De-hooking sunfish

[bbock]

A lot of times when I'm out fishing for Bluegills, I'll find some that decide they are going to completely inhale my hook and swivel. This makes them difficult, if not impossible, to de-hook without causing major damage to the poor fish. I have taken the barbs out of my hooks and that helps a little, but I don't really want to be killing Bluegills just by de-hooking them. So I'm looking for tips on how to avoid them inhaling my hook so much, or if I should be using different hooks or something.

[tulikow]

When this happens sometimes it works to switch from a plain hook to a lure like a flu flu. I think it is harder for them to inhale the jig because the feathers and jighead make it to bulky to swallow all at once.

[CALVINIST]

I use tube jigs quite a bit, or swirly tail grubs...these I tip with a bit of GULP! maggot, or Berkley Crappie Nibbler. Works for crappies and gills. The same principle as the flu-flu. Usually they get hooked in the mouth...very easy to remove.

Good luck.

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Calvinist
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[This message has been edited by CALVINIST (edited 08-06-2004).]

[delmuts]

first; i would get rid of the snap swivel. tie directly to the line. this will give you the option of just cutting the hook or jig and letting the fish excrete it on its' own. second is to have a good pair of scuchors.(sp?) with these you can reach well done into a fish and remove the hook and crimping the barbs does help. del

[Corey Bechtold]

This may sound pretty generic but try setting the hook a little quicker. These are not walleyes and don't require giving them time to get the bait in their mouths. If they are still hooked deep try to pull on the line while making circles, this usually works well.

Corey Bechtold

[The Grebe]

Well, first off, what kind of bait are you using? If you are using worms, crawlers, or leeches, you are going to have to do some experimenting...and probably go through some bait, to find what will work most of the time, so that you can get your hook out, without turning the fish into turtle, or gull food.

The fish run different sizes, so it's tough to get em all, all the time. Tailor the bait to the fish, small leeches that can be inhaled easily and when you get the bite, set the hook.

With the inhalers, when you see the cork pop, or feel the hit, they have it...unless the bait is to big, or it is a little fish.

Same with worms, or crawlers, why have a gob of bait on the size of a golf ball, when a sunnies mouth is the size of a nickle?

With the bite sized artificals and live bait, set them as soon as you know they are there and start making adjustments. You will miss some and they are probably the dinks anyways, because when the big sunnies commit, they don't half step.

[bbock]

Some really great advice here. I appreciate it. I've been mostly using just plain crawlers on a plain hook, and I think those that have suggested I'm not setting the hook fast enough are probably right. I just got some 1" powerbait but I haven't had much of a chance to fish with that yet.
I think I will also try to get some of the jigs suggested, my jig collection is not very big right now, and I know that the powerbait looks appetizing on a jig.

[Lost]

CIRCLE HOOKS

They're awesome! I have yet to gut-hook a fish on these. Even when I've had the hook and bait sitting underneath a bobber and haven't been paying attention, when I notice the bobber is gone, I just reel in and usually have the fish hooked on the corner of its mouth.

[The Grebe]

Still up and at em, Casino kicked our butts last night, slept late, rain and wind hampered the fishing, can't get into watching a movie just yet, so I'm playing with the computer.

Lost, I'm going to take your advice and try those circle hooks and see what happens? No matter how astute one is at setting the hook on the sunnies, there is always SOME collateral damage.

[muskybuck]

I think those are the ones you have to eat. I am not sure that cutting the line does much.

[bbock]

Where do you get circle hooks? Do they say "circle hooks" on the package, or is it just some shape one has to look for? I looked at Marine General (in Duluth) for them once and didn't see them, maybe I wasn't looking in the right place.

[Dan Thiem]

When we fish for bluegills and we are using small leeches or worms,we always use the really long shank hooks.That way they can't swallow the hook.And there is always some shank still sticking out of the mouth.

[HighLife100]

I've never tried circle hooks for sunnies but the very long shanked hooks that they sell for panfish work great. There is almost always enough of the shank sticking out to help take out the hook. I will also pinch the barb when I'm fishing for sunnies and then they are very easy to release. Sunfish seem to keep constant pressure on your line so I haven't had any problems with them spitting the hook.

[Lost]

Grebe, one of the things to remember is to NOT set the hook when using circles. You'll most likely yank the hook right out of their mouth. Instead, a slow, steady reeling in is what you want to do.

bbock, I get them at Gander Mountain. Gamakatzu has them from like a size 8 to a 2/0 (I think). They are the octopus design of the hooks. The packages are labeled as "Octopus Circle".

[bbock]

Well, I went out today and tried both circle hooks and small jigs. Not once did I hook a fish deeper than the mouth, although one largemouth bass decided to try to swallow the circle hook a way, but then it didn't embed itself very deep.
Very impressed with the circle hooks, and I like the presentation of the jigs, so I'll probably buy more for my tackle box.
Now if I could only find some larger fish worth frying up.
Thanks again everyone.

[Lost]

bbock, glad they're working out for you. The deepest I've ever hooked a fish is maybe an inch down its throat. But it was easy to get out.