Hook Removal Tools

[Wish2Fish]

Are any of the many hook removal tools really effective on a deep-hooked fish? And how do they work anyway??

1. Some are shaped like a "j"...okay, so you hold the line and slide the tool towards the hook. But what happens next?

2. Some have a notched tube with a spring-loaded component inside the tube that locks onto the hook. But again...what happens next that causes the hook to come out?

None of the tools I've looked at come with decent instructions. The technique may be ridiculously obvious--but I just can't visualize it. Any insights?

[Big-Al]

I wouldn't use a hook removal tool unless I wanted to kill the fish. I use a needle nose scissors and cut the line as close to the eye as possible. That is if you want to give the fish a fighting chance of survival. I'll even cut the line if they are going in the livewell to keep them alive until I filet them.

[carlcmc]

I thought that In-Fisherman had dispelled this rumor already. Fish almost always do better when you remove the hook rather than leave it deep in their gullet.

[Big-Al]

I guess I would agree that the method is successful with large fish, especially the large hog bass they talked about.

I just don’t think you are doing a favor to a 12” walleye to take a hook out of the gullet. I think most of them will die. Many may die anyway, but my bet is that more will survive with a light wire hook left in place.

A better solution may be to use barbless only regs in those lakes with slots. I agree that then those deep hooked small fish might survive the hook removal.

[gvt]

Wish2Fish,

I thought the following was a very informative discussion regarding hook removal. Enjoy!

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=590815&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1