releasing bass after deep hookset

[darren]

Wanted to make sure I was doing this right..I have been worm fishing lately, and the bass are taking it really lightly, and sometimes I only see the line moving sideways.. I reel up the slack to feel the pressure, to ensure i'm not just hung up, and then drop the hammer.  3 of the last 10 fish and been hooked really deeply.  Some are already bleeding when I get them to the boat. I will cut the hook as far back as I can and let the fish go.. they all seem to swim away, but this really bothers me. I do not want to kill any bass and want to make sure my son(10mo.old) has a chance to catch her when she is much bigger. any advice would help.....thanks    darren :'(

[rondef]

I have always been able to remove the hooks with the procedure below.

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

[tyrius.]

sometimes I only see the line moving sideways.. I reel up the slack to feel the pressure, to ensure i'm not just hung up,

Learn the technique that Rondef posted and keep in mind that when you're hung up the line isn't going to move sideways.  When the line moves any way outside of the norm then you've got a fish, so set the hook.  

[MbBass]

Next time this happens just cut the line and move the top part of the hook where it is hangin out of his gills . Then just push up on the hook . Hardly any damage will be done . Set the hook a little faster like the above fellas said . And you wont have this happen as much . Good luck.

[hoosierfisherman]

Good advice there....

[fishizzle]

this technique does work and another one I use if I cannot get the hook out is to cut it out with HD wire cutters.

You can cut as much of the hook out as you can see and sometimes cut off the barb and then remove the hook.

[shorefisher]

use the technique in the link that was posted but with one addition. If the barb has trouble coming out of the gullet after you have turned the hook around, slide needlenose or forceps down the shaft towards the tip which will give the barb enough room to easily pop out

[NJfishinGuy]

a similar technique i have used if it wont come out is to just gently push the tip the rest of the way through till the barb comes through then carefully grab the point with your pliars usually though the gills and slide the hook out pull from the point. usually will pop right through and fishy swims away no harm done.

[Newman12Fan]

interesting article, I will have to try that next time

[WRB]

Wanted to make sure I was doing this right..I have been worm fishing lately, and the bass are taking it really lightly, and sometimes I only see the line moving sideways.. I reel up the slack to feel the pressure, to ensure i'm not just hung up, and then drop the hammer. 3 of the last 10 fish and been hooked really deeply. Some are already bleeding when I get them to the boat. I will cut the hook as far back as I can and let the fish go.. they all seem to swim away, but this really bothers me. I do not want to kill any bass and want to make sure my son(10mo.old) has a chance to catch her when she is much bigger. any advice would help.....thanks darren :'(

Your ethics of C & R are good, however bleeding bass die. The solution to your problem is as stated; set the hook immediately whenever you feel a tap, see line jump or move slightly. Bass do not have hands and can only put the hook in their mouth before swallowing the soft plastic.

If the bass is deeply hooked and bleeding, put it on ice and take it home for a meal, instead of feeding the turtles and birds.

You really need to be careful handling bass when dehooking through the gills, the gills damage very easily. The IN-Fisherman article is a good method done properly. Bass can't breath air and must be put back into water every 30 to 45 seconds to keep them healthy, gills wet and slime intact. Over handling the bass trying to get the hook out is as damaging as bleeding. If you think the bass is in poor shape, it is. Set the hook quickly or keep the damaged or bleeding bass.

WRB

[bchlr]

maybe try a bigger hook?

[lknbassman]

Wanted to make sure I was doing this right..I have been worm fishing lately, and the bass are taking it really lightly, and sometimes I only see the line moving sideways.. I reel up the slack to feel the pressure, to ensure i'm not just hung up, and then drop the hammer. 3 of the last 10 fish and been hooked really deeply. Some are already bleeding when I get them to the boat. I will cut the hook as far back as I can and let the fish go.. they all seem to swim away, but this really bothers me. I do not want to kill any bass and want to make sure my son(10mo.old) has a chance to catch her when she is much bigger. any advice would help.....thanks darren :'(

Your ethics of C & R are good, however bleeding bass die. The solution to your problem is as stated; set the hook immediately whenever you feel a tap, see line jump or move slightly. Bass do not have hands and can only put the hook in their mouth before swallowing the soft plastic.

If the bass is deeply hooked and bleeding, put it on ice and take it home for a meal, instead of feeding the turtles and birds.

You really need to be careful handling bass when dehooking through the gills, the gills damage very easily. The IN-Fisherman article is a good method done properly. Bass can't breath air and must be put back into water every 30 to 45 seconds to keep them healthy, gills wet and slime intact. Over handling the bass trying to get the hook out is as damaging as bleeding. If you think the bass is in poor shape, it is. Set the hook quickly or keep the damaged or bleeding bass.

WRB

Totally correct. Went through this earlier this year with TX rigged Senkos and unpegged tungsten bullet weights.  It's like a mini carolina rig and detecting the bite is hard to feel with or without flourocarbon and a GLX rod...

If they are bleeding they will die from the injury so it's best to take it home and eat it because it will not survive.

[Crestliner2008]

The only hook I leave the barb on is my drop shot hook. Mainly because 99.9% of the time, they will be hooked in the upper lip. If you crimp down the barb on a DS hook, you will loose a high percentage of fish you catch, on the first jump. I crimp barbs on all my TX worm hooks, circle hooks (they can still get them down deep, regardless of all the hype to the contrary!) and all bait hooks.

I've never.....I need to repeat....never lost a fish I've hooked up with, on a barbless hook. Facilitates hook removal and reduces fish injury tremendously as well. Win - win.

[snapper G]

It's fine, to cut the hook if it's not stainless steel, the hook should rust out fine and good eat a day later, be happy!!

!