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Author Topic: Soda water to stop bleeding?  (Read 3240 times)

Tylsie

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Soda water to stop bleeding?
« on: January 05, 2016, 05:53:41 PM »
As so often happens online, one thing lead to another and I was reading about using coke to stop the bleeding from a fish's gills after it has been hooked too deep. After some research it is apparently the Carbon Dioxide causing the gills to constrict and stop the bleeding. A small bottle of soda water is apparently ideal because it is just purified water and CO2.

Has anyone tried this, and did it work? I may start to carry a small bottle with me just in case. It certainly can't hurt a fish that is bleeding badly and will probably not make it.   
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Fish or cut bait.

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Re: Soda water to stop bleeding?
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2016, 07:04:57 PM »
If you had McGiver with you and a medivac team...
How long would you have to keep the fish out of water to administer the soda?
Should one use diet?
Or caffeine free?
Then what?
Carbon dioxide poisoning?
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Rieber

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Re: Soda water to stop bleeding?
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2016, 07:55:14 PM »
Explain to the Conservation Officer exactly what you are trying to do when he sees you pouring soda water into the gills of a bleeding wild Steelhead.

Maybe it works but how much do you pour in until the bleeding stops or the fish expires?

I think it would be best not to pour anything into the gills of fish until the procedure is approved.
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RalphH

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Re: Soda water to stop bleeding?
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2016, 07:40:55 AM »
this has been going around the net for several years. Hoaxes often get passed around so freely they become adopted as fact. I did some research on carbonated water and CO2 a few years ago and there is little or evidence there is any effect one way or the other on any bleeding wounds. Soda water has long been touted as a simple cleaning solution and stain remover. It is clean and slightly acidic. It may wash away clotted blood but it won't staunch bleeding. You can discount this as a likely 'urban fishing myth'.
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Tylsie

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Re: Soda water to stop bleeding?
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2016, 10:41:29 AM »
After some more research I am not so quick to dismiss it. This article from Outdoor Canada says it might have some validity.

http://www.outdoorcanada.ca/Coke_-_its_the_real_thing_to_stop_fish_bleeding

While I certainly won't be trying on a wild steelhead, I do have a couple of ice fishing trips coming. If one of the trout takes a hook to deep I will probably try it. Worst case scenario I have something to drink with my shore lunch.
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