I am curious how those of you who fish for panfish relate to this. Seems to me that, occasionally, a fish you catch will have the jig/lure deep in the throat. Recently, I was doing catch n release. With one fish, I got bit on tight line and was shocked that the bluegill had the jig deep in its throat. I figured it would be tough to get it out without harming the fish and I was right. Even with very narrow forceps, I saw blood. I then kept the fish in the livewell to observe, thinking that if it died, I would take it home for cleaning. Along with a couple of others because if I am going to clean a fish, I want to clean at least three. Well, that fish died and I mean quick. I was really surprised. Fish are fragile! How the heck could that fish die so quick? There had to be some serious internal damage. I didn't get rough trying to get the hook out but there was, obviously, some trauma. So, there you have it; catch n release didn't work for this one.

So, what do you guys do? Do you think you have some super technique to remove a hook with no harm? If so, what? Do you find that this happens sometimes no matter what you do? The problem with bream is they have such a tiny mouth. I don't recall this happening with crappie; if it has, it's been a very long time ago.

This is a common problem with bass, especially fishing a soft plastic bait such as a fluke, which looks like a shad. You better not dally or the bass will inhale it. There is a technique for removing a hook in a bass' throat by going behind the gill plate but I have yet to master it and it's often portrayed as an easy technique.

I just do not want to return a fish to the lake that may die, it seems wasteful. Yeah, turtles and such gotta eat but it bugs me. And sometimes, I don't want to clean fish if I have plenty!