Ned and other finesse baits causing deep hooking?

[cbass12]

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.

Remember that smallie I gill hooked with it last week....... I don't know that I've ever had that happen before.

[fishinwrench]

I havent had any better luck with hook disgorgers.

If somebody has a better method or tool, please post it up. (I would like to be 100% on CR rate.)

Wrench, where do I turn in my jersey?

You could probably just wear yours inside out for a spell, you'll master it quickly I think.

[Champ188]

Wrench, where do I turn in my jersey?

Some of these guys could hang their jerseys on one of their Power Poles when they take them off and sit them in the corner of their garage. Probably be the first time they'd ever been used for anything other than an overpriced dock rope.

[huntest]

Rps showed me some long offset anodized forceps that are just great. I ordered them and have had no trouble since. Simply grab the hook at the point of penetration push down a tiny bit and twist the offset forceps 90 degrees.....I have had more issues with tubes than the Ned Rig

Randy if you see this do you remember where we ordered these.

[Ealy]

I've ran into problems over the years, mostly with smallmouth swallowing the hook, especially in the spring.

For years I worked as a mechanic, and as much as I hate to promote Snap On Tools (I think I paid my Snap On dealer's house payment), they make a set of long handled set of cutters that work great. You simply drop the pliers in and cut the hook. No reason to do any digging.

I actually found a link here for a cheaper Blue Point version that would be just as effective. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=647211&group_ID=682642&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

[gitnby]

Really have not had much of an issue with 'gut hooks' with the Ned?

I can really only remember one or two times where I had to get out the pliers or forceps.

I HAVE had numerous gut hooks with the Fish Doctor or other soft plastics with the split shot rig.

I think the reason is in how the fish eat it?

On the Ned, they are usually picking it up when it is in a vertical state on the bottom, so they mouth it first, then try to inhale or eat it. That hook usually gets them in the top of the mouth before they ingest it, especially with Dr Dave's Magic Ned Heads!

On the split shot rig, the bait is sliding along horizontally off the bottom or free-falling and they just inhale the thing, and sometimes you don't even know it till they start pulling away. That's when you get the gut hooks!

If you use the right line and rod that allows you to really feel the bite, and can set or sweep the the rod right away, you will have fewer problems.

Fishing live nightcrawlers is absolutely the worst offender for gut hooking a fish. That's primarily why I switched to the drop shot approach, and even then, you will have a few that swallow it.

The other thing that people don't realize is that even if you can successfully get the hook out of a gut-hooked fish without too much blood or other damage, that doesn't mean the fish is going to survive!

Think about the fact that you just fought and dragged this fish by the entrails for several feet.

I'm thinkin that's gotta hurt?

[rps]

Rps showed me some long offset anodized forceps that are just great. I ordered them and have had no trouble since. Simply grab the hook at the point of penetration push down a tiny bit and twist the offset forceps 90 degrees.....I have had more issues with tubes than the Ned Rig

Randy if you see this do you remember where we ordered these.

The company name was Rockaway.

[dtrs5kprs]

I've ran into problems over the years with fish swallowing the hook, especially in the spring. For me, this has been mostly a smallmouth issue, more so in the spring. For me this has been a problem mostly with split shot and carolina rigging.

For years I worked as a mechanic, and as much as I hate to promote Snap On Tools (I think I paid my Snap On dealer's house payment), they make a set of long handled set of cutters that work great. You simply drop the pliers in and cut the hook. No reason to do any digging.

I actually found a link here for a cheaper Blue Point version that would be just as effective. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=647211&group_ID=682642&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Pretty similar to what I keep in the boat. Mine are a more standard side cutter. If you can get it on the hook it is done and over. Trick is findingf a narrow pair with those long handles.

Actually bought mine a few years before I picked up the little rig. Was worried about the number of split shot fish I was leaving a hook in. Also works well if one happens to end up with some trebles down deep. I can't stand hearing TV buys say he "choked" it.

The ones that hook the bend and rotate really work well with finesse baits too. Little tougher to get those on the little jigs.

The wire guard may be playing a role as well.

[magicwormman]

Harbor freight has a cheaper version......http://www.harborfreight.com/11-inch-long-reach-diagonal-cutter-37837.html

[Jim Elam]

Jim thanks for posting.

There is a lot of hook removal tools out there. What hook removal tools have you found to work the best?

I like pistol grip hook removers for a down the throat deep hook removal approach. Have a turn type that Dave mentioned for through the gill approach, which I probably have used once or twice ever.

I started using the pistol grip types in Canada when small "hammer handle" pike would attack wake baits. They are handy in a pinch with trebles on toothy critters, but I found they can really be helpful in the throat of a bass when he is hooked deep with single hook baits. They are cheap and they make life easy for most situations, and don't tear up the fish or your bait.

I appreciate all of the great responses, especially about barbless. I think that is a great way to go, and lots of times you can get the shorts off the hook at the boat just by giving them slack for a "quick release". They simply spit the hook and take off, letting me get my bait back out there for a shot at another (hopefully larger ) fish.

I have to plug Dave's heads. Have really tagged the fish in the last 3 weeks on the unpainted mustad 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz heads. Bill is right, it is a system if you plan on posting big numbers. These heads are a big part of the system IMO. The hooks are top shelf on these heads, and resist the corrosion issues that come up when pre-rigging with zeros on inferior hooks. Have ordered more for the annual Canada trip. Can't wait...