Speyducer
Advisory Board
Release to spawn another day
Posts: 4,123
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Post by Speyducer on Feb 8, 2008 1:35:39 GMT
Again, with the season already started, and some lucky sons-of-guns already with a notch on the cork of their double handers, it may be interesting to muse about how to best unhook a fish (to be returned, of course!).
Is there a best practice?
I will assume that, in the UK most will be using barbed hooks in some form.
Are there differences in your approach to unhooking in relation to singles, doubles and trebles?
Although I have a clamp available, I find that it is indeed rare to need to resort to its use, then again, I never use trebles, mostly doubles, and sometimes single hooked flies. (no longer spin nor do I use other forms of non-fly fishing for our migratory delights.)
Mike
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acw
Active Member
Posts: 302
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Post by acw on Mar 2, 2008 9:53:59 GMT
Now using mainly big singles debarbed ,old stock doubles also debarbed ,will not use trebles any more unless expecting to kill fish (unlikely) Big singles are easy to remove from fish ,doubles when debarbed are fairly easy . Always carry forceps ,they are tough enough to debarb most bar the huge hooks which I dont often use and are debarbed in the vice !
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salmo
Advisory Board
Posts: 1,814
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Post by salmo on Mar 2, 2008 12:37:04 GMT
I always use artery forceps. Once clamped there few rough edges, and they are easy to twist.
Sometimes fresh spring fish (which have not been played to exhaustion) have a lot of fight left in them once they are grassed and can flip around making the hook removal tricky.
One trick is to lie the fish on its back and it will often lay perfectly still. You can kneel astride if it is a big one. Less flapping around and the hook is a lot easier to remove.
A quick photo and measurements and straight back to continue the journey.
Anyone else tried this?
salmo
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Post by Roobarb on Mar 2, 2008 15:30:25 GMT
I will assume that, in the UK most will be using barbed hooks in some form. I don't not even on my spinn... oh never mind Artery forceps for anything I can't get my fingers on. Like salmo I land my fish quickly and they still have a lot of go in them. I do sometimes wonder if it would be better to give them a bit longer so they are knackered but on balance I think they are best dealt with as quickly as possible, especially in hot weather. I know turning them upside down works but for some reason I rarely do, and yet I do with trout and pike Andy
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Post by blackboar on Mar 2, 2008 16:52:33 GMT
I always use a Ketchum release tool. They were on offer as a gift from the Tweed commision for the release of a spring fish a few years ago. I wouldnt be without it now. It has saved countless deep hooked fish that would otherwise had the flee left in or possibly died. Highly recommended..
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alta
Active Member
Posts: 115
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Post by alta on Mar 2, 2008 17:13:37 GMT
I use forceps. Small ones for mouth hooks and long ones for deeper hooks.
What to folk do in the odd occasion that the fly is really deep?
alta
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Post by blackboar on Mar 5, 2008 20:15:09 GMT
see above for deep hooking Alta. I have taken flies out that are really deeply hooked with a Ketchum. BB
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Post by salmonking on Mar 5, 2008 20:39:06 GMT
see above for deep hooking Alta. I have taken flies out that are really deeply hooked with a Ketchum. BB B B ,,have you been successful in unhooking a fly into the gillrakers? Is this what you mean by deep hooking? I use forceps,,the long ones,,but if the hook is in the raker's the fish is dispatched,,,i have seen one of my mates cut the line and leave the fly in on deeply hooked fish,,this being unable to get the hook out,,i personally don't think this is a good idea,but if necessary id do it.
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Post by salmonscotty16lb on Mar 8, 2008 0:47:28 GMT
does a deep hook kill a salmon? if there is no blood will it still spawn with the line cut?
would u rather be a kipper killer or a heartless fool?
another angle on the thread
some rivers would rather u put a bleeder back in the river to die than to feed the kids?
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Post by salmonking on Mar 8, 2008 8:28:48 GMT
does a deep hook kill a salmon? if there is no blood will it still spawn with the line cut? would u rather be a kipper killer or a heartless fool? another angle on the thread some rivers would rather u put a bleeder back in the river to die than to feed the kids? I'm led to believe that if there is no blood the fish will survive,,,the hook apparently rusts and falls out eventually,,,but i stand corrected if this is not the case.
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Post by neptune on Mar 8, 2008 18:46:49 GMT
i bought a set of pliers in a pound shop, 1 pair is perfect for unhooking as they are long nosed & long handles but quite thin the nose is on an angle too only problem was not enough catches to really test them out
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