Fish swallow pinchers.
May 1, 2022 09:56:55 #
In the pic below are two of my favorite soft baits for smallmouth. The one on the right has produced a lot of smalljaws. I used to throw them a lot. The problem with them is the pinchers would get bit off. The result was the fish were swallowing them. Usually, the smaller ones. I have caught smallmouth that would even cough them up when unhooking them. Several times I was sure it was from my own baits.
I have to think that this plastic in their stomachs has to harm the fish or even kill them. Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge on plastic being in a fish's stomach?
I have to think that this plastic in their stomachs has to harm the fish or even kill them. Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge on plastic being in a fish's stomach?
May 1, 2022 10:42:00 #
A few years back I was fishing a plastic craw and hooked a Largemouth deep. It was as skinny and poor looking as any bass I've ever hooked. Because it was hooked so deep I put it in the live well to take home to eat. When I cut into the fish I noticed there was a plastic bait in it's gut that had swollen twice it's size, kept cutting and found two more baits. if you've ever left a plastic in water for very long you know what I'm talking, about the plastic will swell up sometimes twice it's original size. I really believe that fish couldn't pass the plastic and was literally starving to death because it felt full because of the baits in it's gut. From that time on I try my best to keep any plastics in the boat. I've seen other fishermen throw a used bait into the water and flinch every time. I do believe they eat these baits and sometimes it hurts the fish.
May 1, 2022 13:09:41 #
Please don’t discard any damaged plastics, fishing line, etc. into the water!
May 1, 2022 15:09:11 #
Yep! any plastics thrown in the water is pollution. And from your expereince, has been harmful to the fish. Just Sayin...RJS
May 1, 2022 16:26:19 #
OJdidit wrote:
Please don’t discard any damaged plastics, fishing line, etc. into the water!
Yea, the fishing line is a pain also. Recently my trolling motor has been making a weird noise when on high. I pulled the blade off it and pulled what looked like a couple spools of line off the shaft. Put the blade back on and it's fine now.
One other thing I've seen that is dangerous, people leaving limb lines with the hook still on them. Here on Tims when the water is down those hooks hang around eye level, last winter I found a Blue Herron hooked by the wing on one of those lines. Took me and hour trying to get the bird rodeoed up and the hook out, that bird was ticked off. I left it on the bank where I found it hope it did ok.
Notice: I cut all hooks off limb lines I find left over winter and there's usually a bunch.
May 1, 2022 17:25:55 #
Ivey wrote:
Yea, the fishing line is a pain also. Recently my ... (show quote)
Any unattended lines are illegal here, no limb lines, jug lines, or long lines allowed in freshwater AT ALL.
May 1, 2022 20:52:52 #
Fredfish wrote:
Any unattended lines are illegal here, no limb lines, jug lines, or long lines allowed in freshwater AT ALL.
I wish it were illegal here in Tennessee, I could not tell you the times I've dodged a hook while floating the river in a canoe. Had one catch my life jacket once, almost tipped the canoe. I was just lucky back then I always had a knife on my belt. The fact they use the limb lines in the lake in the spring time for catfish is one thing. The water is up and it's hard to get into one but they leave the line and hook and when the water goes down they become a hazard to people and wildlife.
May 2, 2022 10:05:56 #
May 2, 2022 17:24:14 #
HenryG
Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts
Fredfish wrote:
Any unattended lines are illegal here, no limb lines, jug lines, or long lines allowed in freshwater AT ALL.
Same here in Massachusetts🇺🇸🎣😳👍
May 2, 2022 19:49:17 #
Jim Kay
Loc: Franklin, Virginia
OJdidit wrote:
Please don’t discard any damaged plastics, fishing line, etc. into the water!
Excellent advice. We must be sure to try not to adversely affect our fish.
May 2, 2022 22:45:04 #
Jwid
Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO
Fredfish wrote:
Any unattended lines are illegal here, no limb lines, jug lines, or long lines allowed in freshwater AT ALL.
Good rule.
May 3, 2022 14:51:52 #
Bobfromfremont
Loc: Fremont Ca
Ivey wrote:
A few years back I was fishing a plastic craw and ... (show quote)
They have found Microplastics in fish’s guts, and micro, and nano plastics in hiuman blood
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