That's one of the reasons why I use size 12 and larger hooks for tying bluegill flies. Also, the Ketchum Release Tool ( http://www.cabelas.com/product/Water...h-All+Products ) is extremely useful in retrieving swallowed flies. I released a 4" bluegill that had swallowed a 2" long streamer so deeply that the eye of the hook was well and completely inside the fish. The de-barbed nature of the hook helped, but that tool slid down and extracted the hook as neatly as a surgeon could have done. THe patient swam off vigorously.

Ed