Unhooking a fish

[Mitcher]

Now this isn't a huge problem for me due to the fact that i rarely hook a fish. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut... so anyway a mirracle did occur tonite and i caught a trout. The thing wouldn't stop flipping around so when i tried to get the hook out (Mini torpedo, 2 treble hooks) the back hook snagged me. Didn't hurt or anything but since im a new fisherman i thought maybe i am doing something wrong and was just wondering if there were any tips of unhooking a fish.
mitch

[Rebbasser]

Congrats on the fish!

That happens to everyone-I've been impaled more than once. With a trout, hold it cupped in yout hand and gently press the gills shut-I think . I've only caught a few. That will cause the fish to be still. With a bass pick it up by the lower jaw. It presses on a nerve and causes the fish to be still, but neither will hurt the fish. Should have remembered to tell you this earlier-a pair of needlenose pliers or hemostats can come in real handy to get the hooks out, especially when treble hooks are involved. Otherwise I try to be as gentle as possible and get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible.

[JB]

carry needle nose pliers with you fishing and you can use the tool to unbutton the hook instead of risking your finger tips..trust me we've all been gauged by hook probably once a week to some degree

[Mitcher]

ok sounds good, yea i had to let it sit for alittle so it would calm down, i felt bad letting it sit there but i wasnt gonna get jabbed again, though he swam away so luckily i go thim off in time. Ill try to remember that bass jaw, trout gills.
I'm always scared im gonna catch a cat fish or something and i dont know how to get them off, someone tried to explain it to me but i didn't really understand it, if i catch one, i guess ill just figure it out. Thanks for the tips.
Mitch

[Rebbasser]

Mitch, a catfish isn't that hard either. I hold them from underneath and wrap two fingers around the pectoral spines-the spikes that stick out either side and hurt like *&%$ when you get stabbed-usually the index and ring finger. That allows me to get a good grip since they are so slick and then I grab the hook with a pair of pliers and pop it free. Unless it is too big-I caught a 20 lb flathead on a jig a few years back-that one I had to put of the floor of the boat and slimed up my carpet .

[crankybait]

well i usualyl dont catch many bass... i go panfishing a lot! yesterday i went and caught 67, including some other fish which i think was a trout... i have pics ill post em later. anyways what i do is get em up, puch down their dorsal finsso i dont get stabbed, and hold down their dorsal and gills while i get the hook out. to get the hook out i push the hook back as far as i can without hurting the fish in the hole. then if the hole is big enough i can ust slip the hok out with the barb causing no problem. if not you can always cut the hook with wirecutters and push the barbside out

[JB]

i big cat will chomp down on yer hand if ya reach in, I always go under the cats bottom jaw and put my hand in where the gill plate meets his chin, then pick it up

[zooker]

yep big cats bite -kinda like shutting hand in a car door- i use a set of calcutta salt water needle nose. i have them in a bbc quick draw plier holster. this holster has a belt clip that i put in my pocket makes them real handy and easy to get to in a hurry...

zooker

[bassnman30]

A L/M bass can held steady by placing your hand under it's belly while retrieving him. This technique is not painfull to you or the fish.

[officerhoyt]

Ive heard if you hold the fish upside down it relaxes and just get the hook out with some pliers

[Bo Dale James Jr.]

Trout are pretty fragile fish. I was always told to cut the line at the hook.
The hook will rust out and the fish will live. I used to do this often when the hook was deep.