We have all been there. You’re slow to set the hook because the wind is blowing and you don’t feel the bite. You land the bass and your heart sinks as you see you’ve gut hooked the fish and you fear this catch and release won’t go so well. You fiddle around with the hook and decide to cut the line and hope the hook will disintegrate. See illustrations at below link.
Sometimes after cutting the line, the bass will actually repel the hook. If it is embedded in the tissue, it will stay there for years and will reduce or stops the ability of the bass to eat. Hooks these days take a long time to rust and disintegrate. The bass may survive but it is going to have trouble. Read on and see video as well….