Gene C wrote:

It was a foam beetle. I did not (I forgot) to crimp the barb. My
question is, how long does one try to remove the hook. Will leaving
it in the mouth (including the foam bug) be a problem. I guess the
question comes down to does it matter if the bug you're leaving in
the
fishes mouth is foam or a fur and feather.

IMO, one should not try too "hard" to remove the hook, especially if it
is swallowed fairly deep. If I can't get it out immediately with
hemostats or ketchem-release, I cut the tippet and let the fish go.
Every thing I've ever read or heard states the hook will either work
out or disolve without longterm effect on the fish

As to foam vs furs and feathers, I would not think there would be much
of a difference. I've seen studies where they've found all kinds of
junk in a trout's gut.

Not to criticize harshly, but even with the debris on the water, I
would think you could see a fish hit a beetle and instinctively set the
hook which would pull it back towards the mouth but that's for another
day.

Wayne