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| Overheard an interesting debate on cutting hooks when releasing fish. I have been doing it the same way forever, but got to thinking if I am doing it right.
My questions are, "What is the proper way to cut hooks out of a fish?"
-How much hook is too much to leave in the fish after release?
-Any tips on tough to reach hooks ie.) going through the gill plate?
-Any must have tools besides cutter, pliers, jaw spreaders?
- How do you remove a bulldawg that got sucked in from the back and is difficult to cut the back hook?
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Posts: 4266
| Knipex....the only hook cutter.
I cut them all, or as many as I can see when the fish is in the net. Ever have a fish thrash when you were unhooking it? Exactly. Hooks are cheap. ER Co-Pays aren't. I cut everything because it might get me or the fish in the eye. Once all of the crap is out of my way, I take the easy ones first, the ones that are all the way through, that the ends fall off and the rest back out. Embedded one I cut as close to the skin as possible, and then see if I can find a piece on the outside that I can grab. You get deep hooks working through the gill plates. Again get the easy stuff first, and if possible, get the dam lure out of the way, then you can cut the line and get everything else out of the way so that it's just you and the fish. My secret tool of choice? The biggest, longest Needlenose Visegrips that you can get. Once a hook is grabbed, it's not coming out, and you can use it as an emergency jaw spreader.
Move fast and make sure of what you are cutting.
Cut 'em all! Then when you have the shakes set in, you'll have something to do. |
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Posts: 143
| laser beams.
epic win. |
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Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/watch.asp?id=766
Steve Jonesi gives a really informational talk about hook removal tools and cutting hooks.
*and if you look closely, I'm grimacing in pain from kneeling on one knee for this long. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Since the lure brought up here was a soft plastic bait, at what point do you cut up the lure to get it out of the fishes mouth? I have had fish engulf a soft plastic before, i was lucky enough to get it out without cutting but at some point, you might have to sacrifice the lure as well. |
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Posts: 93
Location: Minneapolis, MN | Its best to remove any bit of a cut hook from the fish, but what about the loose bits that may fall into the fishes mouth or gills when cutting hooks? I haven't seen this addressed. |
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Posts: 4266
| Pump it's stomach. Pull it out of the water and perform surgery in the dark.
We are a MASH unit man, and we do the best that we can as fast as we can. You want perfection? Take your fish to a vet! |
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Posts: 198
| Small hook pieces that are in the gills will usually fall out or get shaken out. Down the throat and into the stomach they will evenually dissolve unless your using salt water hooks. One tool I didn't see mentioned is an 18 inch pair of bolt cutters. On multiple hook baits one thing I do is cut the shanks of the hooks first and get the bait out of the net then go in with the Knipex and work on the individual hooks. Makes things much easier when the bait is out of the net. |
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Cutting Hooks