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Thread: Gut hooking fish

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    Default Gut hooking fish


    I do eat some fish but I like to release most of them. This problem doesn't happen as much with crappie as it does bass and bluegill. It's primarily a problem with soft plastics; I usually fish them texas rigged weedless. For bass, it most often happens to me when maybe the wind is such that I didn't feel the bite and then I realize a fish is running with my bait. If a bass has a Super Fluke, for instance, for more than a second or two, he's apt to swallow it. I pressed down the barb on my hook for my flukes and that does help and it doesn't seem like I lose many fish due to pressing the barb. Bluegill will sometimes swallow a bait. I have some long nose needle nose pliers I use to get hooks out. Anyone found any product or technique that helps? As for technique, I became more diligent about setting the hook quickly. Usually, it seems that if a fish hits a soft plastic, he's got it, might as well set the hook. Or if it's an exposed hook, it seems you really don't need a hookset.

    I am also curious what you do if you have a gut hooked fish when you just can't get the bait out. I assume that fish will die. On days like that, I just end up keeping a few so I don't 'waste' a fish due to bait swallowing. What do you do? Now that I think about it, what do people do on mandatory catch-and-release waters?

    Seems I have seen a video long time ago about how to get a hook out of a fish's gut without killing it. Need to find that!
    ~~~
    Bill

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    For bluegills, I prefer a disgorger to needle-nose pliers.


    Likes livemusic, Alphahawk LIKED above post

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    Quote Originally Posted by livemusic View Post
    Now that I think about it, what do people do on mandatory catch-and-release waters?
    Those are mostly trout waters. People use small hooks and barbless hooks. Also, they rarely use plastics. Plastics are so realistic, they will almost always be taken deeper than other baits.
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    Quote Originally Posted by livemusic View Post
    Anyone found any product or technique that helps?
    I rarely use just a plain hook anymore, even with live bait. I use jigs. The jig head itself is a tremendous help in preventing deep-hooking.
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    catchNgrease is offline Crappie.com 3K Star General * Crappie.com Supporter
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    I they swallow a jig pretty deep and I consider it a gut hook I cut the line. They can get it out. And no they won't starve.

    Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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    silverside is offline Crappie.com 2K Star General * Crappie.com Supporter
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    Quote Originally Posted by catchNgrease View Post
    I they swallow a jig pretty deep and I consider it a gut hook I cut the line. They can get it out. And no they won't starve.

    Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    I've been told that for years. Something about acid and the hook.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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    Quote Originally Posted by silverside View Post
    I've been told that for years. Something about acid and the hook.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    I hope that is correct, as I also take a chance and release them. I would rather strike early and give up the hook set than gut hook a fish. I have not had that many with soft baits using cast and retrieve. Now with the floats I’m planning on this year I will have to stay alert and watch closely.
    Bob

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    MCG1 is online now Crappie.com 2K Star General * Crappie.com Supporter
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    Long shank hooks help prevent gut hooking also.
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    I can't remember the last time I gut hooked a crappie. It use to happen all the time when I would fish for white bass. After a couple of limits early in the season I would just start fishing for fun. I use barbless hooks on them and release them to fight another day.

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    Quote Originally Posted by deathb4disco View Post
    For bluegills, I prefer a disgorger to needle-nose pliers.


    Nice Video
    Grayson Everett

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