Posted by Neil McArthur Today, the gag is out of fashion - although in my view in safe hands it can be a useful tool. I too recently met an adult, who having landed a double figure Pike, declared it gut hooked and a candidate for, 'wire-cutters'. In my view this endangers a Pike's life. I am of the view that it is possible for a Pike to pass a treble. However it is no forgone conclusion. Far better to remove. Here is my process. I sit astride the fish with its body passing between my knees and tail out by my feet. I insert my hand - wearing a glove - through the gills. I am careful to go in between the gill and the gill raker, between gill rakers, which can damage them. With pressure applied with my fingers I can open its mouth. If I lift its head slightly, then the mouth will remain open. I then put the trace in my mouth to hold the tension. Then depending on the hook hold I will unhook from the mouth or the other gill. If the fish is hooked in the throat -often called 'gut-hooked' then I the best method it thru the gill. Then you can get a purchase on the treble. Carefulll examinatation will show which of the trebles in embedded and how deeeply. Some of the treble hooks can normally immediately be unhooked. Then, holding the trace undertension, with a little pressure, the fishes throat will extend revealing the whole treble. Forceps will then be able to turn the hook. The result, a fish returns, with care and a clear throat. Perhaps one or two very small tears, but this is far better than a treble hook and a length of wire. I would suggest that it doesn't take much to ruin a fishery if fish are returned because anglers are ill-prepared, or lack the bravery to do the best for the fish when they are under pressure. The fish must come first. A little time and self belief is all that required. Forgive the lecture, but I'm passionate about Pike. Long live Esox.
on November 17, 2005, 9:14 pm, in reply to "UNHOOKIG OF DEEP HOOKED FISH ??"
86.138.45.163
At the age of 45 I am returning to angling. As a kid and teanager, I was a pike fanatic. As you can imagine I was part of group and we caught many pike. I became chief unhooker, probably because I had a gag and good forceps.
--Previous Message--
: WHILST WALKING AROUND A VENUE THE OTHER DAY
: LOOKIN FOR LIKELY SWIMS ETC... A GUY STRUCK
: INTO A FISH ON THE OPPOSITE BANK SO WENT
: ROUND TO SEE QUALITY OF FISH ETC AND GET
: SOME INFO, THIS GUY HAD ALL THE GEAR AND NEW
: WHAT HE WAS DOIN CONFIDENCE ETC. BUT THE
: QUESTION I WOULD LIKE ANSWERED IS THE GUY
: SAID "OH ITS DEEP HOOKED I CANT SEE THE
: BOTTOM TREBLE" WITH THIS HE GOT A PAIR
: OF WIRE CUTTERS AND CUT THE TRACE AS FAR
: DOWN IN THE PIKES MOUTH AS HE COULD THEN
: RELEASED THE FISH, THE FISH WENT BACK FINE
: NO PROBS SWUM OFF ETC.. BUT IS THAT OK ? IS
: THAT WHAT U DO ? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HOOK ?
: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FISH ? IS THIS THE SAME
: PIKE AND ZANDER ALIKE WITH DEEP HOOKING ????
: PLEASE GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS OR
: EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE IN THIS SUBJECT/MATTER
: MANY THANKS
:
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