Hooking Concern during a 20 minute fishing stint 09-14-07 . . .

[islandbass]

I was drop shotting earlier today and after hooking into the only fish of this 25 minute fishing stint today I became a bit concerned about how the hook hooked the fish.

It was a very aggressive strike, one that I saw from start to finish. The bass streaked like a bolt of lightning from under the dock and smashed my wiggling Zoom trick worm.

After raising the fish up I realized that the hook penetrated well past the bass’ hard, palette and was centered between the eyes. It has happened once before and I am a concerned that the hook is harming the fish going all the way through that. This time it was a size 2 gammy and last time a size 2 owner mosquito. Both times the hits were ultra aggressive and now that I had the opportunity to see the bass smash the bait, I know that there was no delay on my part on the hook set (because there wasn’t one) to have contributed to it being hooked as it did.

Has anyone else hooked a bass drop shotting where the hook went through the upper palette? Most of the time I see the hook in the corner of the mouth or if it is in the palette, it doesn’t go through. Perhaps it is a testament to the sharpness of the hooks, but such piercing power seems excessive to me. What are your thoughts? Is this more common that I suspect or what? Once I caught a perch who hit my 3” senko in such a hard fashion that the offset straight shank hook I was using went through the poor fish’s eye! I also saw the hit so there was no late reaction on my part. I felt pretty bad that I might have hurt the fish’s chances of survival.

Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-ib

[T Dot]

as long as its not through the eyes, the fish should be fine.

:king:

my spinnerbait always gets hooked through there, and i swing for the fences.

[iPodrodder]

Same...I have hooked many fish through there, all swam off fine. I have hooked trout and bass with missing eyes, so I guess they were able to hunt reasonably well (suprisingly on plastics, which is purely sight and smell).

[islandbass]

Thanks! Others at other forums have been saying what you've all said here. It just seemed weird seeing them hooked that way and I started to question myself if I might have been doing something wrong.

I guess it's just something that can happen on occassion while fishing.

[danielt]

If I got a dollar for every fish I stuck in the eye Id be rich!

[cavdad45]

They'll be fine. Bass are a very tough fish. I caught and released one a few years back that had no upper jaw beyond his eyes and was amazed that he was completely healed and chasing spinnerbaits.

Every now and again you will get that extremely aggressive fish that hits the hook wrong and gets a hook deep in the palate or upper skull. They survive. Their brains are so small that it almost takes a direct hit to hurt them. I believe sight on a bass can be overrated. Me thinks they are more sensitive to vibration and scent.

[skeeter bassin]

Two phrases that should never go together when talking about drop shotting - "setting the hook" and "drop shot".

All that is necessary and that will provide the most effective result is a lift of the rod and start reeling. Taking time to drop the rod and set the hook will cause a delay, this may be why you are getting deep hooked fish while drop shotting. The hook should end up dead center into the bony portion of the upper lip. Have to remember these are exposed light wire hooks and it does not take much to get good penetration.

[islandbass]

Two phrases that should never go together when talking about drop shotting - "setting the hook" and "drop shot".

All that is necessary and that will provide the most effective result is a lift of the rod and start reeling. Taking time to drop the rod and set the hook will cause a delay, this may be why you are getting deep hooked fish while drop shotting. The hook should end up dead center into the bony portion of the upper lip. Have to remember these are exposed light wire hooks and it does not take much to get good penetration.

Thanks! Allow me to clarify. I set the hook as you would when drop shotting, reel up the slack, yada yada.... The fish was not deep hooked. I agree with you as to where the hook should land. However, the hook pierced through the hard part of the palette which I found odd and was concerned I might be doing something wrong since it happened twice on two occassions.

In both occassions, the strikes were very aggressive, and in one of them I saw the entire deal. The bass struck so hard and fast that I didn't even have to set the hook. Through its own effort, it set the hook on itself and it still managed to have the hook pierce its pallette, centered right between the eyes.

From what I gather from the comments posted, what I experienced seems to be a more common occurrence that I initiallly thought.

I think I might know a thing or two about drop shotting. o:) Thanks again.

[skeeter bassin]

OK, not quite sure how to take that response. But good luck to ya.

[islandbass]

My inquiry was about the hook piercing the upper palette. Your response was about how to not set the hook the conventional way when drop shotting (which I agree with) to prevent a deep hook bass.

I was just clarifying for you that that was not the point of my thread but to see if the hook piercing through the fish's palette was common place or not. Good luck to you too.

[bpm2000]

If a fish is striking it and hooking ITSELF the only thing I can see to do is maybe change up the hook or bait size.

[Bigbass Dez]

Island , thats just price we pay for using those small hooks , it been a many of fish i caught that dam near made the hook go way down .. you just need to carry a pair of long & skinny needle nose pliers and take ur time removing the hook .. or consider just leaving the hook in and re tieing .. eithier way is bout the only solution , i wouldnt get caught up with up sizing your hook , that will decease your catch ratio .. BBD ..

:batman: