Best Wiggle Wart Replacement Hooks

[Smalls21]

my dog can attest to the sharpness of the death traps. i had just caught a squeaker, got it to the boat, i had safely removed the hooks from the fish and releasing back into the water, when my dog starts yelping. He somehow managed to get the front treble caught just behind his front leg, and the rear treble just in front of the back leg. I have to admit watching my dog try to walk sideways was pretty funny. It turned out to be a shortened fishing trip and an expensive vet bill.

[Bill Babler]

Watching those guys on MLF grabbing those treble hooked fish just scares me to death.  Its not if, its when.  Like snagged said trout will continue to roll and flop to the bitter end, they don't freeze like a bass.  Best way for trout is to turn them on their back holding them upside down and they will then for the most part hold still.

[rps]

On 2/6/2019 at 11:11 AM, abkeenan said:

I'm actually surprised more pros don't get hooks buried into their hands. Only two that I can recall is Jason Christy a few years back and then KVD around 2 years ago. KVD's was live on BassMaster and I think was on Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn perhaps. One of the Texas lakes and he won that event I believe. He was deep cranking a 10XD and had just landed like a 7 or 8lb'er and when he lipped her one of those Mustads got sunk into his hand. On a 10XD I'd imagine he was using a 1/0 or 2/0 hook and that's no #5 needle point. When I land a fish using treble baits I try to unhook them while they are laying in the net and not using any hands. Just the pliers. I still recall RPS' story a few years ago he posted about with a fish and bait stuck in his hand and him trying to maneuver around his boat. I don't ever want to be in that situation. Sounded like nearly a life or death struggle.

Since then I bought a Boga. I put it on a 3 foot rope with a 2 foot pool noodle. I net the fish and take it out only with the Boga. If you bottom lip with the tool you get the same freeze. I then use locking hemostats to remove the hooks. I don't tournament fish so speed and rules do not dictate what I do. My goal is no more sticks.