Great post. I am amazed by how easy it is and how often it works (95 %). I was afraid to touch their gil, but is does not hurt them at all.

by pulling the line down the hook comes around like in the pic. The pic shows the guy actually grabbing the hook, which is not easy and usually not what you touch, just the line. But by doing so, the hook will turn around and be ready to pull straight up and out of their mouth, hook point down, and thus not ripping anything open on the way out. They actually come out very easy when you grab them with the neeedlenose (always have needlenose, it's much easier).

Glad a lot are learning this technique, beat seeing a lot of dead fish floating around on top of the lake. When I see a dead one, I know it's usually from someone most likely ripping the hook out.

One other thing, it's a bit of a balancing act to do this solo, much easier if someone pulls down on the line for you, as one hand is already holding the fish, and one has the pliers. If solo, I usually get the line out and secure it after pulling with my foot, as the hook will turn around and go staight back into their stomach with any loosening of the line, they 'swallow it again' basically. That's ok, it come right back out with more pressure.

One other note, whatever side the shank is pointing to, is the side you want to get the hook to go out, it makes it work very easy, othewise the hook turns and 'binds' and won't come out as easy. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, it works. I had to do it a couple weeks ago. I always carry a 20oz bottle with me.

Been doing this for a couple years now and it works great.

Thats a good idea ill have to try that. Thanks for sharing

You bet.

Great post. I have been using this successfully for a while now and can't think of a time I haven't had it work. I showed my dad and brother how to do this and they were amazed out how easy it is.

Good Illustration... You can also put some Sure Life on the wound if it is bleeding.

ive been doin this for a few years and ive lost a total of 2 fish and both were REALLY small fish.

Cool.

NOOOOO!!!! DONT DO THE DEW! I caught a spotted bass from deep on the Ohio River during a tourney once. It was bleeding, but managed to get the hook out quickly with pliers without touching the gills much. I went to throw it in the livewell (since I wanted to get it back in the water ASAP) and my partner said something along the line of "lemme CO-AGGGULATE that ther wound!) I held out the fish to him and before I could do anything he whipped out a bottle of MTN Dew and poured a splash down the fishes throat. That fish died instantly! I threw it in the livewell, and it immediately flip over and floated... not a single movement. Fish was turned white in 5 minutes after. Though bleeding, I normally have good success if I get the hook out of the gills within a couple seconds. But man, that mtn Dew screwed that fish up, Instantly!
Maybe too much caffeine! All I know is that dead fish penalty dropped us 8 places.

Great hook trick. I will certainly try it. I normally cut the hook off, but this sounds like it will give them a better chance.

This works very well and I have been doing it for years. I dont use needle nose pliers but I do use some long hemostats to reach up behind their last row of gills closest to their body and turn the hook upside down and shake it lightly and it will most of the time pop right out. The hemostats work well because you can lock them onto the hook for better control.

We do that and will continue to do it and it does work. However, it hard to do on the smaller fish. Due to the size of there mouth and gill plates to try to remove them.