Northwest Fishing Reports

CR questions

1) Bass reports usually include the weight of the fish. How are they weighed? I've only seen hook type scales. Seems like hanging a fish by it's gill plate might be harmful?

2) Gulping trout. I bait fish a lot for trout and I'd like to let the little ones go but more often than not, the only visible part of the hook is the eye, at the back of the throat. I tried going from a size 8 to a size 4 but that didn't help. Should I go larger? Can anyone recommend a good hook degorger?

I'd like to thank whoever it was that posted they switched to all barbless hooks. They said they didn't suffer much loss and I've found the same to be true.

Weigh bass by the gill plate. Never heard of it hurting them. Or you can get an 'Equalizer Scale' model # MS-1, or equivalent. Mine weighs to 200 ounces which is 12 lbs.

Thanks Amx

I thought it might be a dumb question but I just started bass fishing last year.

The only dumb questain is the one that isn't asked.

Or if I say otherwise.

"A person who asks a question seems like a fool for a moment, but a person who doesn't ask a question is a fool forever." ... Works for me[biggrin]


Now about the trout question8-[ ...

I know nothing about trout. But there are hook disgorgers that work, expecialy if the hook is barbless. Try Bass Pro Shops or Gabella's.

For trout fishing. I always find pinching the barb down or barbless with needle-nose pliers to work the best or something close to that small diameter size. Grab the area around the eye of the hook and give it a rotation and it comes right out.

I've tried several of those hook removal devices and they seem to do more harm than good. Not to mention, pliers are much more versatile.

Splitshot wrote: CR questions
1) Bass reports usually include the weight of the fish. How are they weighed? I've only seen hook type scales. Seems like hanging a fish by it's gill plate might be harmful?

I have a wooden teardrop net that I use (see avatar photo to left). I keep the fish in the net and hook the scale to the eye bolt on the handle of the net with the scale and weigh both. I then deduct the weight of the wet net (about 8 oz.) from the total. That way the fish is not handled.

I have a wooden teardrop net that I use (see avatar photo to left). I keep the fish in the net and hook the scale to the eye bolt on the handle of the net with the scale and weigh both. I then deduct the weight of the wet net (about 8 oz.) from the total. That way the fish is not handled.

That makes total sense.

Thanks!

If you plan to release trout, don't still fish. Cast spinners, spoons or troll, otherwise they usually end up swallowing the bait. I also use the system that Marc mentioned. I weight the fish in the net with my X-Tools digital scale and then deduct the weight of the net from the total. If you are planning to catch and release trout, be sure to use a knotless net. It is a good idea to get one anyway as there are plenty of areas that now require them.

Hemostats trump pliers 100 to 1 for hook removal on delicate and small fishies such as trout. Pick them up at a nursing/surgical supply store or pay the extra bucks and get some at a local tackle shop. They honestly remove hooks more efficiently than anything else I have ever used before.

As for the swallowing problem I tend to just steer clear of powerbait. Slip bobber/worm combo or slip bobber/worm/corn works miracles on trout and is an extremely versatile rig. I usually just wait and watch as they take their first few nibbles then AS SOON as the bobber dives completely out of view, WAMMMO, hook set and fish on . Most of the time if you set the hook on the first dive you will lip hook them and not allow them to fully swallow the bait.

I have only used powerbait maybe 2 times in the last 5 years and my catch rates have not decreased.... quite possibly increased with the slip bobber technique. An added bonus is all those fish that see powerbait rigs 14" off the bottom DAY IN and DAY OUT don't usually see slip bobber rigs and may prove more willing to bite on a new presentation.

If you are dead set on using powerbait just use the same rig (slip bobber) and attach a tiny split shot about 1" above the hook then add your powerbait. This allows you to fish floating bait without it twisting up around your leader and making a mess.

Another advantage of not using bait is that released fish don't count towards your limit.

I use size 4 hooks and float crawlers with them. I end up keeping 3 or 4 fish a year that are hooked all the way down. If you are using a crawler floated the tail of the worm goes down the throat and the hook usually catches in the corner of the mouth.

I agree with Matt. Hemostats do work the best to get the hook out of a delicate mouth.

One of the things you will always see hanging from me somewhere is my 6.5" curved forceps. For me, the forceps are by far the best thing I have found to separate fish from hook (and remove barbs), and like others have said - use more spinners, spoons, and jigs!

If the preceding comments don't help ya out, just cut the line as close to the hook as possible and release them with the hook still in them. If you feel like trying to get a hook out will kill the fish then this is the best option. Fish have really strong enzymes and acid in there systems that will eat through and digest hooks in a relatively short period of time, doing little to no harm to the fish. Think about how many rocks, pebbles, wood, and who knows what else a fish might eat in its lifetime. A hook left in is no prob. Thats why the wdfw suggests this same tactic when a fish must be released and it has swallowed the hook. hope this helps.


tony

twd22285 wrote:If the preceding comments don't help ya out, just cut the line as close to the hook as possible and release them with the hook still in them. If you feel like trying to get a hook out will kill the fish then this is the best option. Fish have really strong enzymes and acid in there systems that will eat through and digest hooks in a relatively short period of time, doing little to no harm to the fish. Think about how many rocks, pebbles, wood, and who knows what else a fish might eat in its lifetime. A hook left in is no prob. Thats why the wdfw suggests this same tactic when a fish must be released and it has swallowed the hook. hope this helps.


tony

Tony, I agree with your comments, but I have one suggestion. As time goes on, and as opinions of the day change, the latest belief is that you should cut the line off leaving about 12" or so of line sticking out of the fish's mouth. The theory is that it lays back and holds the hook to the side of the stomach so the fish can feed better until the hook is gone.

Also, avoid stainless steel or plated hooks for bait fishing as these do not rust of dissolve.

PS, I have caught a lot of fish over the years with hooks just about rusted or dissolved, so I know it works.

Matt wrote:Hemostats trump pliers 100 to 1 for hook removal on delicate and small fishies such as trout. Pick them up at a nursing/surgical supply store or pay the extra bucks and get some at a local tackle shop. They honestly remove hooks more efficiently than anything else I have ever used before.

As for the swallowing problem I tend to just steer clear of powerbait. Slip bobber/worm combo or slip bobber/worm/corn works miracles on trout and is an extremely versatile rig. I usually just wait and watch as they take their first few nibbles then AS SOON as the bobber dives completely out of view, WAMMMO, hook set and fish on . Most of the time if you set the hook on the first dive you will lip hook them and not allow them to fully swallow the bait.

I have only used powerbait maybe 2 times in the last 5 years and my catch rates have not decreased.... quite possibly increased with the slip bobber technique. An added bonus is all those fish that see powerbait rigs 14" off the bottom DAY IN and DAY OUT don't usually see slip bobber rigs and may prove more willing to bite on a new presentation.

If you are dead set on using powerbait just use the same rig (slip bobber) and attach a tiny split shot about 1" above the hook then add your powerbait. This allows you to fish floating bait without it twisting up around your leader and making a mess.

Hemostats all the way. I carry two with me every where I go fishing. You can use one to grip the lip of the fish and the other to extract the hook minimizing contact with the fishes body.

anglinarcher,

thanks for the update, i had no idea.

tony