dukewayne
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Foul Hook Etiquette.
Last night I was on my patio talking with my landlord about Salmon fishing, along with a few of his friends who are going fishing with us later this year. The topic of foul hooking came up when we were explaining the dos-donts, can-cants, of the river. Now I've been fishing here since I was 9, and I'm 28 now, I've done all sorts fishing for Salmon from Weighted Trebles to now. My landlord has been doing this a bit less, and about 22 years older than me.  I've always known it to break it off if its foul hooked, and cant keep it if you land it and its foul hooked. I know the DSR is immediate break off, and I'm not sure on the actual rule on the DEC's take on it. One of the new guys brought up a legitimate point of what makes sense and is right. I'm not one to break off a fish with 25 feet of line, although if it happens it happens, but we all dont wanna do that if we dont need too. But say the fish is landed, do you take the hook out or leave it in? Its like getting shot with an arrow, you take it out you're gonna bleed to death. Whats your guys' take on this? Leave the hook in? Take it out? Break it off immediately?
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retired guy
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 12:25:54
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If you fish the Sr foul hooking is gonna happen-intended or not.
Everyone will have a different opinion on what to do IMHO.
Personally generally try and land the fish if its not gonna be one of those marathon deals-AFTER trying to 'shake' the hook out without succes.
Always like to remove my hook as well as any other ornaments hanging off fish before the release- no matter where they are located and wether fair hooked or not.
Some may frown on playing a foul hooker but one may well agree that leaving the hook and line on a fish is perhaps just as bad. Kinda a coin toss IMHO.
I DO make an exception if it happens in a crowded area as a foul hooked can be a nightmare to play in gently and it may not be the 'polite 'thing to do in a crowd.
IMHO its the release part that counts and indicates the true intention of whats happening.
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pafisher
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 12:31:11
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retired guy
If you fish the Sr foul hooking is gonna happen-intended or not.
Everyone will have a different opinion on what to do IMHO.
Personally generally try and land the fish if its not gonna be one of those marathon deals-AFTER trying to 'shake' the hook out without succes.
Always like to remove my hook as well as any other ornaments hanging off fish before the release- no matter where they are located and wether fair hooked or not.
Some may frown on playing a foul hooker but one may well agree that leaving the hook and line on a fish is perhaps just as bad. Kinda a coin toss IMHO.
I DO make an exception if it happens in a crowded area as a foul hooked can be a nightmare to play in gently and it may not be the 'polite 'thing to do in a crowd.
IMHO its the release part that counts and indicates the true intention of whats happening.
That's what my feelings are.Also,if you have a lot of line trailing on a fish it could wind up wrapped around a bird or animal,that's not good!
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dukewayne
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 12:43:04
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I agree with all of that. But what is the DEC's take on this? Is this something that has been addressed by them?
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hot tuna
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 12:45:15
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If I know its foul hooked right away ,aka big tail wiggle or rolls to surface I will point the rod straight at fish and pull the line to break off.. Generally it breaks right at the knot of the fly or pull free.
Very rarely is much line lost or trailing.. As or leaving the hook in the fish ? I don't see it as a big deal esp. on salmon except for the handlers at the hatchery.. Steelhead, I'm sure they have endured more pain then a small hook left in and it will rot off quickly..
I hate nothing more the to see guys "drag" fish in backwards or sideways.. Mostly it's a dead fish after release due to drowning..
And tying up a hole is a big NO-NO (IMO)
"whats that smell like fish oh baby" .. J. Kaukonen
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retired guy
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 15:16:52
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Would kinda think the Wardens take on it is that the foul hooked fish being played is illegal. Probably why DSR has its rule. Too many guys hookem anyway they can and yell 'right in the mouth' when landed and keepem all no matter what. That said if they come in reasonable I will always try and remove the hook and do the release- always let them all go anyhow. Tunas right about his method of breaking them off and I do that too- only mentioned the shake part initially but the point and break is in my system too- It does not always work depending on the water (especially in soft waters) hence the play them if you must kinda mentality. GENTLY played is a real key here IMHO - not dragged or drowned. Frankly its not alwasy possible with a foul hooker depending on the waters and the fish itself.
post edited by retired guy - 2013/08/12 15:21:50
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troutbum21
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 16:09:16
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Duke, I don't think you can compare removing an arrow to removing a hook. Fish rarely, if ever, bleed from being foul hooked. More often than not the hook has marginally entered the flesh and poses no serious threat to survival.
The only time I would be concerned about removing a hook would be if the fish is somehow foul hooked in the gills. The chances of that are remote unless you are ripping like they did in the snagging era.
Get a good pair of fishing pliers, forceps or other tools to aid in hook removal.
Or, if you practice catch and release, crimp down the barb on the hook or fly so that it pops out nice and easy.
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dukewayne
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 16:18:53
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troutbum21
Duke, I don't think you can compare removing an arrow to removing a hook. Fish rarely, if ever, bleed from being foul hooked. More often than not the hook has marginally entered the flesh and poses no serious threat to survival.
The only time I would be concerned about removing a hook would be if the fish is somehow foul hooked in the gills. The chances of that are remote unless you are ripping like they did in the snagging era.
Get a good pair of fishing pliers, forceps or other tools to aid in hook removal.
Or, if you practice catch and release, crimp down the barb on the hook or fly so that it pops out nice and easy.
I'm just saying an open wound isn't good, and i know its a hell of a lot smaller. But i've had hooks go through gills, and thats not fun at all. I basically had to cut the line and snip the tip of the hook and the line hole and hope for the best. And I do snip all of the barbs for my flies and hooks, even if I do plan on keeping 1-2. It just seems to help remove the hook quicker and easier so a fish dont suffocate, gotta work fast so they dont die, my uncle always told me when you take a fish out of the water hold your breath too, thats how you know the fish has been out to long.
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twobob
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 17:14:48
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hot tuna
If I know its foul hooked right away ,aka big tail wiggle or rolls to surface I will point the rod straight at fish and pull the line to break off.. Generally it breaks right at the knot of the fly or pull free.
Very rarely is much line lost or trailing.. As or leaving the hook in the fish ? I don't see it as a big deal esp. on salmon except for the handlers at the hatchery.. Steelhead, I'm sure they have endured more pain then a small hook left in and it will rot off quickly..
I hate nothing more the to see guys "drag" fish in backwards or sideways.. Mostly it's a dead fish after release due to drowning..
And tying up a hole is a big NO-NO (IMO)
This^ If I know its foul and can't wiggle the rod and free it I point the rod and pull till the line breaks or the hiook come free. Since my tippet is always lighter than my leader I leave very little line trailing.
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ssgt12
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/12 21:08:53
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i know there is a dec guy out there reading these what is your take on this
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retired guy
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 09:47:09
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If your gonna remove hooks gotta have the right stuff-- Have had good luck carrying two types of pliers most times on the river. First is on my belt and are long and used to pull hooks from the body of a fish or hooks on the lip or just inside the mouth. Generally never completley take fish from the water and the long pliers just seem to work well. The second is a kinda surgical plier that locks at the handle when squeezed. These are great for removing hooks from inside the mouth as they lock on the steel and usually dont slip when removing- one quick process and job over. If its hooked real deep in the throat I generally leave well enough alone and just clip the line as close to the hook as possible. Have had some tough experiences trying to get a throat hook out and believe the chances of more damage being done trying to remove those is commonplace. Kinda like a fast release and the pliers of choice are usually clamped between by teeth even before the fish is brought to the waters edge. Also remember there is nothing wrong with holding your prey in the water for a while for revival. HATE those guys who pull the hook and kinda just shuffel the fish back in- sometimes only to see it belly up and float off. Can lead to some real COLD hands with winter Steel lol.
post edited by retired guy - 2013/08/13 09:52:03
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dukewayne
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 11:18:57
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retired guy
If your gonna remove hooks gotta have the right stuff--
Have had good luck carrying two types of pliers most times on the river. First is on my belt and are long and used to pull hooks from the body of a fish or hooks on the lip or just inside the mouth.
Generally never completley take fish from the water and the long pliers just seem to work well.
The second is a kinda surgical plier that locks at the handle when squeezed. These are great for removing hooks from inside the mouth as they lock on the steel and usually dont slip when removing- one quick process and job over.
If its hooked real deep in the throat I generally leave well enough alone and just clip the line as close to the hook as possible. Have had some tough experiences trying to get a throat hook out and believe the chances of more damage being done trying to remove those is commonplace.
Kinda like a fast release and the pliers of choice are usually clamped between by teeth even before the fish is brought to the waters edge.
Also remember there is nothing wrong with holding your prey in the water for a while for revival. HATE those guys who pull the hook and kinda just shuffel the fish back in- sometimes only to see it belly up and float off.
Can lead to some real COLD hands with winter Steel lol.
I do the same thing. I have forceps on a retractable key chain attached to my vest, and needle nose pliers in my vest along with a small pair of wire cutters in my first aid pack (yeah i carry a first aid pack lol) for times when i have to cut a hook out, like the time i got a hook through my finger. Its always good to have a few tools in case something odd happens.
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troutbum21
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 12:17:52
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I think Retired hit on what I feel is the most important point, properly reviving a fish. Boga style grips are a great tool for aiding this process particularly if the water is cold. Regardless of whether you use a tool or by hand take the time to properly revive the fish. It sickens me to see guys drop kick fish back into the water after playing them to exhaustion. Last Fall, during that prolific early run, some fish took ten minutes or more to properly revive. Well worth the time and effort when the fish darts back to the pack.
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retired guy
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 13:13:20
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Feel for ya on that 'hook in the finger' thing--lol.
Grabbed a fish at the tail to revive it last season--thought all the grafitti was gone but missed a black large hook in the tail-it didnt miss me-deep in the middle finger tip.
Did the push it back ( to get the barb kinda outa the way) and pull quick thing-- after a few hours my shirt looked like somebody had cut my throat.
Now I carry a small first aid kit too.
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hot tuna
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 19:02:59
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It's mostly all good. For salmon I do like using a leatherman . I generally beach salmon when I can or if fishing with newbies or such I will net them but prefer to beach salmon.
It's easy to hold them in the water until they are completely ready.
Steelhead I use and like a net. Mostly due to colder water temps and letting them rest in a net before giving them that hand release to send them swimming.
Hemos work best for me on steel.
Now don't think that every time you take a fish outta the water it's a gonner, have you ever seen the hatchery in operation ? They are pretty tough..
We all should know by now when a fish has been revived enough tho release as best we can .
"whats that smell like fish oh baby" .. J. Kaukonen
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dukewayne
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 20:19:50
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Hey everyone thanks for all your input. Im glad everyone here is classy and has respect for the fish along with practicing catch and release.
Now the only question left is the DECs take on this.
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hot tuna
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/13 20:43:19
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I really don't consider the DEC take.. If you practice proper fishing etiquette then there should be no worries .. I'm sure everyone has seen most everything (wardens included) to know when a foul hooked fish is intent or not.. If not then you do your best for an unharmed release .. Thats all I can add..
"whats that smell like fish oh baby" .. J. Kaukonen
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retired guy
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Re:Foul Hook Etiquette.
2013/08/14 08:57:48
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Shoulda started carrying the 1st aid kit earlier--
Likely my worst piercing along the SR and its tribs came from walking a Beaver dam on a stream and tripping into a thorn apple tree.
Several long barbs were impaled on my left arm deep. The skin quickly swelled and the ends were then below the skin level. They were a real problem to remove without breaking them on the inside.
Could see them but not get to them.
Took the hook sharpener and put a nice sharp bend on a hook and managed to 'hook' them and pull. Hadda cut some skin with the knife to get down to the thorns.
THAT will test your endurance levels lol.
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