Contraption for removing deep hooks

[BoldBear]

I have a item of Pike unhooking gear that is used to safely remove hooks from a Pike that has taken a hook out of sight right down inside its throat without the need to pull the pikes stomache out into view.

I am not sure what it is called but it doesn't cost much and consists of a plastic tube with a slit along one side and a bulbous bulge near one end..

To use the contraption you just insert your trace into the slit and push the end with the bulbous bulge on it along the trace till it comes up against the hook.
Then give it a further push to get the hook points out of the flesh, the bulbous bit is then supposed to prevent the hook points from getting re-engaged into the flesh as you pull the hooks back out together with the contraption.

NB. If there are two treble hooks you can nip off the points of the first treble and insert the trace into the device just after this first treble.

My question is: I have not seen this unhooking device mentioned on the PAC-GB web site or seen it mentioned on this site; so I was wondering; is it not sold these days? or not recomended? if so why?

I have not used it yet; although I bought it quite a few years ago; because I have been fortunate enough to not have any really deep hooked Pike, so have not needed to use it so far and I don't fish for Pike that often.

I'm interested to hear your comments.

[djfarth]

I know exactly the contraption you are talking about Boldbear, a kind of oversized disgorger.

I have a friend who owns one and I have seen it in use when unfortunately a pike was deep hooked, it definately works and probably saved the pikes life. Im not sure where he brought it, im sure it was from one of the tackle shops local to us in the South West.

A friend copied the design and made his own using bamboo and a plastic bung which worked just as well!!

[martin56]

Looks like it's the "JOHN ROBERTS DEEP THROAT PIKE DISGORGER" (from LATHAMS discount tackle store)
Not claiming to be any authority on the subject - just googled pike disgorger,
Seems to be still on sale @ about £7 & a half quid.

[blackwater]

Just had a wee look at that device and in theory it is a pretty good idea!

For the first time ever i managed to deep hook a pike and its not an easy thing to sort out, i did manage it with a bit of work with side cutters and sacrificing my hand! I'd do anything to save a pike from having a treble in it's throat.

JC

[martin56]

They had a similar idea in the middle ages for removing arrow heads from a wound - like a pair of long handled pincers which was inserted over the arrow head barb which when extracted, left a clean ('ish for those days) hole instead of pulling out muscle tissue/etc.

[BoldBear]

My one looks similar to this (with a treble hook inserted):



Thanks for your replies everyone.

[kfsand]

I've just bought one of these and if it helps remove hooks from just one deeply hooked pike it was well worth the money. Thanks for your post boldbear : )

[Baz T]

Great bit of kit. Will be ordering one myself - nice one BoldBear

[chris.oldgit]

just as a thought, would it work with a single hook for salt water fish ?

[BoldBear]

As long as they don't have too large a Hook gape (ie less than the size of the bulge) I don't see why not; but I would test it in the tackle shop first before I bought one for single hook use.