Removing The Jigs From Inside The Fish’s Mouth

[Micanopy]

After turning my hands into pin cushions, I have learned to lip grab my fish. If the jig is in the lips it is easy to remove it. However when it gets down deep not so much. I use hemostats and end up butchering the bait or the fish. I have pushed the jig head downwards using my finger and popped them out, but that doesn’t always work. I have come up thru the gills but that doesn’t always work.

When a little toss back fish gets mangled I feel he would be better off in the cooler, and that is a shame. It would be nice if I could undo him cleanly and feel good about his prospects for survival.

I like gadgets and would like to know what some of you might recommend.

[Slab]

Hemostats work for me on the difficult ones 95% of the time. The only time I have a problem is if the gills get damaged. Then they bleed profusely and may not survive. Also if the fish manages to get deeply hooked into it's gullet it can be real hard to remove, but it's very rare that it's that deep. If they don't survive, there's always a predatory bird around somewhere ready for a meal, so even then I don't feel real bad.

[DockShootinJack]

I wrap the line around my hand to steady the jig and then push down on the jighead with my finger. I have seen degorgers made in a thread here to dislodge a deep hook in a fish.

[catchNgrease]

If it's to deep for hemostats. I cut the line. I feel like i give him a fair shake that way.

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[SuperDave336]

I use hemostats and I’ve also made a fish pick from an old toothbrush. Mr. Crappie has a very nice one he sells if you can get it. I’ve also seen other picks linked in other threads if you do a search.

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[DockShootinJack]

Rocket bobbers also have a built in degorger on the top stem. Pretty handy when float and fly fishing

[Ketchn]

most of the time , I try to just push backwards on the jig no matter how deep it is , but as stated it isn't always easy to do .
like hemostats myself and needle nose pliers too . try gripping only the bend of the hook with the weapon of choice .
it will help keep the jig alive , as far as the fish goes , unless i want to eat it , I do my best not to mortally wound it during the removal .
most of the time unless they are bleeding like slab said from a gill injury or possibly being hooked in that there little fish heart in the throat they will survive , one or 2 though that were hooked in the upper skull area and or thru an eye that didn't bleed much ,still didn't survive .
possibly shock related mortality injury ? and btw ....
I never carry a rag or a hook removal device , but then again I am on foot and pack light ....

[BobC]

Hemostat for me and the hits are usually so fast the lure doesn’t get too deep. Agreed that A hook in the gills is the worst. I think I lost one this past season that I didn’t think would survive, but usually they swim away just sore and mad.
Bob

[pescador]

Might want to try crushing the barb??


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[jbird68]

I got a few of these.

Toothpick T2 Hook Remover With Retracting Lanyard Cold Snap | Etsy

I got tied of chipping the paint off of my ice jigs using hemostats. I emailed the company who makes my ice jigs and told him the paint was chipping off. He recommended using these Cold Snap hook removers.

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