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Posts: 165
Location: tHe LaKe Of PrIoR, mN | So last weekend sucker fishing on one of my favorite lakes we got 2 nice 47"ers one of which had some sort of make shift sucker rig stuck in its throat. It was a mess 1 barrel swivel hooked onto a clip with another swivel then wire and a harasser bucktail blade and another clip to a j hook all I could see was 1 j hook unless there was more down the fishes throat I couldn't see it was the most ridiculous rig I've seen...
My question is a tough one since the fish we got was under the 48" minnesota minimum we sent the fish back and also left the 1 hook in its gullet since removing the hook would probably be a for sure death sentence we did however cut the leader mess off.... me and my fishing partner talked a bit about what if it was over 48? We both went back and forth a bit... knowing that studys of gut hooked fish say that eventually the gut hooked fish die anyway what would you do?
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Posts: 82
| If you had a hook pick you might of been able to get it out. Bad deal though, another reason for immediate hook sets. |
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Location: Eau Claire,WI | I would have done the same thing you did. You tried to remove what you could get out of the muskies mouth without causing the fish any further damage. You tried,more than the average "Joe" would have done... |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I think I would have done the same. The fish was still "trying" to eat at least and was alive. Seems trying to pull a hook out of the throat would likely kill the fish. I'd have cut off as much as I could, release it, and hope for the fish.
Several times I've had walleyes that I kept swallow a hook (single, not treble). At the end of the day, the hook is often in the bottom of the live well. No idea how they do it but they often get rid of the hook. Seems unlikely, but maybe muskies could somehow get rid of hooks too, but I imagine trebles are about impossible to get rid of. |
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Posts: 1220
| I have a hook pick and large mouth spreader on the deck at all times with my other release tools. You almost never need to employ them, but when you need them, a fairly clumsy guy (even a fat one) can almost look like a surgeon. |
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Posts: 7091
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Long video, but a good description on how to use a hook pick:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/videos/02.13.2008/766/Tools.and.Tec... |
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| A long pliers can work well, too, provided you come in from the side behind the gills. It's a lot easier than it sounds, and if you can see the hook you will probably be able to get it out. A hook in the throat is more likely to kill a fish than just about anything else -- do everything you can to get them out (and do the work with the fish in the water). |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | No question about releasing the fish. Cut out what you can and let her go just like you did. Good Job! |
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Posts: 165
Location: tHe LaKe Of PrIoR, mN | thanks for the vid slamr. I do have a hook pick as well as all the other tools in my boat the only one I don't have is the channel locks but now I do...
I have done the in through the gills before but This fish had a single hook and it was deeeeep the only time you could see the hook was when the fish opened its throat I would have never seen it if she didn't have line and leader hangin out... I felt If I had went after it I would have further hurt the fish its a tough decision it was attempting to feed so hopefully she makes it |
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Posts: 1828
| This is just a thought, and it's a stretch, I know, but do you think that a nice big meal or two just might help work that hook out? After all, the point of the hook is almost positively pointed toward the mouth, so it has to get pushed back deeper into the throat to come out. Assuming the hook doesn't have the throat pinched shut, i.e. it doesn't go through the wall of the throat twice, then a big object, like a sucker or cisco, passing through JUST MIGHT help work that hook out. Or, it might do more damage and kill the fish.
Anyway, just a thought. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Slamr - 10/21/2013 9:36 AM
Long video, but a good description on how to use a hook pick:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/videos/02.13.2008/766/Tools.and.Tec...
Don't have a hook pic, but I can see how it would be handy in certain situations.
As for the release of a hooked fish, I had one as well that I just couldn't get out. Sometimes it is hard to know what is best, thankfully it doesn't seem to happen very often. |
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| I dont think this issue is due to late hook set,, we have broken off on several hook sets we cant seem to figure out why? We where running 80 pound pp and then stepped up to 100 pound still breaking off with brand new line no frays cant explain it ? But i know its happening to alot of people who keep it quite,, not sure if its from running weight up at top of leader and breaks line on hook set? Knots are good does not happen all the time but enough for us to quit sucker fishing anyone got any logical explantion? No issues with gear i assure you |
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Posts: 3913
| You did the best you could. Cut and let go and hope. I once caught a pike that had a smallish Jitterbug stuck pretty deep in the throat, top and bottom. Amazing she was still out there and hunting. Took everything out and let her go. |
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| I switched to 130lb and have had no issues with break offs since |
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Posts: 619
| I think break offs are due to some trying to set the hook way too hard.. its one thing to give a nice firm tug, there is no need for the superman swing - gotta be hard on the fish too. |
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Posts: 228
| You could try this!
http://dehooker4arc.com/instructions.cfm |
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Posts: 100
| If you are getting break offs on 80 and 100# the problem may be your guides, not the line. Take a q-tip and rub it along all of your guides. The ceramic may be nicked or worn down and may be fraying the line causing the line breakage. |
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| Switching to Tufline or Cortland should end your issues altogether.
Breaking either one of these involves tying them off on a boat cleat.
PP snaps on casting snarls & straight pulls when caught on rocks/reeds so I quit running it years ago after losing a few treasured baits.
Might be better now but I have no reason to try it again.
PF |
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| The pp sugestion actually makes sense thats what everyone i know that had this happen was running i did look at guides everything pretty much,, but i have heard of others having issues figured a line issue? |
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Posts: 221
| We've had a few lines snap this year sucker fishing, and I honestly think it has something to do with the bobbers. I started just looping one end on the bobber instead of both and that seems like it might put a little less stress on the line during a firm hook set. You're right though, many people have break offs for a variety of different reasons, but never admit to it. Plenty of fish caught this time of year with hooks from broken rigs in their mouths. |
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Posts: 203
Location: Alexandria, Minnesota | I am getting so sick and tired of Walleye guys in Minnesota that are getting into Muskie Fishing and the only time they get out is when they can sucker fish for them...We watch these guys, they will literally give the fish 20 minutes before they set the hook and they are only using 12 inch suckers because around here that is the only ones they can find at the bait stores... They think they are pike fishing or something because every time I have informed them that they are doing something wrong that is what they tell me...That they were told that they were supposed to allow the fish time to swallow the bait...
As Muskie Fisherman I think it is our job to look out for the future of our fisheries and I talk to each every boat that I have a chance to about the safety of sucker fishing, because I do it too, but I only use suckers bigger then 18 inches in length and I set the hook quickly on the fish, hence the term " quick set rig" .... I have had one such swallowed rig and that was about 5 years ago....
Sorry for the rant but unless we get this situation fixed in Minnesota we are going to see a steady decline in our fisheries up here from un educated miss informed fishermen.. Because the ones that are going to get killed most often from these guys are the big ones because of the size of their mouths they are going to be able to swallow those small suckers the fastest, and it usually takes another 15 years to replace most of them.. |
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Posts: 203
Location: Alexandria, Minnesota | Also I use 150lb test line, most guys are going out with the same line they use for casting 80lb whatever that is already frayed and nicked up from casting all season on it and then they wonder why it snaps on them... I am constantly checking my line for any sort of nicks or frays and change it frequently.. |
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Posts: 165
Location: tHe LaKe Of PrIoR, mN | the line that was on this rig I found we figured to be about 50 lb and it was red? not really sure what that was ... like dave mentioned I assume this was a casual fall sucker only muskie fisherman
I fish a metro lake from time to time for tiger and they have a dock where the fishing can be great! every time i go near it I see someone casting a sucker out with a single hook in the tail drives me crazy
I personally had a homemade quick strike rig break early this year 90 lb wire snapped now I am using only 175 lb + wire and hardware on my rigs I went 5+ years with no issues with the 90 lb but If you are using 90 lb sucker rigs I recommend upgrading... 90 lb WILL BREAK eventually and like me it will be on the biggest fish you see this year |
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Posts: 228
| I would NOT use live bait for Muskies for that very reason.
Bob |
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muskie with hook stuck in its throat what would you do???