Originally Posted by
mhall
First off don't take this the wrong way but you are fishing your worm all wrong if you are constantly gullet hooking fish. Yes, to answer your original question is cut the line as close as you can to the eye of the hook, DON'T pull on it and make the fish bleed if you can help it. The acids in a bass stomach are extremely potent and will dissolve the hook, it's a proven fact. Now to solve your overall problem.
When you fish your worm and you feel that tap tap and that solid line movement, SET THE HOOK. If you wait longer than 2 full seconds you are waiting way too long. 99.9999% of all bass worth catching pick a worm up by the head, NOT THE TAIL. That means when you feel that tap tap he already has the hook in his mouth SET THE HOOK. Try this and I guarantee you will stop gullett hooking bass and your bite catch ratio will improve drastically. No offense but you are doing it wrong now you know how to do it right, apply it and you will fix your problem. Ask any pro bass fisherman and they will tell you verbatim what I jsut explained to you. Good luck and happy fishing.