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stop buying bottled water we have,nt got enuff to fish in now so stop it get the water companies to do there job and clean the water every where!!!!

Funny you should as this Phil. Me and Lee (who you met at thrybergh last week) were talking about it on Friday after I released a fish by cutting the leader after it had swallowed the fly. I'm sure there will be different opinions on this topic but I've no problem cutting fish free unless fishing strictly catch and kill or the fish is obviously damaged and unlikely to survive.

We could both remember catching fish in the past that had a length of leader material hanging out of the vent and upon opening the fish up, the remains of the fly still inside the fish. There wasn't any of the hook just the dressing so obviously the hook had rusted away. My opinion is that this is what will usually happen if the hook doesn't fall out by it's own accord.

As I say, I think there will be lots of opinions on this one

Mat

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P.B's on fly
Rainbow-13lb Arnfield,Brown-8lb 2oz Rutland,Golden Rainbow-3lb Bellflask, Blue-5lb 11oz Stocks

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stop buying bottled water we have,nt got enuff to fish in now so stop it get the water companies to do there job and clean the water every where!!!!

No brainer for me, I would tap the fish on the head rather than put it back with a hook in. I guess the decision is easier if you're talking about stocked rather than wild fish, but in any case my instinct would be the same. Even if the hook would eventually dissolve how do you know that it won't prevent the fish from feeding properly and thus lead to a slow and lingering death?

Using forceps to remove the hook is a bit of a judgement call, depends how deep hooked it is and how easy it is to remove. If I felt I could remove the hook without damaging the fish further, and quickly, then I would remove it and release the fish. Otherwise, I'd tap it on the head straight away.

Can honestly say I've never released a fish with a hook in. Sadly breakages happen, nothing that can be done about that other than minimise it as best we can by using appropriate strength leaders and taking care with knots. I use barbless/debarbed flies also to increase the chances that a fly left in a fish will come out in the event a hook is left in a fish.

In reality I only recall one occassion where I have deep hooked a trout and on that occassion I decided to take it home to eat it rather than dig around trying to unhook it as it was first fish of the day and within my limit.

Caught a fish, a couple of weeks back. It had a loose end of leader coming out of it's mouth, then the leader emerged from the vent and then went back into the mouth ( and was firmly lodged). It seemed perfectly fit and healthy.
I cut away the nylon at the vent and at the mouth and released it.

I'm willing to be convinced otherwise, but I agree with Mat.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

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stop buying bottled water we have,nt got enuff to fish in now so stop it get the water companies to do there job and clean the water every where!!!!

Hi Phil

All anglers have at some time been faced with the dilemas you write about.

Firstly, it helps if you fish with barbless hooks so any fly or lure the fish has swallowed can be easily removed without tearing the stomach or tongue tissue.

If the fish has swallowed a barbed hook I have two different length of forcepts and decades of practice at removing hooks without serious damage. Not everyone is skilled at doing this and careless removal causes death.

If a fish had taken my one and only favourite fly, that was catching dozens of fish, I would try to retrieve it. If I was in a position where removal would seriously injure the fish I would cut the leader and leave the fly in place.

Finally, does a hook left in a fish ultimately kill it. I cannot be 100% sure but I believe it doesn't. The hook will disolve in time. The important thing is that the fish can continue to feed which it will. With spinners and spinning lures it is often a different story. These type of lures often prevent the fish feeding and it starves to death

If you catch any trout and it is bleeding internally because of the way it has been hooked knock it on the head it's the kindest thing to do.

BK

In the first place I have never had a trout hooked so deeply as described unless using boobies or bait in the winter when I'm after perch and chub. If it is deep hooked on a booby then in all probability that will affect its feeding and the fish should be killed. Boobies and other buoyant patterns should not be used on c&r waters for that very reason.

That said I've caught fish trailing feet of leader and no fly in sight down its throat and they've obviously been feeding and fought well enough.

I think most bailiffs would be pretty understanding if you approached them with a fish you had dispatched on humane grounds if not I'd question whether they should be running a fishery.

---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------


That's just it though, you only see the ones it doesn't affect which reinforces your view that its ok. What about all the ones that can't feed and die? Not.singling you out BTW that's for everyone,
just that yours is the most recent post that mentions it

Take it out or kill the fish. I used to knock a fish if it was bleeding too but don't bother now with the amount of fish I've taken in recent years with gaping holes from cormorants and pike that seem to be managing just fine.