When a Fish Swallows your hook

[Muad Dib]

I was using a texas rigged worm and on the way down the fish took it swallowed it and i had to cut it off. This happened twice. Obvioulsy i couldnt get it out without killing the fish. so heres my question is there a way to get ur hook out without killing the fish. and what happens if u cut ur line with the hook in the fishes stomach. will it live or more likely die? stinking happened twice i was not a happy fisherman

trav

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

First, I'll cut the line right at the hook if I think there's any chance the fish will die.

I have in the past taken a hook out by putting my needlenose through the gills (instead of through the top of the mouth).  Gives a better angle to get the hook.  Sometimes, they come out pretty easy..amazingly.

[Syfer420]

if you don't have dehooker ( rapala makes them cheap) turn the hook upside down with the eye of the hook facing out of the gill then put your hand through the gill gently pushing the hook upwards. Ive found that 90 percent of the time the barb isn't in the fishes stomach but do it gently just to be sure. When i use live bait they tend to get gut hooked ever once in a while but this works great for me.

[fishfordollars]

I cut it and let them go.

[Glenn]

Don't cut the line and let it go.  Use this method instead:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1128002349/22#22

It works!!

[Jig Man]

Don't cut the line and let it go. Use this method instead:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1128002349/22#22

It works!!

This absolutely works.  I have never seen one that wouldn't come out.

[Dan:]

if the barb is visible, take a pair of wire cutters and cut the hook above the barb, then slide the now barbless part right out. This is a little more difficult with superline hooks

[Raul]

. so heres my question is there a way to get ur hook out without killing the fish.

trav

I cut the hook with pliers into two and even three pieces and remove them, after all, how many cents is a hook worth ?

[GitRDoneIke23]

. so heres my question is there a way to get ur hook out without killing the fish.

trav

I cut the hook with pliers into two and even three pieces and remove them, after all, how many cents is a hook worth ?

Right on! If you can't get all of the hook out cut off what you can. The fishes stomach enzymes will pass the hook. Like Raul said so you loose 0.12 on a hook. big deal.

Ike 8-)

[Crestliner2008]

I totally agree with the article cited here; however, there's one more step you might also consider taking. Crimping down the barb. I've caught a lot of bass in my day. Some pretty big ones too. All my off-set worm hooks are barbless and I've lost very few fish. And so what if you loose one occaisionally? The point of fishing is to have fun, not hurt the resource, right? Even deeply hooked bass can have the hook easily removed this way. Better yet, if you get stuck, no big deal extracting that either.  

[Catt]

I've learned more from Glenn than anyone I've never been in a boat with