Hook and line work great. I've even used a fishhook cut off at the shaft (just the straight part of hook) impailed with bait, to wean picky eaters off live food only.

Here are a couple tips I'd like to add.

1: Use a hook small enough to get in its mouth, but not easily swallowed.
2: Snip or squeeze the barb with plyers.
3: Any fishing store with fly tying materials will have hooks right down to the size of a gnat.
4: If you are a fisherman, ignore the instinct to "Set the hook!"
5: Don't wait for a for sure hookup, pull out right away on the fish hitting the hook. This avoids swallowing hook.
6: have a large fish fallout zone and fish pickup method ready incase you loose it off the hook.
7: a valid fishing licence! <wink>

The fish that you guys catch don't die through all of this? I mean, I've fished for a lot of years and know that the fish you release swim away, but after that, who knows. Plus, it's a lot different when you might be dealing with a $100 fish. I don't doubt you do it, but I'd just be scared I'd kill it. Has anyone ever bought a fish from someone who caught it for you like this?

Ryan

I've kept wild caught fish in the past like this. I think it's better for the fish than a net any day. If you net a fish, you can rub off its protective slime, remove scales and the fish will be suseptable to fungus and decease. If you hook him, well, all he has is a pierced lip which should heal in short order. In the end, it's your call.
In order of less damage to fish, the first is trap. Next hook, followed by net in my opinion.

I would agree that a net is much worse for a fish than a hook. I wonder if we'll see the day LFS's using hooks instead of nets, to save the fish.:mrgreen:

Just make sure you don't use cheap line. A break off could be bad. Metal desolving into the tank ect...

A fish sonar might help if the tank is too deep :biggrin:

Thanks for the tip.

I have been trying to catch 2 overly agressive damsels for the past week or so.

I've tried the DIY 2L bottle trap with no suck luck. (I could catch any other fish but the damsels)

I finally went to canadian tire and bought a small fly hook and line last night and caught the first of the 2. Hopefully tonight I can snag the other one.