Deep hooked fish

[NorthJerzyG]

+1 on the "don't sleep on a bait rod" suggestion. When soaking bait for carp/cats, I set the rod down and "crack one open". But if I'm throwing baitfish for bass/pike/pickerel, I still hold the rod like I'm lure fishing. Jerk here, twitch there, and set the hook quickly if I get a strike. And always use circle hooks, they work.

[Andrushkin33]

LoL,

I agree with not sleeping. Usually fish 3 Rods with one set up with bottom rig and two on bobbers.

But with bass I knew I missed it completely and did not hook it until it was late. To be honest was not expecting it, was hoping for crappie but immediately felt bad for the fella.

Plus with BBQ going, fishing kinda drifted to an afterthought so it was my fault all around.

Thank you for suggestions and advice.

Andre

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by saxmatt

For pike and musky this is what I do. First of all you have to use single hooks, not trebles and you need jaw spreaders and a long pair of pliers. Carefully go through the gill plate with the pliers and grab the leader and pull it back out of the gill plate. Pull the leader back towards the tail of the fish, this should rotate the hook and you'll see the eye and bend of the hook come out of the gut. Now you can go in through the mouth with the pliers, grab the bend of the hook and pop it right out. This is easy to do with some practice.

X2! Matt showed me this on the ice. Pretty slick technique w the right tools.

[Heronimo42]

Use circle hooks.

[AndrewT]

Hook cutters can be a big help at times (not all the time). If the barb end is showing, cut below the barb as low as possible, then slide the rest of the hook out using pliers. Helps a lot if you have two people, one to hold the fish, one to operate on it.

[Almaink]

The best advice is to not use bait during the closed season or if you don't intend on keeping the fish. Lures catch just as many fish as bait, maybe more. IMO it's more fun tossing lures than watching a pole anyway.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by AndrewT

Hook cutters can be a big help at times (not all the time). If the barb end is showing, cut below the barb as low as possible, then slide the rest of the hook out using pliers. Helps a lot if you have two people, one to hold the fish, one to operate on it.

I carry a pair of diagonal pliers (dikes) with me and can usually cut the hook close to the point and get it out as AndrewT stated. They will work on thin wire hooks and if you can get enough pressure cut through some of the thicker gauge wire as well.

I beat myself up when i have to release one with a hook in its gut. My only solace is that I have caught bass with a hook coming out of their anus!

Diagonal plier example.
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-84-105...dp/B0001IW89W/

[Andrushkin33]

Hook cutters and circle hooks sounds like a solid idea.

To Alma,

You are correct of course but to be honest with live bait I was not trying to target bass at all was going for crappie. Area where I caught at Spruce was a complete surprise to me and I was not expecting it at all.

And to be honest I am completely hopeless when it comes to artificials but I am working on that.

Working toward being a better catch and release fisherman. Everyone output on pike released helped me a great deal and resulted in successful releases of those beautiful specimen.

Andre

[FishinFool247]

Hey I'm not sure if this helps or not but check out these pics of a bass I caught 2 years ago! It had wire leader and a swivel coming out of it's anus...lol I'm not sure how he made out in the end, but he was alive and strong when I caught him.

[Chrisper4694]

fish survive more than most people think, i believe. although sometimes you get em in quick and release them quick and they go belly up for no reason...anything is possible. we're fishermen, we jam hooks into their mouths and bring them out of the water against their will so i mean we can only do so much to protect and release them, but hopefully we all take precautions and do our best unless we're fishing for a meal.