Deep hooked fish

[Andrushkin33]

Need an advice.

In situation where the fish have swallowed the hook pretty deep what would be the best choice of action.

Cut the line and leave the hook in, or attempt to remove the hook?

Reason for question is that I got in that situation over the weekend. Bass have swallowed the hook very deep and my attempt to remove the hook would of ended up with fish not making it out alive. Normally I would of just kept the fish once hook is removed but with bass being not in season now I was left with only choice available to me by cutting the line and letting it go with a hook inside.

Still worries me that even with a hook inside fish would not survive for long, if survive at all.

Any output is appreciated as always.

Andre

[zhitoman]

It will be fine if you cut the line instead of sticking your fingers inside the fish and trying to get the hook out for half an hour, like some people do.

[Rickhem]

I usually just cut the line. Sometimes you can then pull the hook through from the barb side, but sometimes not.
Also try crushing the barb with your pliers, line tension still keeps them hooked and the hook almost falls out once you lip them.

[Eskimo]

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Accidently deep hooking a bass is a sad, no-win situation.
According to the latest research, a deep hooked bass is in a lot of trouble.
In a no-harvest situation, the best thing you can do is cut the line about eighteen inches from the hook and say a prayer for the little fighter.

Here is a really good article about the latest research on catch-and-release of deeply hooked fish:
http://www.recycledfish.org/safe-ang...ooked-fish.htm

Other than what the article states, the only thing you can do to prevent deep-hooking a bass is to set the hook quickly, before the bass has a chance to swallow the bait or lure.
When I fish from the bank, I use a fairly tight line and then hang a ring made from the top of a styrofoam cup from the line. The moment the line goes out, I can see my strike indicator move (the ring goes up when the line goes out) and I can set the hook.

If an angler creates a situation where he can't set the hook quickly, he is going to inadvertently kill a lot of bass. For example, if he sets up 17 rods on the shore then goes and plays volleyball until he sees a rod bouncing out of the rod-rest. That bass had a lot of time with the bait and has long since swallowed it by the time the angler sets the hook.

It is better to use some time of strike indicator if an angler isn't holding the rod in his hand and then set the hook in a reasonable amount of time to minimize the chance of deep-hooking the bass.


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[jimcnj]

I saw guys using prescription bottles as strike indicators. At least that what I thought they were. Can someone explain that setup to me?

[lunkertaker]

I cut the line. Always gives me the worries, but better to give the fish a shot than to rip out the hook and know the fate. I have agonized over this for years, but came to the same conclusion, cut the line and HOPE!

[flatcreek]

Maybe use inline circle hooks when you don't intend to keep your catch.

[JDTuna]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

,


Other than what the article states, the only thing you can do to prevent deep-hooking a bass is to set the hook quickly, before the bass has a chance to swallow the bait or lure.

If an angler creates a situation where he can't set the hook quickly, he is going to inadvertently kill a lot of bass. For example, if he sets up 17 rods on the shore then goes and plays volleyball until he sees a rod bouncing out of the rod-rest. That bass had a lot of time with the bait and has long since swallowed it by the time the angler sets the hook.


.

I respectfully disagree. If you use non-offset circle hooks, you will hook a vast majority of the bass you catch on bait in the mouth, even if the hookset is not immediate. However, the circle hooks must be non-offset. Octopus circles (such as those made by owner) are offset and will hook a fish just as deeply as a J-hook.

Additionally, even if you set up quickly using J hooks and bait, you will still inevitably hook some fish deep as a result of how bass feed. I have successfully used non-offset circle hooks to land many freshwater species, including bass, and almost never gut hook a fish.