Thanks for the info...like I said, I have done the jerk thing with the fishing line a number of times and it has worked just fine...but there are times when this method will not work or may cause further damage. If the hook is embedded in the skin and not too deep it works just fine. When I was at the hospital I told the doc that I had done the jerking method before but this particular instance it appeared that I should have the hook taken out by him...the doc agreed with me in that he said that this hook was way too deep and positioned as such that I would have been risking some permanent damage to my finger had I tried it. Anyway, finger is fine now and ready for fishing...lol.