01-26-2021, 07:13 PM
In the old days, before plated hooks, a few days to a couple of weeks to dissolve/rust was true. But, today, most hooks are plated so they don't rust and so they stay sharper. Do any of you fellow older timers remember opening your tackle box to a bunch of your hooks rusted together in a ball because you got water inside your tackle box? I sure do.
I have not seen any recent studies, and I doubt you could find a non-biased one if you did, but my observations if you will.
I have seen some fish with line going out both sides, that you could pull gently and the line would go all they way through. Clearly these had dissolved the hook but no idea on the time.
I have seen hooks that the fish had actually grown scar tissue around to protect itself. Some of these were dissolved, some not.
I have seen some with hooks that clearly had been in a long long time.
Some states require you to keep all fish caught with bait, or at least count them as part of your limit, and quit fishing when your limit is reached. Most states say you can cut the line and release because many of those fish do survive.
I think the jury is still out on this one if you ask me. As hooks change, they stay in a lot longer and I suspect fewer fish survive. This is one reason that I have been slowly switching over to circle hooks, but, and I do mean but, not all fish or hit types work on circle hooks. Trout is one species that circle hooks don't seem to work well on.
So, my suggestions? I don't have one at this time.
I have not seen any recent studies, and I doubt you could find a non-biased one if you did, but my observations if you will.
I have seen some fish with line going out both sides, that you could pull gently and the line would go all they way through. Clearly these had dissolved the hook but no idea on the time.
I have seen hooks that the fish had actually grown scar tissue around to protect itself. Some of these were dissolved, some not.
I have seen some with hooks that clearly had been in a long long time.
Some states require you to keep all fish caught with bait, or at least count them as part of your limit, and quit fishing when your limit is reached. Most states say you can cut the line and release because many of those fish do survive.
I think the jury is still out on this one if you ask me. As hooks change, they stay in a lot longer and I suspect fewer fish survive. This is one reason that I have been slowly switching over to circle hooks, but, and I do mean but, not all fish or hit types work on circle hooks. Trout is one species that circle hooks don't seem to work well on.
So, my suggestions? I don't have one at this time.