snapshotmd Posted May 20, 2011 Posted May 20, 2011 If you gut hooked a bass with a jig, what would you do? What can be done? I did this today and wasn't sure what to do. I cast the jig out and turned to talk to my buddy. When I turned my attention back to what I was doing I noticed the line was a lot closer to me than I remembered. I set the hook and boated a 3.5 lb largemouth. She was bleeding pretty bad, but she was still fiesty. I cut the line and let her go with the jig. She appeared to swim away without any problem. I was thinking about this all day. What are the chances that the bass will survive after that sort of trama; with a jig inside. I had thought about keeping it and having it for dinner. What would've been the right thing to do? Quote
"Lunker Hunter" Posted May 20, 2011 Posted May 20, 2011 When ever I can I will pull the hook out through the gill opening tip first. Never gut hooked with a jig though (not real good with them yet) so I think I will put a wire cutter in the tackle bag this weekend. Then I can pull the hook out through the gills as usual. Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted May 20, 2011 Super User Posted May 20, 2011 Just my opinion, but fishing IS a contact sport! Some casualties are inevitable. You just do the best you can, in any situation, to minimize injury to the fish. The rest is up to the good Lord. I've used the tube type hook removers for many years with a very high percentage of successful extractions; even when hooked deep. Bleeding usually stops as soon as the fish is back in the water, in most cases. I also crimp down the barbs on all my hooks - including crankbaits. The only exception I make is on my drop shot hooks, which catch the lip in 99.9% of the cases. Loss to jumping is way too high with a crimped down barb. But I've also never had to go deep to extract one with this technique. 1 Quote
SDoolittle Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 I practice catch and release as much as possible, but I also enjoy an occasional fish dinner. If a fish's survivability is questionable, it goes in the livewell. Quote
Hamby Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 I practice catch and release as much as possible, but I also enjoy an occasional fish dinner. If a fish's survivability is questionable, it goes in the livewell. Same here...but only if it's legal and i don't plan on fishing anymore. Sadly my lake has special regs. One fish over 18", and a no-culling law in wisconsin makes it worse. If that fish goes in my livewell, there's my limit and i can no longer fish for bass. Quote
BrianSnat Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 I practice catch and release as much as possible, but I also enjoy an occasional fish dinner. If a fish's survivability is questionable, it goes in the livewell. \Basically what I do. If it's unlikely to survive then I'd rather feed myself than the turtles. I hate to do it though and feel guilty. Last week I hooked into a 4 lb rainbow and it was bleeding like a stuck pig so I kept it. Tasted good on the grill. Quote
CKFishin Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 Same here...but only if it's legal and i don't plan on fishing anymore. Sadly my lake has special regs. One fish over 18", and a no-culling law in wisconsin makes it worse. If that fish goes in my livewell, there's my limit and i can no longer fish for bass. So I bet your excited that is about to change then huh? Quote
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