Serious question... need answer

[Sunshine---]

need some feedback from you guys.  Hate when this happens as it did this morning.  Hooked a small bass with a worm and decent size hook and had trouble getting the hook out.  Here are a few questions....

Is it ever a good move to simply cut the line with hook still in mouth or throat??  If so, does the hook simply dissolve or pass??  The hook this morning was pretty deep in throat and I could not get it out.

What tools would you guys recommend for removal??

What else would you suggest as a way to not catch small bass??  Should I use a larger hook or bait??

I consider this a very important topic and would love to hear what you guys have to say.....

[S I G M A]

If it is deep hooked, its best to cut the line closest to the hook as trying to remove it will kill it most of the time. I beleive that the hook will eventually just dissolve from the acids in the bass. I just use needlenose pliers for removing hooks, nothing fancy.

bigger baits- bigger bass

little baits- more bass...

just set the hook sooner when you feel the tap, and gut hooking shouldn't be as much as a problem

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Here ya go...

http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.html

Read up and enjoy!!!

[MichiganFisherman]

IMO It's usually a lot better to just cut the line when the hook is in the throat as it will eventually rust out or reject itself.  Trying to dig it out is pretty risky and can easily kill a fish.

Bigger bait = Bigger fish.  Also pay attention to when that fish is striking... (feel your bait) to avoid them swallowing it.

[S I G M A]

Here ya go...

http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.html

Read up and enjoy!!!

amazing!

[Sunshine---]

Good stuff.  Thanks guys...

[Uncle Leo]

Here ya go...

http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.html

Read up and enjoy!!!

I was taught this by a Guide on Lake Guerruro In Mexico last year. These bass would hit a Texas Rig hard and would just swallow so we gut hooked a lot with a 5/0 hook. I was just cutting off so he laughed and showed us how to save hooks. It works!

[roadwarrior]

The procedure will work nearly every time, but after a minute or so, cut the line if you can't work it out.

8-)

[George Welcome]

IMO It's usually a lot better to just cut the line when the hook is in the throat as it will eventually rust out or reject itself. Trying to dig it out is pretty risky and can easily kill a fish.

Bigger bait = Bigger fish. Also pay attention to when that fish is striking... (feel your bait) to avoid them swallowing it.

Read the referenced article, you might find it enlightening. Many fish swallow the bait without your awareness. Get a copy of Glen Lau's "Big Bass Forever": you will be amazed.

[stump1001]

If you got him hooked in the gullet and you can see the sharp end of the hook sticking through,  you can cut the line and pull it on through.  The eyelet comes through a lot easier than the barb.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

8-)

[deep_wormin]

Good article, I have always just cut the line close to the hook , but will try this next time.  

[jrhennecke]

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

[detroit1]

I once caught a 14" lm that had 4" of mono and just the shank of a hook sticking out it's butt. Must've been there for awhile because the hook was rusted pretty bad. Pulled it out and let it go.  

[MichiganFisherman]

IMO It's usually a lot better to just cut the line when the hook is in the throat as it will eventually rust out or reject itself. Trying to dig it out is pretty risky and can easily kill a fish.

Bigger bait = Bigger fish. Also pay attention to when that fish is striking... (feel your bait) to avoid them swallowing it.

Read the referenced article, you might find it enlightening. Many fish swallow the bait without your awareness. Get a copy of Glen Lau's "Big Bass Forever": you will be amazed.

Good article.  I've never tried it but, will be sure to in the future if a fish swallows the hook.  I guess depending on what bait you're using a fish could swallow it without you knowing it but, that only happens to me with bluegill sometimes.  I also was sure that the gills were fairly fragile but, I guess they are tougher than I thought..  I still like to treat 'em with care though.    

[JShrock07]

I disagree with cutting the line at the hook. If you cannot get the hook out then I would keep the fish. I caught a bas sthe other day at night and when i got the fish in I saw that there was a hook hanging out the pee hole. I took my pliers and removed the hook and when I did about 10 yards of fishing line came out and it had 3 split shot weights attched to it. The hook that i pulled out was a small hook and if you leave a large hook in the fish I beleive it will kill the fish in the long run.

JMO

[Little Luey]

I disagree with cutting the line at the hook. If you cannot get the hook out then I would keep the fish. I caught a bas sthe other day at night and when i got the fish in I saw that there was a hook hanging out the pee hole. I took my pliers and removed the hook and when I did about 10 yards of fishing line came out and it had 3 split shot weights attched to it. The hook that i pulled out was a small hook and if you leave a large hook in the fish I beleive it will kill the fish in the long run.

JMO

I agree that a larger hook will most likely kill the fish, but what you saw sounds like the line broke off during the fight and the fish just swallowed it later.

I had seen a senko in the fish gullet before and I could not get it out, I removed my hook and let the little guy go with the senko still in him.

[kms399]

if it is a smaller fish EAT HIM! fish taste good and what better than fresh fish for dinner. the stuff is worth at least $700 a pound. I don't keep them very often in fact if I want dinner I will target sunnies or crappies but if I have a bleeder or one that is gut hooked I keep him and the next three I catch under 2 lbs.

[bchlr]

great technique. But it's hard to be done on small fish, which I find happen to swallow hooks more often than bigger ones. I'd just cut the line and let the fish go; 3 times a day and gamakatsu hooks suddenly become expensive