another hook lost

Hi all

Long time lurker first time poser. Always had a fetish about fishing for panfish and crappies. I live in So Cal and have fish extensively at the local lakes, beaches and deep sea.

Anyway, there is this little lake by my house where there are tons of dink bluegills, occasional heavily fished bass, and carps. I usually go to this lake after work to unwind and fish a little bit.

I usually use bubble and flies first and if the bluegills do not want to play then I throw in a mealworm now and then to tempt them. I use 2 pound line and small hook.

what I have noticed is that the gills usually swallow the hook pretty deep when I'm using bait.

It's quite challenging to remove a deeply embedded hook without destroying the gill in the process. I really hate that since these little guys won't fill my tummy.

So far, I have one casualty and it kinda bug me since I try not to injure them too much. Before you start calling me PETA, I've kill plenty of fish in my life and won't have a problem doing it again but only if I'm going to consume it.

I think if it happens again, I will have to cut the line but wanted to get your thoughts about leaving the hook in the small fish.

will that eventually kill them since they can't eat anything until the hook is dissolved?


Anyway, good meeting you all and I hope to meet some of you someday since you all sounds like a really nice bunch of people.

Regards
Jon

Use a larger hook and it will help sometimes. The small bream really need thinned out most places. Don't worry so much about wasting a few as the catfish , gar , and turtles have to eat too.
We have that problem with small catfish. Use fine wire hooks ,never stainless steel and cut line short as possiable. I was told that the fish's system would dissolve the hook up quickly.:cool:

In the future I'd go with a circle hook and use pliers to push the barb down, or a longer hook #8 as Nimrod suggests. If it happens again, just cut the line and give the catfish some dinner. However, if the Bluegill is a nice size then take him home to Lake Crisco.

old ship

agree with both of em a bigger hook or a circle hook...but if your adamant bout using small hook find one with longest shank possible and cheapest. if itsin its gut cut it and start over...

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Originally Posted by john h

agree with both of em a bigger hook or a circle hook...but if your adamant bout using small hook find one with longest shank possible and cheapest. if itsin its gut cut it and start over...

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Starting over is easy if you have some "pre rigged" in your tackle box.

ship

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Originally Posted by soulsurfer

what I have noticed is that the gills usually swallow the hook pretty deep when I'm using bait.

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By using a big hook, you WILL cut down on deep-hooking. You will also cut down on the number of fish you hook in the first place, because a big hook just doesn't look natural. I don't think your hook is the problem. I use very small hooks: typically 14's ands 16's and sometimes as small as a #20. Despite that, I RARELY have this problem. There are two ways to avoid deep-hooking fish: the prevention and the cure.

The prevention is this: use good floats!! If you use good floats (like wagglers) and shot them correctly so that a minimum of float tip is above the surface, you'll know when a fish breathes on your bait! I use balsa or peacock wagglers and shot them so that about 1/8" is sticking out of the water. A set-up like this will also show lift bites. I cannot overemphasize the importance of good floats.

The cure is this: use a disgorger!! A disgorger is a small plastic stick that will remove a deep hook. Bass Pro used to sell them. Wacker Baits sell them now (www.wackerbaits.com), but theirs might be a little small. I'll do some searching for other sources. I also might be able to find a youtube video on how to use one.

Good floats and disgorgers don't solve the deep small hook problem for me, Kevin. Especially when using flies. I use good floats, hemostats (forceps), and disgorgers. Sorry, I wish I could say that they did :D.

thanks for all the tips..........I'm going to the local wally store and see if they have some long shank hooks.

Love the shot float idea too. Haven't tried it yet, but will give that a go too.

When I'm surf fishing, I usually just tip hook the grub..........something like this.
http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/h...perch-fishing/

that eliminates a lot of the gut hook.

Maybe I'll tip hook the mealworm next time and test it out. Only problem is that the mealworm is not as tough as the plastic grubs and will come off the hook easily. Heck, I might even try the grubs and see if that will work too. hehehe. what do you think will be the hot color if plastic grub is used?

Anyway, good fishing and hope to stay in touch with all of you more.

Soul

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Originally Posted by dixieangler

Good floats and disgorgers don't solve the deep small hook problem for me, Kevin. Especially when using flies. I use good floats, hemostats (forceps), and disgorgers. Sorry, I wish I could say that they did :D.

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Robert, what kind of floats are you using? Wagglers? How much of the float is showing above the water?

I was thinking about this yesterday after I posted. The wagglers (or very sensitive pole floats) will prevent about 90% of deep hooking. The disgorger handles about 5%. That leaves about another 5% where I have to just cut the line. I think those numbers are pretty accurate.

I don't go too small with flies (usually not smaller than a #12.) So, I really don't have this problem when fly fishing.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Robert, what kind of floats are you using? Wagglers? How much of the float is showing above the water?

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Hi Kevin,

Just a styrofoam cigar type usually. Plenty of float shows above the water. I'm not using those pencil types that you're calling wagglers though. Suppose I'll have to give them a try.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

I don't go too small with flies (usually not smaller than a #12.) So, I really don't have this problem when fly fishing.

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Same here. Let's just say that I learned my lesson with the flies. :) I even use a VOSI from time to time with a nymph or scud when the fish are suspended and aren't taking a dropping fly. Or a surface fly with a dropper from time to time. I don't prefer casting those rigs so I don't use them very often.