02-07-10, 10:51 AM | #1 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Gut hook removal
I know this has been posted before but with spring right around the corner I thought we could all use a refresher. Please review and learn this method, you will release a few more fish unharmed and will feel so much better about it. There is absolutely no need to ever cut your line and let a fish go with a giant worm hook in its throat!!!
http://fishingsuccess.net/Pages/Gut%20Hook.html I always use my needle nose instead of my fingers but basically the exact same method as illustrated. Go in behind the last gill plates and grab the hook. It will be easy to tell which direction it needs to turn. Flip the hook straight over and the point will almost always pop out with zero resistance. Reach back in through the mouth and pull out the hook. It really is that simple. Never cut your line on a gut hooked bass, it just isn't necessary. Despite what you've been told that fish probably isn't going to survive long enough for the hook to rust out. |
02-07-10, 11:38 AM | #2 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Webb City, MO
Posts: 6,387
|
Not to argue but do you have any information to back up this statement? I only ask because I have cut my line for years and never seen any mortality rate resulting from this. And I have caught a lot of fish that have a hook down their throat where someone has cut their line, the hook was starting to rust and the fish looked to be doing well.
__________________
You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough. Last edited by carolina-rig-01; 02-07-10 at 12:06 PM. |
02-07-10, 11:58 AM | #3 |
BassFishin.Com Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: albemarle, NC
Posts: 788
|
Good stuff.Thanks for the info.
__________________
138 bass in 2K10. Biggest 4LBS 14oz. |
02-07-10, 12:38 PM | #4 | ||
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
02-07-10, 05:27 PM | #5 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bon Aqua,TN
Posts: 1,013
|
I have actually caught fish where a 5/0 EWG gamagatsu was sticking out of the fish's rectum and the only thing phisically wrong with that fish was the anus which was a little swollen. I have caught this exact fish about 4 or 5 more times since then so I think that the fish is either invulnerable or is just lucky the hook point didn't perforate the bowl or damage internal organs. BTW the fish in question came out of one of my ponds and has a pretty unique marking on one of it's pectoral fins so it is easy to ID as the same fish.
I have the picture somewhere so I will post it when I find it. But back on topic I use that technique when removing any hook that threatens either the gills or the gullet. It works well but is definitley not flawless. The best way to keep a fish from swallowing a hook is to not give it the chance to work the hook that far down.
__________________
Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition. Last edited by TN_Bassin; 02-07-10 at 05:34 PM. |
02-07-10, 05:52 PM | #6 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
The technique is definitely not flawless and doesn't always work but I think it's still better than not trying. Sometimes the damage has already been done.
|
02-07-10, 06:11 PM | #7 | |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bon Aqua,TN
Posts: 1,013
|
Quote:
Yea that's what I was saying. We are all going to have fish die on us. It's a necessary evil that I would rather not have to deal with.
__________________
Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition. |
|
02-07-10, 06:16 PM | #8 | |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Quote:
|
|
02-07-10, 10:03 PM | #9 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 10,141
|
I got this type hook remover-pistol type or T-type doesn't matter. You can grab the hook better than you can with pliers and avoid the gill area completely:
Deep hook a small fish and you can't use the gill method-not enough room.
__________________
It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3 |
02-08-10, 12:01 AM | #10 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 2,414
|
I've gone behind the last gill a lot and it has worked very well. I did a test with water in a cup and threw in a Gammy EWG hook. I had to add water a couple times but after 6+ weeks the hook looked the same as when I put it in so I gave up on my experiment. Some say there are acids that make the hook rust faster when in a fish but I don't take the chance.
|
02-08-10, 12:19 AM | #11 | |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bon Aqua,TN
Posts: 1,013
|
Quote:
I've seen those hook removers but haven't ever used one. I see several pros using them now so they must work pretty good.
__________________
Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition. |
|
02-08-10, 12:43 AM | #12 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
I like the look of that hook, I might have to pick one up.
If the acids in the stomach of a bass won't completely rust a hook I doubt the acids in their mouths will either. |
02-08-10, 12:46 AM | #13 | |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Webb City, MO
Posts: 6,387
|
Quote:
You asked how do I know if the fish survived since I released the fish. In my younger days when I did a lot of pond fishing I don't recall ever seeing a dead fish that I released with a hook in it's throat, not saying none of them died but if it was a total loss then I would think I would have seen a few of them die from it over the years. And like you said sometimes you kill the fish by using the behind the gill method, would that dead fish have been better off if you just cut the line? Again I am not looking for an arguement because I use this method too at times and think it works well a lot of the time. All I was wondering is if you did some sort of experiement or had some sort of apples to apples comparison between using this method and just cutting the line.
__________________
You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough. |
|
02-08-10, 01:08 AM | #14 | ||
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
02-08-10, 01:13 AM | #15 | |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bon Aqua,TN
Posts: 1,013
|
Quote:
Hmm, I like the idea of this experiment. I have to design and carry out a biological experiment and it looks like I have just found my idea.
__________________
Other anglers are tough, but the fish are the real competition. |
|
02-08-10, 01:36 AM | #16 | |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Quote:
|
|
02-08-10, 09:23 AM | #17 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 2,414
|
I just used tap water since I was too lazy to get lake water. It would be good to have an actual scientific study to try to match pH levels, etc.
|
02-08-10, 04:29 PM | #18 |
BassFishin.Com Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 49
|
FYI. This is an issue that is important to me. Naturally I want to do the right thing. Because of that I've read quite a few articles, some of them in scienctific journals, about dealing with gut hooked fish. From what I can gather the science and environmental community is pretty much split on whether it is better to remove the hook or cut it off. One thing that all seem to agree on is if you plan to cut it off, leave at least 18" of line trailing on it. Apparently the floating line helps keep the hook tucked against the fish's throat so as to impede less its ability to swallow and absorb food. I have added a link here to a short article that refers to specific scientific research and does endorse hook removal.
http://southhoustonbassclub.com/Docu...t%20Hooked.htm Of course there is a lot we can do to avoid gut hooking in the first place. The first is to not use live bait. The second is to use circle hooks which are more likely to end up where they belong, in the lip or jaw. Using barbless hooks or debarbing hooks is also a good practice. And you know what, if you really think you're a hot shot angler or want to be then fishing barbless will certainly improve your skills. My 2 cents. |
02-08-10, 05:30 PM | #19 |
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,671
|
Very interesting read Dr.G! I would never have thought that leaving line attached to the hook would be better than cutting it off at the hook. I've also never given barbless hooks too much thought but I can definitely see how they would improve the survival chances of a deeply hooked fish, might be worth a try.
|
02-08-10, 09:32 PM | #20 |
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
|
I'm straddlin' the fence on this one. If possible, I'd rather remove the hook but at the same time, I'd be worried of damaging the gills
__________________
Bass fear me. Women pepperspray me..... |
02-08-10, 11:01 PM | #21 |
BassFishin.Com Veteran Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NWFL
Posts: 654
|
Ok lets look at this from another angle... with all these kids getting their tongue and lip pierced, do they eat just fine?
I have pulled fish of all sorts with a hook already in their lip or gullet. There was one decent sized bass (around 14-15") that had 4 hooks in its gullet on a lake that has a keeper limit of 18", at least 2 of the hooks looked partially corroded/broken down.... I have always learned to just cut the line and let the fish keep it, considering they only live for so many years, the hook shouldn't affect their life to much. |
02-09-10, 05:08 PM | #22 |
BassFishin.Com Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 64
|
I recommend this article by Dr. Ralph Manns for all too read on the damage caused by leaving hooks in bass.
http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/ma...k_in_out.shtml |
02-09-10, 05:52 PM | #23 |
BassFishin.Com Veteran Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MAINEIAC
Posts: 585
|
That is a great article, very direct and informative. It's always nice to see a theory backed with actual research data
__________________
"If at first you don't succeed; have another beer" |
Disclosure / Disclaimer
Before acting on the content posted, you should know that BassFishin.Com may benefit financially and otherwise from content, advertising, links or otherwise from anything you click on, read, or look at on our website. Click here to read our Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer. |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|