Hook Removal
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LGBASS20LB
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 5:00 pm
Hook Removal
now that I am catching more fish, i wanted to know if there is a certain method or way to remove the hook? I usually release bass that I catch, and I don't want to injure them, so I try to remove it as gently as possible. But, is there a way to remove it with the minimum amount of damage to the lip?
The best luck and the BIGGEST BASS!!!!!
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Hook Removal
If you are not fishing in tournaments and don't mind losing an occasional bass, the best thing to do is crush the barb on your hook before you start fishing for the day. Then you really minimize the damage!
As for removing the hook with the barb, apply pressure on the hook so that you are opening the hole to make room for the barb to slip out. If you don't know what I mean, stick a hook into a thick rubber band past the barb. Then stretch the rubber band using your thumb and index finger. Use your other hand to hold the hook by the shank and begin to push the hook in different directions. The hole will stretch and you should be able to figure the rest out from there.
BC
As for removing the hook with the barb, apply pressure on the hook so that you are opening the hole to make room for the barb to slip out. If you don't know what I mean, stick a hook into a thick rubber band past the barb. Then stretch the rubber band using your thumb and index finger. Use your other hand to hold the hook by the shank and begin to push the hook in different directions. The hole will stretch and you should be able to figure the rest out from there.
BC
Brendan C.
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Eric
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2002 4:00 pm
Hook Removal
As always Brendan's reply was correct. Barbless hooks make for easier removal. Although I do not use barbless hooks often I have with good results.
As for removing a hook that has a barb, try and put downward pressure on the hook, away from the barb and pull in a straight line away from the hole. Mouth damage is going to happen, but its good to see there are those like you that are concerned enough to bring it up.
Pliers are a must and will not only lessen the amount of damage during hook removal but also decrease the time you have the bass out of the water.
One subject that is sure to get a lot of response it what to do when a bass is hooked deep. I have read many different opinions on this and would like to share with you my personal choice.
If a bass swallows a soft plastic bait or is hooked in a way that bleeding is a problem the best thing to do is to cut the line a foot above the hook and gently remove the soft plastic bait.
The reasoning behind this is becuase if you cut the line close to the hook it may allow the hook to move sideways and block food items from passing, possibly choking the bass. With 10 - 12" of line hanging from the hook and out of the basses mouth, water pressure against the line may hold the hook in an outward position allowing passage to food.
For obvious reasons the soft plastic bait should be removed. It will not allow the bass to swallow food and may choke the bass.
I have heard a hook ( not stainless saltwater style hooks ) will disolve within 3 weeks. I do beleive this.
I have also caught bass with a hook still attached to line coming from their vent. Smaller hooks used for live bait fishing seemingly will pass with time.
You may find this interesting, I once caught a bass with 5' of mono and a swivel still sticking from its mouth. Probably a Carolina rig.
I also caught a Brook trout once with a 3' long neon green vinyl stringer hanging from its mouth and gill! Apparently someone intended to keep this fish and either cant tie a good not and lost it or just dropped it. Now that was a hungry fish!!
As for removing a hook that has a barb, try and put downward pressure on the hook, away from the barb and pull in a straight line away from the hole. Mouth damage is going to happen, but its good to see there are those like you that are concerned enough to bring it up.
Pliers are a must and will not only lessen the amount of damage during hook removal but also decrease the time you have the bass out of the water.
One subject that is sure to get a lot of response it what to do when a bass is hooked deep. I have read many different opinions on this and would like to share with you my personal choice.
If a bass swallows a soft plastic bait or is hooked in a way that bleeding is a problem the best thing to do is to cut the line a foot above the hook and gently remove the soft plastic bait.
The reasoning behind this is becuase if you cut the line close to the hook it may allow the hook to move sideways and block food items from passing, possibly choking the bass. With 10 - 12" of line hanging from the hook and out of the basses mouth, water pressure against the line may hold the hook in an outward position allowing passage to food.
For obvious reasons the soft plastic bait should be removed. It will not allow the bass to swallow food and may choke the bass.
I have heard a hook ( not stainless saltwater style hooks ) will disolve within 3 weeks. I do beleive this.
I have also caught bass with a hook still attached to line coming from their vent. Smaller hooks used for live bait fishing seemingly will pass with time.
You may find this interesting, I once caught a bass with 5' of mono and a swivel still sticking from its mouth. Probably a Carolina rig.
I also caught a Brook trout once with a 3' long neon green vinyl stringer hanging from its mouth and gill! Apparently someone intended to keep this fish and either cant tie a good not and lost it or just dropped it. Now that was a hungry fish!!
Eric Picarella : Bassin' USA Prostaff : Pennsylvania
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Cancatchbass
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2002 4:00 pm
Hook Removal
Unfortunately, the story about hooks dissolving in a few weeks just isn't so. I once caught a lake trout, in February, while ice fishing. This fish had a crankbait lodged in its throat- bronze hooks, not stainless. Now, the lake had been frozen over for almost three months, and no-one would jig with a crankbait, so...
The hooks had some surface rust on them, but were far from being "dissolved".
I think Ralph Manns has commented on this old wives tale too.
Tight lines,
CCB
The hooks had some surface rust on them, but were far from being "dissolved".
I think Ralph Manns has commented on this old wives tale too.
Tight lines,
CCB
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LGBASS20LB
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 5:00 pm
Hook Removal
crush the barb, why didn't i think of that????????????? thanks for that tip, should help me out in injuring the fish the least i can.
The best luck and the BIGGEST BASS!!!!!
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Hook Removal
Cole,
Glad we could help out.
Thanks for the input Eric!
The bottom line is that fish have to eat, right? I once caught a smallmouth during the pre-spawn stage that had a Long "A" bomber jerk bait stuck to the side of its head. I was fishing at Candlewood Lake in an area with semi-clear water and watched this clown color jerk bait come racing towards my Husky Jerk. I couldn't believe this fish was that aggressive? The nice part was that I was able to remove both jerkbaits and let the smallie go back in better shape then he was before I got there. Hunger is everything in fishing... if they don't eat, they die...
As for the hooks rotting out, I have no idea how long it actually takes for standard hooks to rust out. I do know that different water acidity levels will make hooks rust at different rates.
One other thing I would like to add is with regards to fish that are throat hooked. Cutting the line is the right thing to do if you can not get to the bend of the hook with out pulling on the line. I keep a pair of cutting pliers on my boat and if I can see the hook bend and/or shank, I will perform surgery. If the hook point is sticking out past the barb, I clip the hook just behind the barb. Then I will clip the shank as far down as I can get without pulling or tugging on it. If at that point, the hook is out of reach/site, I will stop there and release the fish. Now the hook has no point, no barb and no shank to get in the way when the bass goes to swallow something else. The remaining hook piece has a better chance of coming loose this way. I will take it one step further only if the remaining piece is visible and fish is still not bleeding. With a pair of needle nose pliers, I will gently grab the remaining piece and see if it will move freely (it usually does). If it comes out easy, I will remove it. If there is "any" resistance, I stop and let the fish go.
Now, if I were reading this post I would make the assumption that I am a person who hooks fish deep a lot. That is not the case. I do however enjoy introducing new people to the sport and unfortunately, they usually have a hard time detecting a strike which in the end results in a hook stuck deep in the fish.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that pulling and tugging on a deep hook is what ends up killing the fish. In fact, most of the damage is done to the fish during the fight because that is exactly what happens. Try to keep that in mind if you ever catch a fish and didn’t even know it was on. It has probably taken the hook deep and you can try not to horse the fish around as much as you normally would. This will increase its chance for survival.
Over the years I have found that the above method (if followed correctly) will not harm the fish. How do I know? I will give one example:
I was fishing with a newbie, during the spawn on a lake in Connecticut and he caught a fish and had hooked it deep. I could see the hook and decided to try and cut it out. After releasing the fish, I noticed that it swam right over to a bed and hide next to it. I watch the fish for a while and shortly it moved back into a guarding position over the bed. I went back to that area over the next 3 days and every time I did I would go over and check the bed. Sure enough that bass was still there.
This same situation has occur a few times in my life and on the occasions where I was able to go back and check the bed days later, the fish were still alive and kicking.
Well, that was a mouthful. Sorry for the long-winded response, but I hope some of you may find it helpful if you ever in that situation with a fish.
Fish Intelligently!
BC
Glad we could help out.
Thanks for the input Eric!
The bottom line is that fish have to eat, right? I once caught a smallmouth during the pre-spawn stage that had a Long "A" bomber jerk bait stuck to the side of its head. I was fishing at Candlewood Lake in an area with semi-clear water and watched this clown color jerk bait come racing towards my Husky Jerk. I couldn't believe this fish was that aggressive? The nice part was that I was able to remove both jerkbaits and let the smallie go back in better shape then he was before I got there. Hunger is everything in fishing... if they don't eat, they die...
As for the hooks rotting out, I have no idea how long it actually takes for standard hooks to rust out. I do know that different water acidity levels will make hooks rust at different rates.
One other thing I would like to add is with regards to fish that are throat hooked. Cutting the line is the right thing to do if you can not get to the bend of the hook with out pulling on the line. I keep a pair of cutting pliers on my boat and if I can see the hook bend and/or shank, I will perform surgery. If the hook point is sticking out past the barb, I clip the hook just behind the barb. Then I will clip the shank as far down as I can get without pulling or tugging on it. If at that point, the hook is out of reach/site, I will stop there and release the fish. Now the hook has no point, no barb and no shank to get in the way when the bass goes to swallow something else. The remaining hook piece has a better chance of coming loose this way. I will take it one step further only if the remaining piece is visible and fish is still not bleeding. With a pair of needle nose pliers, I will gently grab the remaining piece and see if it will move freely (it usually does). If it comes out easy, I will remove it. If there is "any" resistance, I stop and let the fish go.
Now, if I were reading this post I would make the assumption that I am a person who hooks fish deep a lot. That is not the case. I do however enjoy introducing new people to the sport and unfortunately, they usually have a hard time detecting a strike which in the end results in a hook stuck deep in the fish.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that pulling and tugging on a deep hook is what ends up killing the fish. In fact, most of the damage is done to the fish during the fight because that is exactly what happens. Try to keep that in mind if you ever catch a fish and didn’t even know it was on. It has probably taken the hook deep and you can try not to horse the fish around as much as you normally would. This will increase its chance for survival.
Over the years I have found that the above method (if followed correctly) will not harm the fish. How do I know? I will give one example:
I was fishing with a newbie, during the spawn on a lake in Connecticut and he caught a fish and had hooked it deep. I could see the hook and decided to try and cut it out. After releasing the fish, I noticed that it swam right over to a bed and hide next to it. I watch the fish for a while and shortly it moved back into a guarding position over the bed. I went back to that area over the next 3 days and every time I did I would go over and check the bed. Sure enough that bass was still there.
This same situation has occur a few times in my life and on the occasions where I was able to go back and check the bed days later, the fish were still alive and kicking.
Well, that was a mouthful. Sorry for the long-winded response, but I hope some of you may find it helpful if you ever in that situation with a fish.
Fish Intelligently!
BC
Brendan C.
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Cancatchbass
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2002 4:00 pm
Hook Removal
Good post and good info, Brendan!
Tight lines,
CCB
Tight lines,
CCB
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Eric
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2002 4:00 pm
Hook Removal
Brendan,
Great post. I know a guy who uses the same technique you wrote about in your post and he swares by it. He has taught his children that tech. and they also practice it.
Great post. I know a guy who uses the same technique you wrote about in your post and he swares by it. He has taught his children that tech. and they also practice it.
Eric Picarella : Bassin' USA Prostaff : Pennsylvania