Do hooks really rust out?

Post by **jcuts9** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:23 pm

interesting article I found.

I can say from personal experience, I have caught 2 bass with hooks coming out their butt. both needed a very tiny pluck to completely remove them.

http://www.worldwideanglermag.com/issue ... okrust.php

Post by RJ » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:33 pm

I Vote no.

Post by **Muskie4L** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:33 pm

There was research done just a short time ago on hooks rusting out, the kill rate for cutting the line and leaving the hook in was 100%

So if at all possible you need to get the hook out or the fish will die. I will try to find the article and post it here. I should add that I mean deep hooked

Post by **bardern** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:58 pm

novel thought. if it is deep hooked and not a "trophy" fish would not the ethical thing to do would be bring it home for the pan if it is deep hooked to that extent?

Post by **Hookup** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:59 pm

I had no idea.. I was always told that you cut the line for gut-hooked fish, etc... they will disolve it out over a short-time... man, to think... i've probablly killed a dozen fish thinking I was helping...

Post by **Bass Addict** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:00 pm

The only reason a Bass tournament Dude doesn't try and remove the hook when a Bass is hooked deep etc etc...Is so the fish won't bleed and die in the livewell.and lose out at the weigh in with a dead fish.......

No i'm not taking shots at Bass tournament Guys.....

No hooks don't rust out ..Don't ever kid yourself..

Post by **bardern** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:10 pm

Bass Addict wrote:The only reason a Bass tournament Dude doesn't try and remove a the hook when a Bass is hooked deep etc etc...Is so the fish won't bleed and die in the livewell........

No hooks don't rust out ..Don't ever kid yourself..

while bass season doesn't open for months it would seem to be open season on the guys on this forum that fish tourneys.

Post by **Trophymuskie** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:33 pm

Only if the fish drinks a lot of Coke.

Post by **Carmine** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:42 pm

If your going to put the fish back and its going to die in a day or too its better for you to bring it home and eat it if its just going to die cuz you get a meal and your fish was going to die anyways.

Post by **Chevy Champagne** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:46 pm

i think if you deep hook a fish you should try your hardest to get it out
...if its smaller ill let it dye for the bigger pike or muckie to eat
or bring it home for the table

Post by **Joisey Joe** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:54 pm

Read an article in In-Fisherman that stated the hook doesn't rust out, it gave best ways to remove hooks from deep hooked fish. Wish I could tell you the issue but can't. I do remember it said to go in through the gills to remove hook, maybe that will help, Joe.

Post by **brufan** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:17 pm

The best thing I ever did for bass fishing was filing down or bending the barbs on my hooks. As long as the line stays tight I don't lose any more than I would have with barbed hooks. It doesn't matter where they are hooked now the hook slides right out. Of course, I only did this after I caused the death of the 6 pound smallmouth I caught last summer. In a few months that bass will be on my wall to remind me why I fish barbless.

brufan.

Post by **Eli** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:14 pm

Muskie4L wrote:There was research done just a short time ago on hooks rusting out, the kill rate for cutting the line and leaving the hook in was 100% So if at all possible you need to get the hook out or the fish will die. I will try to find the article and post it here. I should add that I mean deep hooked

Yes, please post this study. In my experience, any research paper that draws a conclusion with a 100% certainty is fundamentally flawed (I wonder who sponsored this paper...). I've been reviewing research articles for a few years and I can safely say that for every claim made by a given paper, there are always 3 or 4 others to refute or at least challenge it.

I think that it's not a yes or no issue as there are way too many variables. Whether a fish lives long enough to have the hook rust out would depend on the size of the fish compared to the size of the hook, single or treble, material hook is made of, fish's health status prior to being hooked, water temp, flowing or still water, fish species, etc. etc. etc.
So I vote maybe.

Post by **TLunge** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:17 pm

I have seen a few fish with a hook or part of a hook protruding from its butt that could be picked out and heard of it many times, so I would be very suspicious about the source of a study that shows 100% mortality because it is obviously not true imo.

Post by **Out4trout** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:00 pm

I generally cut the hook if it is too deep to remove.
Most of the time I can get the point end as well when this happens, with long nose pliers - I grab the tip prior to cutting the hook with sidecutters.

Occasionally a portion of the hook cannot be removed, in which case I leave that part only. I've occasionally caught fish with hooks inside their stomach, they were decaying but still quite strong.

I do know that hooks will rust quickly if left in the water (eg snag) but had no idea of what they do inside fish. Every fall my son and I collect lures for his tackle box, it is surprising how many we get each year. We just relace the split rings and put new hooks on - good to go again.