TV SHOWS and PROS'-A QUESTION......

[RANGER]

I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME CLEAN-UP MY IGNORANCE.....

DO THE TV HOSTs' AND THE PROS' FISH WITH BARBLESS HOOKS AND/OR CRUSHED BARBS??? OR ARE THEIR FINGERS EXTREMELY STRONG???

WATCH ANY IN-FISH, MARK SOSAN(sp?), BILL DANCE etc. OR WATCH PROS' IN TOURNEYS TAKE FISH OFF THE HOOK WHEN BOATED. THEY SIMPLE REACH INTO THE MOUTH, WITH SUCH APLOMB, AND ...PLUCK....! THE HOOK(s) JUST "POP" RIGHT OUT OF THERE!!!! HECK, I'M REACHING FOR THE PLIERS OR THE FORCEPS EVERYTIME!!! AND RARELY DO THEY "POP" OUT. IS IT ME??????

[Hogger]

Those fish are hooked by hand. One hand holds the fish and the other hand inserts the hook. Kinda reminds me of pro wrastl'in.

[jbird]

Even in the tournaments they are hand hooked also?
I don't get people sometimes, How often do you think that they hand hook those fish. Besides it didn't even answer the question.

But if anybody does know the answer to this question, I would also be interested in the answer.

jbird

[Renegade]

I don't know if I'm right or not, but I always chaulked it up to the fact that they always made sure they would spend more time filming the fish when they got it close to the boat and sometimes some underwater footage. With all the time they waste getting it on film I always thought that the hooks would naturally come loose. Just my opinion.

[RANGER]

I WASN'T JOKING WHEN I ASKED THIS QUESTION!!! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. IF THERE IS A WAY OF CAUSING LESS TRAUMA OR DAMAGE TO THE FISH I AM GOING TO RELEASE, THEN, I WANT TO START USING IT!!!

RANGER

[Mike]

It's a fair question and one that has a couple answers. I spent 16 years in television news covering all sorts of events related to fishing. I've been an observer in the boat for many a fishing tournament and have just come off an episode of Honey Hole, the Texas based fishing show. In every case these guys are using the same lures, jigs, rigs, etc. as you and me.
In the majority of cases, even with the fish I've boated and especially with bass, the hooks do come out easily. Walleye are another story.
There are occasions, especially on bigger fish, when there may be several takes on videotape for hook removal, pictures and eventually the release.
One of the guys I spoke with said he believes it's the pro/hosts fishing ability that helps because they feel strikes faster than the average angler. That means the hook doesn't end up further into the fish. It makes sense.
So, that's the long answer. Bottom line, there are some theatricals but I'm not aware of rampant "hand hooking" out there. Sure, it's done but it's more the exception than the rule. What's always interesting to know, many of these shows tape for HOURS to bring you a few fish. Personally, I have problems with shows that only portray whoppers. That's not real fishing, at least for me it isn't. But that's what advertisers want and it pays off because we keep buying all the stuff. A little practice, a few more fish, and we'll all be removing hooks like those TV guys. Good luck out there fellas!

[RANGER]

THANK YOU FOR THE INSIGHT, BOTH THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT. I REALLY DO HATE TO RELEASE A FISH THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY THE HOOKS AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PREVENT THAT!! UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE USUALLY THE LARGER FISH THAT I DON'T CARE TO CULL FOR THE TABLE, OR, THE UNDERSIZED ONES.

YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF TV SHOW RECORDING AND THE PRO CIRCUIT ARE ALSO WELCOMED. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS IN THE MAKING - I WAS UP ON THE FRENCH RIVER IN CANADA AND A CERTAIN "BIG TIME" FISHING HOST WAS FILMING A SEGMENT FOR HIS SHOW. I WATCHED AS COUNTLESS HOURS OF FILMIMG (AND FISHLESS HOURS, TOO) UNFOLDED WHILE BOATS SCRAMBLED ALL OVER THE PLACE TO "GET ON THE FISH". EVENTUALLY, CATCHING WAS RECORDED, BUT, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN THE SHOW DID AIR, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN IT!!!!!!! IT DOES SELL PRODUCT THOUGH.

RANGER

[gap]

one more note a debarbed hook does come out very easy and once you fish barbless you will not go back. not only do they come out of fish easy they also come out of your thumb easy.lol i believe they do not harm the fish as much either. my entire tackle box has the barbs pinched and as soon as i get a new lure i pinch the barbs.

[RANGER]

I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT DOING THAT BUT FEARED THE "HOOK-UP" RATE WOULD DROP SUBSTANTIALLY. WALLEYES ARE ELUSIVE ENOUGH AND ONCE YOU DO GET ON THEM YOU HATE TO MISS.

YOUR THOUGHTS, PLEASE.

RANGER

[Mike]

Barbless hooks are required equipment in the Northwest Territories. This guys, is pure sport fishing. There's no better thrill than to latch onto some 40+" northern knowing that the next shake, without a taut line, could be the last. The secret to using them will test and sharpen the skills of any angler. On our home waters, keeping the line tight after feeling the slightest tap of a walleye can assure boating the fish but it takes practice. Once smidge of slack and they're gone.
If you're going to delete the barb, don't use a pliers. I had an Indian guide, in the middle of nowhere, produce a battery powered Moto-Tool and zap off the thing with a grinding bit in two seconds. Has says crimping it can bend the point up just enough to make it feel blunt because it's not going in the way it should. Any teeth marks from the pliers can also weaken the tip. It sounded like good advice and we didn't miss too much.
Give it a shot. If nothing else it'll show the fighting technique you didn't think you had! Have fun...