Being raised as a trout fisherman I was always taught that if a fish swallowed the hook or was hooked in the gills or anywhere it could not be removed to cut the line. A few questions.... Does the hook really decompose or digest (depending on where it’s at)? I've heard the hook falls out, if it is where it can "fall out" it should be able to be removed in the first place. What effect is there on the fish? I can understand somewhat a hook breaking down in a fish’s mouth in the saltwater but I think the time frame in fresh would be much much greater. I have become skilled enough that I rarely ever have a fish swallow the hook. My problem is, since the summer I have been taking a few friends fishing with me and teaching them the game. They’re getting pretty good except they still let fish swallow the hook. I have instilled C&R in them unless you’re actually going to eat it and not let it sit in the freezer for years. I don’t like to let fish go if they’re going to die. So to sum up...when they go fishing I end up having a big fish dinner, which I don’t mind a bit. They’re getting better just slowly. How high is the mortality rate of those fish we release. Are there any real facts to prove what happens or just assumptions getting passed through the generations? Just looking for some quick knowledge and experience.

Youre a trout fisherman? so how do you get a trout to take a wad of powerbait with out swallowing it?
tyler
p.s. not trying to start any beef.

I"ve used powerbait once a few years ago and then threw away the jar. I detest powerbait and all it stands for. For trout I mainly use spinners or flies with the occasional worm and bobber. That was just an example. I was raised fishing trout in lakes but now primarly fish the salt and trout/steelhead/salmon in rivers. No one that uses bait can say they've never once had a fish swallow the hook, I was just wondering some opinions on the hook rotting away if you cut it off. I would really like to know.

so what does powerbait stand for???

what about stainless steel hooks, like for fly fishin in saltwater probly stay in fishes mouth for awhile before it comes out. Ben

I just dont like powerbait. I usually dont keep any trout the first 4 or 5 months after lakes are stocked. I kept one once that had been stocked in pine lake for about a month. When I started to clean it I noticed its stomac was full of powerbait. The meat all the way through not just on the suface, the whites of the gills, the mouth, and the whites around the eyes were all stained green. Powerbait is fine for taking the kids out occasionaly but its just not fun for me. I have yet to see a wild fish eat powerbait, I'm sure its happened somewhere. Plus as far as i can remember I've never been outfished by someone using powerbait.

what kind of fly fishing do you do?
tyler

the hook usually comes out because of rust or an infection develops around the barb that allows it to slip out(more common). in fresh water it takes a lot longer than in salt but depending where the hook is makes a difference as to how the fish will fare before the hook is shed.

Most of my fly fishing is done from a float tube on lakes, mostly dry flies, and I hit a few creeks and small rivers in the early summer.