Sharp Hooks!

[Mean Morone]

Back in April, my buddy and I were out testing lures. We had a bunch of lures hanging off of a 5 gallon bucket. I was going to change lures and reached down to pick up another lure that was hanging off of the bucket when we got tossed by a big wave. Of course the bottom treble hook caught on the lip of the bucket and I ended up with a triple grip hook sunk deep in my index finger. I tried to pull it out with pliers, but couldn't. I was able to work the barb out of the meat and up to the skin level. My buddy offered to take me in, but I didn't want to go. He offered to try the fishing line trick. I was all for it except for the fact this is a tripple grip hook. It's like being hooked by a circle hook. He tied the line on the bend of the hook and was ready to pull. His idea of which direction to pull didn't go with mine though. I had to back him off and explain that he needed to pull in the correct direction or I would be hurtin for certain. He agreed and said he would pull on 3. Got it out on 1. I wiped off the blood and went back to fishing. Lure worked fine.

[MsgMills]

Another fine mess I got myself in...I was fishing Guist Creek throwing a Rat-L-trap across a point. I hooked a nice 12" bass and brought him in. As I reached down to lip said fish, he jerked around a bit. I felt sudden pain as he continued to jump around some more. I actually had to put the fish up under my arm pit while in my hand to stop him from jumping around. I had buried the front hook in my index finger and the back hook in my thumb and one of the hooks were still in the fishes mouth. Lucky enough my brother-in-law was with me. He asked what I needed, I said you got to pull the hook out of the fish then pull the hooks out of my finger and thumb. As I braced my hand under my arm for leverage support, he proceeded to pull the hooks out...sounds weird pulling a hook out of human flesh as it makes the exact same sound as if it were coming from the mouth of a Bass, or so it seemed at the moment. But he got the hooks out and we loaded up and went home....Strange thing was, I had just told him I was ready to leave on that exact cast I made to the point. Boy was I ready to leave for sure then....lol Another adventure for me and one of my fishing pals.

[Slimy Deck]

Guys, getting a hook out can be a simple process in most cases. A full time guide showed me this and claimed he's removed more than 100 hooks. I have removed several over the last few years and have had 3 removed from me, and it has worked in every case. It does take 2 people, the one hooked and one to get it out. If you're by yourself and hook yourself, find another fisherman to help you out.

Take a standard plastic worm hook and bend it straight. Mash down the barb down. Run the straightened hook with barb mashed along-side the the one caught you, right in the same hole to the depth of the one that caught you. Gently lift/separate the skin in the direction away from the barb of the hook that caught you. Then, just slip the hook that caught you out.

Believe me, it works and has you back to fishin' in just a couple of minutes and doesn't damage any more flesh like pushing the hook back through.