swallowed hooks in walleye

[rangerstorm]

went to little bay de noc this weekend and saw some fishermen who let the fish run with the bait sometimes up to 3 to 5 minutes only to pull up fish from 4 lbs. up to an 8.5 Lbs.,this was on tipups.when I saw a flag go up late in the day I walked over by them to see a 25" walleye with the hook in his gut and they cut the hook off.my question is this,if you knew there is a size limit of one fish over 23" and most of the fish tou were catching were over that 23" would you let them swallow the hook so you could land them only to return them to the water.it has been said on this board that alot of gut hooked fish end up dyeing,if this is true I hope the guys who I saw see this so they learn the same thing I'm going to,is it worth releaseing a fish that s.wallows a hook so deep you have to cut the line

[Reels]

There was a good article I think last month in InFisherman's Magazine about leaving the hooks in the fish. We were always trained that it would disolve. Well, it appears now that may not be the case. Pretty good read if you have the time.

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[WAeyes]

This is exactly the reason why I don't use live bait anymore. Catch and release turns into catch and kill whether you want to keep the fish or not. I know it is not always the case, but I saw it more than I cared for so now it is artificials only for me.

[hgmeyer]

The article said a couple of things that stayed with me...(1) if you are using live bait and are going to release the fish...DEBARB the hooks....have the right gear to remove hooks...debarbed come out pretty easy....(2) If you do find that you must leave a deep hooked fish go with the hook still in...leave enough line so that 2-3 inches of line hangs out of the fishes mouth (keeps the hook from rotating up and choking the fish) And don't use stainless or bronzed hooks...they're not going to "rust out"...On the whole...live bait = quick strike rigging for me...less damage.

[Tom B]

If these fish had the hooks swallowed, they were "hooked" by stomach tissue, which tears during the fight. These fish were probably starve, as their bodies will no linger be able to digest food.

Tom B