Anyone use dehookers? Do they work well?
Nov 8, 2021 08:33:43 #
I’ve hurt far too many pike and trout, both of which seem to love to suck baits down deep. I’m trying to find a solution because often the long needle nose pliers just won’t do the job. Are the de-hooking tools, like the cuda one, any better at removing deeply-hooked fish without hurting them?
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by FrankAf11
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by FrankAf11
Nov 8, 2021 12:09:14 #
Nov 9, 2021 16:29:59 #
Frank - they do work pretty well but it takes a little getting used to. If you use a lip grabber and a dehooker it makes for a lot of hardware to juggle around but you'll figure it out. The trick is having the right size for the fish you're save. It's worth the effort though.
Nov 9, 2021 20:49:04 #
Captain Lahti
Loc: Kennewick, WA
Squish down the barbs on your hooks. If the fish are taking the bait deep the barbs aren’t needed anyway. And most flyfishers crush down the barbs and still don’t loose many fish that are usually hooked in the lips. Barbless hooks are easier to remove with any dehooking device. If the dehooker doesn’t cut it cut the line.
Nov 10, 2021 13:09:13 #
harleypiker
Loc: WA
FS Digest wrote:
I’ve hurt far too many pike and trout, both of which seem to love to suck baits down deep. I’m trying to find a solution because often the long needle nose pliers just won’t do the job. Are the de-hooking tools, like the cuda one, any better at removing deeply-hooked fish without hurting them?
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by FrankAf11
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by FrankAf11
If your barbed hook is deep, especially in the gills, use a quality small bolt cutter by knipex. Just cut the hook (s) embedded. It is pretty rare that you can pull a barbed hook back out of a gill with any kind of instrument and not prevent the fish from bleeding to death. The little hook tip you leave will work out or rust out. I've tried side cutters but you need hands stronger than mine to cut thru incredibly hard hook material with those.
Nov 11, 2021 08:31:58 #
WiBob
Loc: NE Wisconsin
Now and then I think about trying dehookers, but I'm pretty sure dewife wouldn't approve.
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