Catch and Release

[CaliRockJumper]

Originally Posted by ChadTower

How could a small piece of metal dissolve after ten days? I've never heard that nor seen any product that makes such a claim. I have, however, been finding old fishing hooks stuck in logs, rocks, everywhere for 35 years. There are some places I take my kids canoeing where other kids tangle their lines constantly. We play a game by trying to get as many bobbers as we can without scaring any turtles off basking spots. The bobbers are nearly always attached to lines with hooks on them, usually a #10 so.
now.

i did a bunch of research and found out that 10 day theory is only half true. It usually does, but only in the stomach. Most fish have very strong digestive juices, and a small to medium sized regular steel hook, will be dissolved before it does any lasting damage. Stainless steel hooks, and large sized regular hooks don't always dissolve before damaging the stomach or lower digestive tract.

i would agree that it could take many years for a hook to rust away when just underwater, and not in a fish's mouth or stomach.