INDIANANGLER

Hook Removal

The most common accident during fishing season involves hooks. The second most common hazard facing anglers is getting too much sun. Both are easily avoided. Sunscreen and a hat will handle the sun and a first aid kit with a little knowledge of how to use it will take care of the hook problems.

The most important tool any angler should always have with him/her for removing a hook is a sharp pair of wire cutting pliers.

Here are a few methods for removing hooks.

When a hook's point and barb are protruding out the skin, it's easier to cut off the barb and back the hook out of the wound. This is when those sharp wire cutters come in handy.

The snatch method of hook removal is simple and effective, and it's the best method to remove a hook that's deeply imbedded in the skin and when the barb is buried.

This method is quick, simple and relatively painless, as long as you get it on the first try. The secret to a first time success is yanking the loop of line, which is wrapped around the embedded hook, rather hard so the hook comes out on the first try. The reason you should get it out on the first try is obvious, the patient might not stick around for a second try.

To perform the snatch method when the barb is imbedded, all that's needed is a short length of fishing line, at least 10 pound test, approximately 2 feet long.


Remove hook from lure.

1. Double the fishing line and loop it around the hook, as close to the skin's surface as possible.

2. Hold onto both ends of the doubled line, wrapping them around your hand for a firm grip and holding the line parallel to the skin's surface in line with the hook.

3. With your other hand, press the eye of the hook down onto the surface of the skin and back toward the hook's bend, as if trying to back the hook out of the wound.

4. While pressing on the hook eye, yank the line sharply, parallel to the skin and in line with the hook, to snap the hook back out of the wound.

5. Apply antibiotic ointment, bandage wound and check to make sure tetanus shots are current.



First Aid Kit

A basic onboard first aid kit for anglers should contain sunscreen, small bottle of hydrogen peroxide, alcohol wipes. bandages, gauze, tape, antibiotic ointment and aspirin. Another essential should be a brand new pair of needle-nosed and wire cutting pliers, sealed in a seal-lock plastic baggy. All Anglers, especially those using worms, should always have their tetanus shot up to date.

Have a read of post #18.
http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Indi ... 5&start=15
This was me at the start of 2007 and if you fish lures, you will get nailed at some point.
Having thought the posibility through, I'd made sure I had the right tools with me and just got on with the job. Yes it hurts but once our mind is right, you can just get on with the job.

Barramundi arn't really a candidate for going barbless but mahseer and other carps definatly are. Simply being able to slide the hook out the way it went in is a lot les traumatic than pushing the point all the way through or trying to rip it out as illustrated by Bops.

Finaly, home brewed extractions are fine most of the time but if the hook is really big or really deep and especially if it has penetrated a delicate structure like a joint, the insides of the upper arms or legs, the neck or an eye, go seek medical help.

Ken is there any difference between "Simply being able to slide the hook out the way it went in" and my post? I've seen a hook being pulled out as described in my post and there is relatively no pain since the hook comes out the same way as it went in.

I happened to get hooked to a rock trying to take off a snag, the hooks at one end of the lure into the rocks and the other into the base of the thumb. Happened in Sydney, with the tide comming in and my head slowly going under I had no option but to Yank it off with both hands (the one free gripping the other) and my head slowly going under. This hard "yank" caused the really solid Mustad hooks at the end to straighten and the one in my thumb to dig real deep. The Hook was off and I was on dry land, but I had to climb a bit of a precipice to get to the roads. I had no cutter with me and needed to go to a doc to take it off.

There was a good and a bad side to this trip, I was with 3 gorgeous women the good side was that they found it easy to find someone to help me but the bloke seeing the blood started to get woosy so I asked him to climb back up. I was seeing black spots as well, finally after a few minutes felt a little better made the climb with my 3 escorts. Anyway the doc did his bit and got the hook out.

After that day I make it a point to carry a solid wire cutter in my kit.

Then it happened again, this time to my bro only this time there was a very upset and active 42lb barra attached to the other end of the lure. Literally sitting on the fish, I drove the point clean through, cut the barb off and slipped it off.

That is my story.

I have another very funny one, (not so much for the one impaled) but will leave that for another day.