What happens to THOSE fish...? (Broken lines)

[LocalGuide]

A couple of days ago I was out driving across a shallow flat while prefishing for a tourney and I come across some smallie beds. So I just keep going and see that they are just starting their spawn. After a little bit I see this smallie out swimming around, as I get closer I saw a blade following it. Well it looked like someones snap to their line or a bottom bouncer must of broke and the hook from the spinner harness was set in the mouth yet. I couldnt get close to fish or catch it even though I wanted to real bad. But I have never seen that before.

I also cleaned a walleye this fall that had a jig in its stomach, hook and all was still unrusted. I still have that jig but I never use it, its in my display of old lures, it looks nice and black/grey and discolored and hook is just fine.

I have also caught bass before with a plastic worm from someone else still in its mouth, or a bass with the claws from a crayfish sticking out of its throat.

[Swimmer]

I read this article too. I seems the newer aloys...w/nickel, ect...do not break down like the older hooks.

[Kab Dreamin]

Back in the early 80's I worked as a dockboy at Pine Aire Resort on Lake Kabetogama and while cleaning the guest's fish, I would occasionally run across a northern or a walleye with a jig in its stomach. Usually they would be in a pretty advanced state of corrosion. Some were just the lead head and the entire hook had been eaten away.

Since I started bass fishing on Minnetonka, I have, on a couple of occasions, run across a bass with a jig or a lure stuck in its mouth. The line is always 6 or 8lb test. I think the moral of the story is that if you are going to bass fish, spool up with something a little more substantial than 6 or 8 lb test line.

[Duffer]

i wonder if the jigs that get into fish's stomachs will cause the fish meat to be high in lead if it is a lead jig. this is one good reason to switch over your old jigs.