, learn this technique.  This becomes second nature if you fish enough.  Do not leave the hook in a fish unless absolutely necessary.  I have caught thousands of fish this year, and have never had to leave a hook because of this technique.  I have removed some hooks that other people have left in the fish, either intentionally or unintentionally, some of those hooks were there for quite some time.  Save some bass, learn this technique!!!! 

[B@ssCrzy]

Ever since I learned the technique that Jeff posted I have yet to have to leave a hook in a fish.  It works perfectly.  Hooks do not disintegrate in fish like some people say they do so leaving a hook in a fish will hurt the fish.  Set the hook sooner on your fish and that should also help. 

[toned]

I've killed a fish trying to get the hook out that deep, since then I've been cutting the line, but I will try this for sure! great illustrations

[michang5]

I use and have shared the removal technique posted above numerous times. It's the best thing on this entire site, which is full of great things.

To the OP's original question: Set the hook sooner if you can. Also try a larger hook. I was having problems with a KVD Caffeine Shad awhile back and upping the hook size helped.

Are you keeping your rod tip up and removing excessive slack line? Is your rod sensitive enough to fish the rig you're using? Have you considered using yellow/high-viz braid (with fluoro leader) for increased sensitivity and to help with line watching?

All of these factors can help you feel the bite sooner, which is the key to fewer gut hooks.

[F14A-B]

That was a awesome Reply & Illustration!

Well done 00 mod !!

[shawnFL]

I did the above posted instruction. As soon as my bass came out of the water, he was already covered in blood. I couldn't get my fingers through the gill, but I could with my needle nosed pliers. I got the hook out in less than a minute, but I still don't think the fish made it (was dark.) I've learned to accept that sometimes bad hooksets happen and as much as it sucks to kill a fish, I'm sure the fishes body will feed other wild life so it wont be a complete disaster.

[Fish Murderer 71]

I caught the most beat up bass I've ever seen last night!  One eye was gone ( and grown over) mouth full of scars, and an old rusty hook stuck in its gullet.  Took about 20 seconds to remove it just like the instruction above say.  I felt bad for that fish.  wish my phone wasnt dead last night or I would have taken a picture.  Then you too could feel bad for that fish...

[Mccallister25]

I caught the most beat up bass I've ever seen last night! One eye was gone ( and grown over) mouth full of scars, and an old rusty hook stuck in its gullet.

On top of all that, still fell for your offering. If it wasn't for bad luck, that fish would have no luck at all

[Scott F]

If you are constantly gut hooking fish, try pinching down the barb. You will seldom lose a fish and you'll be surprised at how easily you can remove the hook even when they take it deep.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

If you are constantly gut hooking fish, try pinching down the barb. You will seldom lose a fish and you'll be surprised at how easily you can remove the hook even when they take it deep.

I agree 100%. I pinch all my barbs.