Avoiding and Removing Deep Hooks

[MD_Gene]

I fish my neighbor’s pond. It has a lot of sunny’s and bass. Lately the bass (in the 10 to 14 inch range) have been hitting the poppers so hard the hook gets pretty far down their throats. I tried removing them but great difficulty. I don’t want to keep the fish. The poppers are pretty large with a size 6 hook. I smashed the barb but that still hasn’t done the trick. I was thinking of removing the hook point all together figuring that would allow me to back out almost all hook ups. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pete41]

I have done it both ways-nicked on a rock on backcast-didn't realize it,and could not keep fish on.
Got the bright idea ,down here in Florida,if I dremel tooled the barbs and kept a tightline I could play the fish to hand then just let them self release boat side as I wasn't too keen to bring blues,snook,sharks,salt water cats,ladyfish and other nasty types,into my 9' kayak with me in it.
Problem-I couldn't get the reds,trout and flounder to stay on either.
Try one but safe bet the big one will self release before you can count coup.