Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

[TwoWatt]

I could of sworn I read a post here about this technique but can't seem to find it.<br /><br />I came across a great technique for removing throat hooked fish & would love to share to people that may have not of heard of it.<br /><br />Basically this technique is needed if a fish swallows the hook to where you know if you tried removing it the "old fashioned way" the fish would more than likely die.<br /><br />It's pretty simple. Get a pair of hemostats or needle nose. Go through the gill & grab onto the line, start pulling line out through the gill & (in my experience) the hook will turn & come right out. Then you just pull the hook the rest of the way out through the gill area. <br />I must mention this was a wide gapped worm hooked (one hook) and I was amazed at how easy it was. <br /><br />Either way. If this has been discussed before feel free to delete this or add it to the existing thread. I feel everyone should know about this.

 

[Holdimhook]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Try the new "circle style" wormhooks. They seem to hook fish as well as the standard wormhooks, and virtually eliminate deephooking.

 

[llfish]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Going through the gill will probable kill the fish. I was told too just cut the line and the hook will rust out in a couple of days. Would not work for stainless steal.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Going through the gill area won't kill it. I've had good luck with this technique. One you get the line through the gill, give it a little pull & the hook turns and you just pull it out.<br />I don't trust the "hook will rust out" theory. Put a hook in a cup of water & see how long it takes to rust away.<br />I learned this through FishingMinnesota 's forums & people there swear to the method. <br />As far as a circle hook I've read they are no good in weedy waters because it snags more (I read it on the internet, it must be true )<br />I do use an extra wide gap hook (gamikatsu g-lock) with a senko lure. Some people have problems with fish swallowing everything but I have't had that problem at all.<br />I guess for smaller fish like bluegill it'd be a tough to use technique, but next time you encounter a deep hooked fish give it a try.

 

[Holdimhook]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Please make every effort to remove the hook. As one who has been semi -active in wildlife rescue for years, I have seen countless instances of herons, egrets, ospreys, and even bald eagles die of starvation because of a hook lodged in their throat that got there by eating a fish with the hook still embedded. Along with fatal tangle ups with discarded monofilament line, embedded fishooks rank up near the top of preventable waterfowl deaths. I'm not a bunnyhugging PETA preacher, I've enjoyed fishing and hunting all my life. But, in my opinion, along with the enjoyment of the outdoors comes the responsibility of leaving the woods and waters in the same or better shape than we found it. Sorry for the semi- rant. JMHO

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

I'm not a bunnyhugging PETA preacher

<br /><br />That's great.Funny stuff. <br /><br />It's funny, while I am pro-fishing I am (sort of) anti-hunting. There is no catch/release in hunting (at least that I know of). <br />Now I know that without hunting some of these animals numbers would grow to large, but I can't do it. I have a hard time killing fish. I haven't kept even a one fish this year & maybe have lost 2-3 gills due to bad hooks (food for the birds).<br /><br />Back on topic: Anyone else use the technique I am talking about? I'd like to hear from an "experienced" person. I've only had to use it once & was successful.

 

[llfish]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

A Tn. Wild Life Warden told me about leaving the hook in. He said that the acid in the fish would eat it up. Who knows!!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

I'm not real keen on going through a fishes gill to do anything. We've been using these for years and they work very well. If you can't get a hook out with one of these nothing will. Highly recommended.<br /><br />

 

[Holdimhook]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

quote:<br />__________________________________________________<br />A Tn. Wild Life Warden told me about leaving the hook in. He said that the acid in the fish would eat it up.<br />_________________________________________________<br />Larry, I'm sure the fish's stomach acid would probably dissolve the hook in a few days, if the hook traveled all the way to the fish's stomach. If it was set in the back of the throat or whatever that part of fish anatomy that lies before his stomach and intestines, it would just be stuck there. Also that is assuming that a few days would pass before the waterbird or something else eats it. All I know is what I've seen for myself regarding the poor ole bird and it aint pretty. JMO

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

If your going to catch and release you should put away the live bait, too many fish end up gut hooked with the stuff and end up dead no matter how carefully you try to remove the hook. <br /><br />I assume the hook needs to be barbless for the through the gill method to work.<br /><br />I'm with ya Dingbat, not big on messing with the fishes gills myself.

 

[cpj]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Never thought about the birds eating a fish with the hook left in it.I know that I have caught several fish with hook still in them and they seemed to be all right.I had to leave a hook in the keeper walleye that I caught the other night,because my pliers were not long enough to keep my fingers away from those nasty teeth.Seems as if walleye 1: dont care for being hooked,2:dont care for you trying to remove a hook that is in their mouth.I swear he was trying to bite me!As for the birds eating fish with hooks in them,I dont doubt that it happens,BUT what are the odds that a bird is going to get that particular fish?

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

if you're going to try to get the hook out of a small fish with the line thru the gill method, you can cut the line @ 1' long, thread it down thru the gill, hold it tight enough to see the bend of the hook. then either wrap the line around a finger of the hand holding the fish, and/or get someone to use the longnose pliers down the mouth - and pull the hook by grabbing it at the bend, so the point is down.<br />that's the hard part. if you can grab the hook by the bend you can pull it out without doing alot of damage.<br />i smash the barbs down when letting my daughter catch bream with worms, and it really helps to get the hook out if they swallow it.

 

[monoshock]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Originally posted by ebb:<br /> <br />i smash the barbs down when letting my daughter catch bream with worms, and it really helps to get the hook out if they swallow it.

Good idea, I'll try that one myself.

 

[llfish]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Barbless is the way to go.

 

[monoshock]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Originally posted by Larry_F:<br /> Barbless is the way to go.

Even a better idea.

 

[rayjay]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

For bream fishing try #8 fine wire jig hooks. Rare for them to swallow the hook. Not using sinkers also helps. I've also started knocking down the barbs on my big fish circle hooks. Sometimes you lose a fish or bait but in the case of a deep hook it comes right out.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Monoshock,, What a nice slob ya got there. Looks to be about 7 or 8 pounds or better. Sweeeet!!

 

[monoshock]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Don’t know just threw it back. I was fishing with the kids for bluegill, got tired of that and switched to a crank bait, first cast and BAM , scared the crap out of me .

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

Oldtymer> it works man, got a bass last weekend and remember about your post gave it a shot and it worked like a charm, kinda like using a string to pull a hook out of your finger method. Somehow it turn the barb and came right out.

 

[BF]

Re: Deep hooked fish (hook removal)

I use through the gills, usually on northerns that take a deep hook. For me that's about 1 or 2 in 10 fish. Unclip the lure from the leader and then long hemostats in from the gill end. Carefully work it free, you might have to wiggle the big part of lure around to get it through the gills. If it's a big fish and you can't reach the leader, just pull the hook through the gills first, then unclip the leader or cut the line. If you unclip the leader, clip it closed before you pull it back out so you don't hook the gills (again).<br /><br />Oh... I only fish barbless whether it's the law or not, and I don't use lures that have more than one treble hook on them (even if they're legal). Too hard on the fish.<br /><br />I haven't had a fish with a ripped gill or anything like that for a looooong time (the bad old days of barbs).<br /><br />that's my $.02