Hooks "rusting" out

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Can anyone prove this?  Ever see it documented anywhere?  I have saltwater hooks that are rusted and 10 yrs old, they still exist though.

I've just yet to see or hear a biologist say this is true.  I personally, find it VERY hard to believe.  

[Desultory]

When I was researching C&R I found this article which I thought was interesting and talks about hooks rusting out.

http://www.***/articles/manns/hook_in_out.shtml

[George Welcome]

Russ: I have removed remnants of hooks, and hooks that were so rusted that they fell apart. I would say that those were there a long time.

[tyrius.]

Today's hooks will not rust fast enough to make a difference.  If the hook is blocking the bass's throat then it will die well before the hook has rusted away.

[Jig Man]

I never have believed the hook rusting thingy.  I have caught a few bass that had parts of hooks hanging out their butts that made it all the way through them and didn't completely rust out.

[kms399]

I think people want to believe it so they don't feel bad about killing a fish.

[Desultory]

I have caught a few bass that had parts of hooks hanging out their butts...

That's definitely the nastiest thing I've heard this week.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

How about a 7 inch worm that you can pull out the rest of the way? : ;D

[Desultory]

How about a 7 inch worm that you can pull out the rest of the way? : ;D

And reuse?

[SirSnookalot]

I have saltwater spoons and lures that I haven't used in years (used in saltwater) rusted yes, but usable and still strong.

[Fishing Rhino]

Here's a possibility, but I don't know who'd want the hooks.

Lobster traps are required to have escape vents.  Initially, these vents were held in place with four stainless steel hog rings.

Then in one of the better things the government regulators have done, the vents had to be secured on one edge with biodegradeable steel hog rings.

In the course of a couple of months, these hog rings would degrade until the crumbled.  The vent remained in place, held by the two stainless hog rings.  

Those remaining hog rings became "hinges", and the vent a door which could easily be pushed outward, allowing lobsters to escape their prison.

Every year, the gear being set, had new hog rings installed.  Nonetheless, every trap that got hauled had its vent tugged on to ensure the integrity of the biodegradeable hog rings.

If they gave way, two new rings would be clamped into place beside them.

They worked fine in salt water.  Fresh water would be another story.

I don't know if it is possible to make hooks that would be strong enough, and hold their sharpness, yet degrade when left underwater in a freshwater fish.

That would be an invention someone could make a fortune with, provided they could get the government to mandate the use of such a hook.

[fishizzle]

I believe (not documented) that saltwater hooks will rust out in saltwater fish but not freshwater.  But freshwater lure hooks will rust out in freshwater fish.  I have pulled rusty, falling apart hooks from basses mouth and sphincter--not sure how old they were though.

I think a saltwater hook will kill a bass because it would take months to rust out.

this is my belief because of what I've heard.  good though provoking question

[Desultory]

I believe (not documented) that saltwater hooks will rust out in saltwater fish but not freshwater. But freshwater lure hooks will rust out in freshwater fish. I have pulled rusty, falling apart hooks from basses mouth and sphincter--not sure how old they were though.

I think a saltwater hook will kill a bass because it would take months to rust out.

this is my belief because of what I've heard. good though provoking question

For anyone who didn't read the article I linked above, they did a test on various types of hooks and two methods of leaving the hook in.  The first was leaving the line connected and the second was clipping the line close to the shank.  The results, quoted from the article:

"After four months, 78 percent of the hooks were still imbedded. Cadmium coated hooks poisoned 20 percent of the fish, and production of these hooks has been stopped. Bronzed hooks were less likely (70%) to be retained than tin-cadmium (80%), nickel (83%), or stainless steel (100%) hooks.

In a second test, the line was clipped at the eye of the hook, as advised by most existing C&R guides. One-hundred percent of the stainless hooks were again retained, while 56 percent of tin, 76 percent of bronze, 84 percent of tin-cadmium, and 88 percent of nickel hooks remained. Fish mortality was greater when all line was trimmed. Foster theorized that the lengths of line hanging from a fish's mouth kept the hook-shank flat against the side of the esophagus and allowed food to pass. Without the line, food could move the hook and close the throat. "

Also, this was done in half-strength saltwater, not freshwater.  I'd imagine the time to rust out would be significantly longer in freshwater.

[5bass]

Very good topic. I recently found a pair of long nose diagonal cutters (and boy, they were hard to find) but I can now cut the hook off pretty much all the way to the throat if I can't get it all the way out.

I figure cutting most of the shank off has to help.

[Crestliner2008]

Crimp down the barbs.

[Tin]

. I have pulled rusty, falling apart hooks from basses mouth and sphincter--not sure how old they were though.

  I'm sorry. It just got to me...

[CWB]

Today's hooks will not rust fast enough to make a difference. If the hook is blocking the bass's throat then it will die well before the hook has rusted away.

Agree 100%. There was a similar thread a little while ago. If you bring in a bass with the hook blocking it's gullet and get get it out without doing further damage, you might as well keep him to eat. Put him in the livewell for a while and see how he does. He's most likely toast anyway. Don't feel bad about it either.