Ned and other finesse baits causing deep hooking?

[Jim Elam]

Reading about a few deep hook sets on recent threads got me thinking about some past lessons on this topic. The Ned is a truly amazing setup, but I think we may see a few more gut and gill hooked fish with it than many "power" offerings.

I think the best available evidence supports the idea that removing the hook is the priority in all cases. Leaving a hook in a fish is usually a death sentence so it behoove's us to have something in the boat that can be inserted at least 4 inches into the fishes mouth to extract a hook. Indeed, 6 inches is sometimes needed. It is important that this tool is available in the boat and that the angler is familiar with the tool and it's proper use. In my opinion a dedicated hook degorger (even as simple as a hemostat or similar) is much better than pliers. Many variations exist. IMO, all work better than simple pliers or fingers.

A good rule of thumb is to hold your breath while working on getting the hook out of the fish's mouth, especially as the water temp rises over 60 F. Getting the fish back in the water or a live well during prolonged degorging to avoid hypoxic stress is important. When the angler feels the need for a breath, the fish probably needs some water exposure soon, even brief water exposure can be helpful.

If the bite is on and you feel the need to simply cut the line and retie to get back to catching, consider doing so and placing the fish in the livewell so the hook can be removed later when catching has slowed down.

Approaching the hook through the gills is a delicate but plausible option in some situations and should be considered when other approaches are fruitless.

In most cases being aggressive with a degorger will cause less risk than leaving the hook. Again, the livewell is often a great place to see the fruits of your labor while continuing to catch fish. If the fish does die, you have the option of eating it or returning it to the lake for the benefit of another creature.

Recently, during an outing with a friend on a day when we boated 85 fish on the little rig , my buddy stuck a fish deep and the thing was bleeding like a stuck hog. We were both pretty sure the fish was a goner. The bleeding was impressive. I suggested that it go in the livewell. Was at about noon. We left about 6 pm and to my surprise, the bass I was sure would be dead was actually in great shape. We were able to release that fish to fight another day. The livewell allowed the fish to get oxygen and rest, and provided an opportunity for the fish to recover in a dark quiet place. Pretty neat.

Lots of folks on here will have lots better stories about salvaging deeply hooked fish than me, but felt this topic was worth bringing up. The conventional wisdom that one can simply cut the line and release the fish and the hook will simply rust away has been shown repeatedly NOT to be in the fishes best interest, especially when the deep throat is involved, so removing the hook is a priority if we are to give the fish the best chance of survival possible so that they can be enjoyed again. The little rig is so much fun, I would hate to lose a shot at fighting a fish again...

[dtrs5kprs]

Don't believe it is as bad as a split shot or a tube, at least comparing my own catches. I've caught a couple on it, and the others also. Might show up with the little rig because you have a larger sample size.

I keep a pair of long handled cutters, narrow head, and one of the rotating tools, in the boat. Both work.

[ness]

Fook. I knew there had to be a downside.

Now what???

[Guest]

gotta be fast on the draw when they bite

gut hooked fish are part of the equation sometimes

don't pull on the line when you land them & handle them, cut the line & gently release the fish,

that gives it the best chance to swim off

they will choke down a wiggle wart, which is much harder to deal with multiple hooks

[fishinwrench]

Yeah if you gut hook a fish that just means you pretty much suck at this C&R thing, and you should prolly remove your jersey, sell your glitter-rig and go back to bank fishin' and eating everything you catch until you get it right.

[Quillback]

I have had very few deep hooked fish, as in deep in the throat on the Ned. I don't know why that is, because you would think fish would be swallowing it all the time. Usually for me, it is the Carolina rig (or the split shot) that will get swallowed.

But, good points Jim on fish care for deeply hooked fish. And I have seen the let them recover in the live well to release later thing work.

[bluebasser86]

I fish a Ned rig ALOT, I can't honestly remember hooking a fish in the throat or gills with it. I fish mine on 10lb braid with an 8lb leader so I usually feel the bites quickly and set the hook immediately as there's obviously no reason to give them any time to take the bait or anything. Personally, I feel a split shot rig or Carolina rig are much, much worse for deep hooking fish and usually a much larger hook that's going to do more damage. Get a pair of forceps and if you don't know how to remove a deep hooked fish by going through the gills, do a little searching and learn how to do that and there should be no reason to be killing any more than the unavoidable fish that are just going to happen when you're fishing.

[dtrs5kprs]

I have had very few deep hooked fish, as in deep in the throat on the Ned. I don't know why that is, because you would think fish would be swallowing it all the time. Usually for me, it is the Carolina rig (or the split shot) that will get swallowed.

But, good points Jim on fish care for deeply hooked fish. And I have seen the let them recover in the live well to release later thing work.

Definitely be nice to them, especially as it warms.

Having thrown it now for 5 springs, I really think the elaztech makes a difference over other plastics, with respect to gut hooking them. Seems like they chew on it more than swallow it. And it sticks in their teeth. Helps keep things up front.

[magicwormman]

I recommend barbless hooks for the Ned. Especially as the water temperature rises and the fish get more active. If you cut or file the barb down, you'll be amazed at how much easier the hook comes out. I have fished Lakes in Canada that are barbless and you rarely lose a fish. I personally use 6 lb fluorocarbon or 15 lb braid with a 6 lb fluoro leader. This help me detect strikes and less deep hooked fish. There is on occasion, when a fish will inhale the little rig and you don't even see the line move.

[Macsimus]

It's been my experience that a little Please Release Me (livewell treatment by Sure-Life) helps stop the bleeding faster.