2 questions, lures left in lip and catch and release

[kiteman]

1. I use snaps and my snap must have come undone and bent when a bass hit my jig with a small craw trailer. It hit it hard in the weeds, I saw part of the belly and it looked decent size, but it was dark and pulling weeds also makes a fish seem bigger than it really is. I can't imagine anything over 2-3lbs. Also based on how quickly I set the hook, I bet it is stuck in the jaw and not in the gills or anything. How likely is it that a bass can survive with a jig in it's lip?

 

2. I caught a 3lb earlier in the day, again lots of forage in front of the bank so usually instead of trying to throw a fish clear of the vegetation, I try to find a clear area to release. Well, this stupid fish turned around and swam back towards me then high tailed it into the weeds. I saw a bunch of ripples close to the shore and then it stopped. But as thick as that stuff is, can a fish get stuck? I poked around and nothing was there, so I'm assuming it got lose. I don't mind throwing the little ones out beyond the vegetation, but I figure it's best to be gentle with the larger ones.

 

Thanks for the help.

[WRB]

 Tie directly to hooks and jigs.

Tom

[Angry John]

The fish will go into the weeds to recover no big deal.  A fish will toss the jig hopefully in a few days or get caught again and the next angler will take it out.  I find fish with hooks in them every once in a while and i get them out, and let them free....

[NHBull]

I usually use snaps for cranks and sometimes swimers

[BuzzHudson19c]

Depending on the size of the jig and assuming the fish had a good hook set in the lip it can get it loose. The weight of the jig gives it some leverage to shake free. That being said, if you use snaps don't cheap out. Buy ones with heavy enough wire to handle the fish you may catch. Those cheap gold ones are a joke.

[kiteman]

Sounds like it may live, though not many people fish out there so I'm not sure if it has a good chance of shaking  it naturally?

 

This is what I've been using for the last 4-5 years. I've caught as big as a 6lb LMB, and only twice including today have they become unsnapped and bent until I lost the lure over that same period of time. And it's possible it's my fault for leaving those two snaps on for too long. Any thoughts on these? If not then I'm not sure what ideal snaps are...

 

250PCS/BOX Size 0 1 2 3 4 Stainless Steel Duo-lock Snaps Assortement Fishing Lure/Hook Connector Black Nickel Color (150Pcs/Box Size 0 1 2 3 4) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073F8VWMF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gLMcAbMEJXZF6

 

[Sword of the Lord]

The ideal snap is no snap. Gross.

[IndianaOutdoors]

Ditch the snaps.  Better sensitivity, one thing less to break and collect weeds.  Knots wear out and should be retied anyway.  I used to use snap swivels before I knew any better.

[kiteman]

1 hour ago, Sword of the Lord said:

The ideal snap is no snap. Gross.

I understand. But I only get about an hour every month to fish from a large pond from the bank. Snaps are the way to go for me with such a short window of time and big body if water without a boat, and they haven't failed me except for twice.

 

Nonetheless if anyone has further input on my initial questions, to ease my mind about this fish I hooked!

[DINK WHISPERER]

It'll be just fine I think. I caught one with a crankbait pinned to it's upper and lower lips and it still managed to take my plastic worm. 

[NorthwestBasser]

No reason to use snaps on a jig, if you're fishing heavy veg, a liability like a snap is the last thing you want between you and the big girls. Not to mention it's gonna catch more grass and ruin your presentation. 

Studies have been done on fish with lures and hooks left in them. It's actually quite impressive how fast the fish can shake a hook. 

Bass thrive in the thick stuff, that's it's comfort zone so releasing it and watching her swim into the grass shouldn't cause you a bit of grief, she knew exactly where she wanted to go.

[Choporoz]

8 hours ago, kiteman said:

I understand. But I only get about an hour every month to fish from a large pond from the bank. Snaps are the way to go for me with such a short window of time and big body if water without a boat, and they haven't failed me except for twice.

 

Nonetheless if anyone has further input on my initial questions, to ease my mind about this fish I hooked!

At risk of piling on, I too, think you should ditch the snap for your jigs....and most everything else.  I won't argue those who say quality snaps are ok for cranks.  Get a good cutter, like a boomerang and keep it around your neck...and practice tying knots while you sit in front of the TV or on the bus, or wherever you have some time to kill.  It won't be long before you find you can cut and retie faster than you can unsnap and snap.  And then you remove a weak link, catch fewer grass and moss, and gain confidence in your rigging.

 

As to initial questions, those fish are going to be fine.

[Pro Logcatcher]

I don't use snaps. When fishing lures like poppers which I feel require more movement, then I'll tie a King Sling knot. This gives the bait more range of motion and doesn't unbalance it like a swivel does. Only time I'll ever use swivels is with a double fluke rig.

[scaleface]

9 hours ago, kiteman said:

and they haven't failed me except for twice.

If thats acceptable   then   continue to use them . 

[geo g]

As thick as the weeds are down in south Florida I never use less then 15 pound test floro, or heavy braid, and 15 pound mono for top water.  Tie directly to the lure, and always get their head up high and out of the thick weed stems.  If you play the fish in this stuff, you lose the fish.  Whether their big or small its all the same, head up, stay up, and surf over the thick stuff.  Shock and Aw tactics.

[Gundog]

Probably everyone who has fished for a few years has caught a bass with a hook in its mouth. They live and eat despite the metal object in their lip. Most of us have broken off a lure in a fishes mouth only to see that fish jump out of the water to shake the hook. More than likely, the bass you hooked threw the lure after several jumps or head shakes. The reason I believe that the fish probably shook the lure off is the fact that most times when I lose a fish its because he jumped and threw the lure. If they can do that with fishing line & rod attached, they can do that when they are not attached. Don't worry about it. 

 

 

 

 

 

p.s. Ditch the snaps. They are terrible. Don't ask me how I know.

[kiteman]

Thanks guys. One of the reasons I've used the snap is I am terrible with a jig. I never catch anything! But yesterday I started flipping it right on the edge of the the weeds, that's how I "caught" this one and the other 3lb. I had another hit it hard as well but not enough to snag. Of course flipping with a spinning rod from the bank looks rather ridiculous, I basically lob the lure up in the air and try to land it right where the weeds end. I had been just casting out and trying a myriad of reeling in techniques with little success. In fact the 3lb I caught earlier in the day I had reeled the jig past him many times, some worms and a crank and couldn't get him to bite. But the lob jig flip thing worked lol. I probably look like a dang fool out there though, haha.

 

Needless to say I usually use snaps with jigs because I cast them a dozen times with no luck and move on. I'm starting to become a believer though. I'm actually pretty good with tying knots, I just typically don't have issues with snaps.

[BrackishBassin]

I posted some research I read a while back about musky and their ability to shake lures that were stuck in their mouth. Long story short, they were almost always able to shake the lure. However, that study was done with crankbaits with two sets of trebles. How would that translate to a single hook like a jig in a different species? I couldn’t tell you. But, if I had to guess, I’d say the bass has a decent chance of shaking the jig and going on about his business. 

[Angry John]

Rule of thumb for me and snaps is 1. does the lure have treble hooks, and 2 is it hard plastic.  If yes then it gets a snap.  I use the owner welded snaps and never had an issue.  Quality counts for something.  Single hook presentations never get a snap....

[Chance_Taker4]

This video is more about leaving hooks in when you gullet hook but I would think the same principle applies to when a fish breaks you off. It is an interesting watch about how fish live with hooks left in them.

 

 

[N Florida Mike]

I dont use swivels for my usual soft plastics because it makes them sink faster , the fish can see them , I have other rods rigged anyway with different baits, and I retie to avoid nicks in the line continually. Bottom line is that I didnt catch very many fish back in the day when I used them. The only advantage I see in using them is convenience, which isnt a good reason

As far as releasing fish , I think some die if theyre gut hooked but when the gills are injured they nearly always die. I keep injured fish for awhile to watch them and see if they make it or not. If not , time for a fish fry! ?

I havent had many fish break off with a lure in its mouth. My opinion is most of them will survive.