Remove Hooks from Deep Hooked Fish with Minimal Harm

[Harold H]

Watched this a while back and tried it today, worked well, no harm to the fish. If you fish with worms or stick baits a lot it's common for bass to eat it like food, so this is a good trick if your bass eats your worm hook. I caught one that had a hook in its gullet before I learned this, it's belly was shrunk and looked sick

 

 

[1984isNOW]

Always a good reminder, a good practices and conservation thread should be pinned somewhere

[WRB]

Or use circle hooks for weightless stick baits eliminates gut hooking.

Tom

[GreenPig]

Excellent. 

[Jar11591]

6 hours ago, 1984isNOW said:

Always a good reminder, a good practices and conservation thread should be pinned somewhere

I agree, and there is a pinned thread on how to unhook a deeply-hooked bass already in the tackle section.  

[1984isNOW]

4 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

already

Yes, this is good, but only a small part of learning how to be a responsible angler.

 

I'm sure there's a good number of noobs who lurk this forum but don't join, I lurked for a few years before actually signing up.

 

If this is one of the first stops for somebody looking into fishing we should pin a "Start Here" thread. First steps should not be learning about what techniques are best in what conditions or what gear is best bang for the buck, first steps should be learning that we ought to be good stewards of this earth, and that means treating the fish and nature with respect.

 

I've seen videos of young bloods chuckin bass like a hail Mary back into the drink, trying to angle a 5# bass sideways only holding the jaw, putting bedding bass in live wells etc.

 

Also, not to leave your trash and fishing line and stuff all over the place. It's about doing as little harm to all the creatures that inhabit the area. It's about doing the right thing with the small things in life, because in the long run that can help you learn to make better decisions regardless of the setting and be a better person even when nobody is looking.

 

Obviously the pinned thread should go more into detail and explanation and add more, and then also move on to the next first steps to becoming a responsible and effective angler.

[Swamp Girl]

47 minutes ago, 1984isNOW said:

I've seen videos of young bloods chuckin bass like a hail Mary back into the drink, trying to angle a 5# bass sideways only holding the jaw, putting bedding bass in live wells etc.

 

I've seen those videos too. Shameful.

 

I love your entire post, Mr. NOW.

[N Florida Mike]

Looks like an effective way.

My method: It’s hard to explain , but I reach in through the mouth until I find where the point of the hook is .  Then I push whatever is hooked ( usually the outer skin of the stomach), downward with my index finger along the hook  until  it pops out. I do this better with my hand than with pliers. Most of the time, the fish will swim off with little to no blood or damage. I’m careful, and have never hooked myself either. Talking hundreds of times.

[Bluebasser86]

This method is very simple and IMO, much better than leaving a hook in the throat of a fish where it may keep the throat pinned shut and the fish will slowly starve to death. Even if removing it does kill it, it will be much faster than starvation.

[greentrout]

Bought some Gamakatsu Inline Octopus Circle hooks which I'll put on my Whacky rigs shortly. Really dislike gut hooked Bass. 

Good Fishing 

[Harold H]

I bet a wacky rig under a slip float would be deadly, might try it

[steve carpenter]

Have done this and it does work especislly over weeds. Problem is that the bass take the hook deep because of the delay in feeling the strike because of the float

[Harold H]

4 hours ago, steve carpenter said:

Have done this and it does work especislly over weeds. Problem is that the bass take the hook deep because of the delay in feeling the strike because of the float

Circle hooks should help prevent that