What the...?

[CCBricker]

Fishing this weekend and caught several nice LM. Near the end of the day I hooked a nice fish and when I got it in the boat noticed a piece of fishing line with a split shot sinker hanging under the stomach of a 4.8lb'er. Thought it was just a foul hook that broke off. No sir. It was a live bait rig (I guess) that the fish broke off and swallowed. It had managed to pass the large split shot through the intestine and out it's vent where it was just hanging there attached to a 3 inch section of braided line. A couple of tugs confirmed that something was attached to the other end of the line still inside the fish and was not going to come out. I went ahead and cut the line to remove the split shot, weighed it and put the fish back in the lake. Didn't know what else to do other than let nature take it's course. I have always heard that the hook would eventually work it's way out but have no idea if that is true. Anyone know?

[RICHYD4U]

Depending on the size of the hook...I really doubt it though. It would have to be a fairly small hook, and make it through the digestive system without snagging. That's to bad...sounded like a nice fish. If you don't mind me asking, where were you catching 'em?

[Oldyota]

This is my experience with what you are talking about, I was fishing with a buddy of mine at our favorite farm pond and he hooks into a nice 4 lb'er gets it to the boat and I'm seeing a piece of line coming out of its "vent" or there are many other words you could use. As we are looking at it I noticed a 1/4 bullet at the very end of its vent, I got my stats and got the weight out then the eye of a 4/0 gamagatsu hook poked out... I didn't want the hurt this fish so I was very careful working on it when I turned it as you would to get a hook out of your finger... Then the hook came right out, the funny thing was that the tip and the barb of the hook had some sort of calcium deposits on it, dulling it completely... So in my opinion I would have to agree that a fish can pass a swallowed hook.... I got the pics the prove it as well...

[CCBricker]

A small lake in Meade County. I went out several times last week and everything I caught was in 10' to 15' of water but adjacent to deeper water. The only thing that worked for me was a black/green Senko wacky rigged.

[gocards40]

They do pass the hooks. In our ponds it is common practice if a fish swallows the hook too deep to take a chance on we cut the line as tight as possible then let her go. I have caught many fish with hooks sticking out of their poopers.