So has anyone seen these red hook removers? They cost like 99 cents a piece. The basic concept is the same as Norm describes with the pliers & holding the fish upside down, but you just slide this thing down the line to the hook, and push it into the gullet (while holding the line taught), and it unseats the hook as it moves into the gullet & it then it all slides back out.
It seems like no one knows what I'm trying to describe. I think this tool is a must have for any angler, especially for catch and release.
Chris, I got hooked in my middle toe by a energetic 18-20" smallmouth who was hooked to my crankbait. Using the new leverage created by hooking my toe (it was the summer...I was wearing sandles), the smallie was thusly able to thrash on the shore and free himself of my lure. He then flopped back into the water and left me, hooked to my own crankbait.
On the hook issue, the de-barbing or flatening of the barb does far, far, less tissue damage to the fish. I think that alone is benefit enough, especially for catch and release. By the way, the crankbait was not de-barbed.
