Gullet Hooked

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Wed, Jun 7, 2006, 2:27am (CDT+5)
From: (Alaskan420)
Background...
I fish a local pond fairly regularly. It has a very high level of toxic
metals and other contaminants left behind from tanneries and mills.
I have caught numerous bass and pickerel with lesions and sores.
NOTHING CAN BE EATEN.
This spring I seem to be deep hooking more fish than normal. Usually I
am able to lip hook 85-90% of the time.
Anyway. What should ethically be done with an inedible fish that has
been gullet hooked?
I clipped the line on two yesterday and left the hook in the fish and
released 'em. With the quality of hook materials I doubt they just melt
away like the old wives tale tells us.
Today I tried surgery on one. The patient was alive when I got the hook
out but bleeding badly. I watched her struggle and die.
Any ideas????
I already crimp the barbs when I fish this pond.
========
I have been fishing for about 60 years..ya win a few, ya lose a few. Gut
hooked fish are just a fact of the sport....do the best you can, and
don't let it bother ya much! 99% of all the fish that die, die from
causes other than being gut hooked.....it isn't doing any real harm to
the population!

JK