Ned and other finesse baits causing deep hooking?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Who cares about gut hooking.

We have numbers to maintain.

[Donna G]

I think the shorter hook shank and narrower gap contribute to less problems with the Ned. Regardless, Donna and I don't seem to deep-hook many on it.

I had a problem deep-hooking them for awhile with the Ned, but made a change in tecnique and haven't had much trouble since. When dead-sticking I would leave slack in my line for long periods of time without checking periodically. I caught fish, but several were hooked deeply which I hate. Upsets me highly to hurt a creature I get some much pleasure out of catching. I like the tips on holding your breath and hand-landing. I'll have to remember those. At any rate, now I check frequently by taking in my slack slightly and have had less trouble while still catching plenty.

[flyrod17]

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

I have probably the same Snap-on cutters. I just can't believe that pushing, gouging, twisting, etc inside the gullet can be better than cutting the hook as close as possible. I don't even get that much bleeding when I do this.

[abkeenan]

When I gut hook a fish there are only 2 real options....the line through the gills rotating of the hook and removal or cutting the hook with the side cutters like others have mentioned. The through the gills method works 99% of the time if done correctly and doesn't hurt the fish at all. All you need is a thin yet rigid piece of wire (metal coat hanger strikes again!) with a hook or bend on the end to pull your line through the gills. Once you have the line fed through just pull it down toward the tail of the fish (while being held upright)...the hook will rotate 180...insert pliers.....put straight out...hook comes right out. VERY simple and takes about 20 seconds. Fish are none the worse for the wear, you have your bait back and you may not even have to retie. If you don't have steady hands and are concerned with going through the gills you could always just cut about 2 feet up the line from the mouth and feed that end through the gills without damaging the gills at all.

Here are some videos and illustrations if you have never done it before.

http://everything-smallmouth.com/gut-hooked-fish-removal/

[Jim Elam]

When I gut hook a fish there are only 2 real options....the line through the gills rotating of the hook and removal or cutting the hook with the side cutters like others have mentioned. The through the gills method works 99% of the time if done correctly and doesn't hurt the fish at all. All you need is a thin yet rigid piece of wire (metal coat hanger strikes again!) with a hook or bend on the end to pull your line through the gills. Once you have the line fed through just pull it down toward the tail of the fish (while being held upright)...the hook will rotate 180...insert pliers.....put straight out...hook comes right out. VERY simple and takes about 20 seconds. Fish are none the worse for the wear, you have your bait back and you may not even have to retie. If you don't have steady hands and are concerned with going through the gills you could always just cut about 2 feet up the line from the mouth and feed that end through the gills without damaging the gills at all.

Here are some videos and illustrations if you have never done it before.

http://everything-smallmouth.com/gut-hooked-fish-removal/

Thanks - that was helpful. Very good illustration.

[Donna G]

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

Pretty sure I saw the Blue Point version in True Value at Kimberling City. If not Blue Point, then something very similiar. Almost bought them.

[GNSfishing]

I bet if you will check Harbor Freight you'll find their cutters to match the Blue Point ones. Both are made in China the exception is the Harbor Freight ones are about 1/4th of the cost of Blue Point. Here is theirs.....the picture looks identical to the Blue Point ones.

• 11 in. Long Reach Diagonal Cutters

11 in. Long Reach Diagonal Cutters

Pittsburgh - Item#37837

Cut out of the way cables and bolts with long reach bolt cutters

Only: $6.49

[Bill Babler]

I'm to the point now, where my clients have caught hundreds of Ned ie Varmint fish, and I'm going to say less than one percent has swallowed the bait into a position that it cannot be removed without need of anything but my fingers. These people don't fish everyday and still the little guy lip or roof catches the fish the overwhelming majority of the time.

I have 10X the problem on a split shot rigged Fish Dr. or a tube bait. I am an advocate of leaving the hook in the fish if it is deep hooked or gut hooked. My clients catch at least one fish a day or every other day with a hook in it.

I had one several years ago that had 3 small No 1 worm hooks in it. Most I will guarantee you came from a split shot rig.

If you deep hook a smallmouth, with just about any bait just cut the line off short and put him in your livewell running full tilt for a couple of hours. Cannot even count the number of times that bait, usually a tube is sitting in the bottom of my live well. If I had tried to dig it out, he would be dead.

[dtrs5kprs]

I'm to the point now, where my clients have caught hundreds of Ned ie Varmint fish, and I'm going to say less than one percent has swallowed the bait into a position that it cannot be removed without need of anything but my fingers. These people don't fish everyday and still the little guy lip or roof catches the fish the overwhelming majority of the time.I have 10X the problem on a split shot rigged Fish Dr. or a tube bait. I am an advocate of leaving the hook in the fish if it is deep hooked or gut hooked. My clients catch at least one fish a day or every other day with a hook in it.I had one several years ago that had 3 small No 1 worm hooks in it. Most I will guarantee you came from a split shot rig.If you deep hook a smallmouth, with just about any bait just cut the line off short and put him in your livewell running full tilt for a couple of hours. Cannot even count the number of times that bait, usually a tube is sitting in the bottom of my live well. If I had tried to dig it out, he would be dead.

Right on. To me, they stand a much better chance if I just snip the line or the hook at the bend, than if I start exploring their anatomy. Have heard the gill deal works, but I don't have the steady hands to do it. More risk of seriously injuring one if I slip up and damage a gill.

[abkeenan]

Right on. To me, they stand a much better chance if I just snip the line or the hook at the bend, than if I start exploring their anatomy. Have heard the gill deal works, but I don't have the steady hands to do it. More risk of seriously injuring one if I slip up and damage a gill.

It's not for everyone for sure. I'm sure when I'm your age my surgeon like steady hand skills will have left me by then. But seriously I don't like seeing guys jamming their fingers through the gill plates and hitting the gills which is why is use non-invasive thin wire and keep any contact to a minimum if at all. If you are going to be like a bull in a china shop in their gill region then best to just use the side cutters to cut the hook at the bend and extract your now useless bait. That is your penalty for letting them have it too long anyways.