Fishing Injury 2024
toni63 reply :
Kind of funny, I just saw the Bassresource video on how not to get hooked when landing fish. Too late. This was my hand in the ER Sunday night. I landed a little un an didn't notice the trailer hook hadn't penetrated the fish anywhere at all, so I was holding the fish and reaching to get the bait out when it gave a good thrash and the next thing I know I am feeling a tug on my finger that wasn't quite right. I looked down and the spinner bait hook was still in the fish mouth, the trailer hook straight through my fingers with some blood seeping out of the holes.
Now I live out in the sticks, so the ER is a half hour away. I go home and my wife drives me to the ER. Of course, I try to remove this myself a couple different ways but nothing works, so i figure let the Medical professionals handle it instead. At the ER, the Doc says, no biggie, we'll just cut the shaft on the long end and slide the other end out. So he numbs up my finger with a Lidocaine block, gets out these little tweezer cutters and begins. No luck, hardened steel hook. So they try wire cutters. No luck. I take the wire cutters away from them, put one end on a table and put my full weight down on the handle trying to get it to even dent the hook. No luck. But the nurses are about to pass out watching me work on it myself, while cracking jokes about how its my mess, I'll clean it up.
One nurse says "so how did you you do that?" and I can't resist... "Well, I was chasing this Bear through the woods....." and the look on her face is quite funny. "Fishing. Last cast. Caught one, wasn't paying attention and this trailer hook (I hold my hand up and slide the lure back and forth in the eyelet of the hook that's through my finger) went through this finger." She turned white and left the room.
So anyway, they can't figure out a way to cut it and I tell them to get some bolt cutters. Only problem is it's Sunday night, July 4th weekend, 930 and the maintenance folks are out having fun and no one can find the keys to the room where the bolt cutters might be, let alone know where the bolt cutters actually are. So I lay back and go to sleep. My wife tells me later that every now and then I would do that jerking thing you do when you're in between sleep and waking and the spinner blades would tinkle. When I woke up I got the cutters and removed the rubber keeper altogether so I could get the spinner bait away from the hook. That was at least some progress and made it easier on my hand not having to hold the spinner bait.
Eventually the maintenance guy gets there, like around 11, and I really did appreciate him coming in. It was that or drive home to get my bolt cutters and DIY it and then probably drive back to the ER for some sterilization stuff or whatever just to be on the safe side. Doc comes in with bolt cutters, asks me to grab the hook where its sticking out the farthest, he places the jaws either side and with a quick squeeze a "tink" emits and I am holding the protruding hook and barb end in on hand, shaft in the other. I sit down and he slides the rest of it out and I am free.
But heres comes the worst part. He tells me to let my finger soak in antibiotic/sterile fluid for fifteen minutes and then I can go. Then he comes back in two minutes later and says he wants to flush it out some too. So he puts a syringe with a rubber tube attached that's about the same diameter as the hook in some saline, draws it up nice and full and shoots it in the top hole as I hold my hand over the bowl. No big deal, I feel it run though and dribble out the bottom. Then he flips my finger over and stick it in the other side to go back the other way. He started squirting that stuff in there and my finger exploded into pain like it was on fire and then it shot across half my hand, other digits and thumb shaking like I had just got shocked. I nearly passed out, and up until that point, this was no big deal, despite what it looked like. My wife jumped up and grabbed me because she thought I was going to fall over. Ouch.
So anyway, Doc says "Ok, it's sealing up, I'm not going to do that any more." Thanks Doc. Best news I had all night. Anyway, after all that, once that hook was out, (and they stopped shooting saltwater in the hole) it stopped hurting in about 5 minutes. I left with the spinner bait intact and a band aid on my finger.
Moral of the story? I guess it's be careful, cause the hooks these days are pretty stout and if you get one stuck in you, it might be harder than you think to get it out. I am just glad my lack of caution didn't result in something worse than a hole in the fleshy part of my finger. It was't too bad, I was back playing my guitar the next afternoon. I had never been hooked at all before, I hope I never get hooked again.
Lesson learned.
KlubbaT reply :
Ouch! I got a treble hook stuck in my finger for 1st time this year. Thought I was going to have to go to hospital to get it out but luckily got it out on my own after many attempts. Will be using a lip gripper going forward whenever using lures with treble hooks.
Bass Turd reply :
I found some Titan compound wire cutters with carbide jaws at Amazon for under $15. They have them up to $50 but I found the lower cost variety is fine. I've tested it out on some pretty stout hooks and it does cut them. I gullet hooked a bass last weekend and cut the shank of the hook no problem. I don't know that they would have cut your hook... but maybe. They are carbon steel (except for the jaw inserts) so I keep them wrapped in a cloth soaked with oil and in the small rectangular Plano water proof box. It has a yellow seal. I had to cut out the dividers. I think there is one without dividers though.
Now that I look closer they don't have carbide inserts but they seem to work fine. Do your own research.
https://www.amazon.com/Plano-3440-10-Waterproof-Stowaway-3400/dp/B00469G31G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467996145&sr=8-1&keywords=Plano+waterproof+box
https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Tools-11412-Compound-Diagonal/dp/B000PRWJ52/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467995916&sr=8-4&keywords=compound+wire
blckshirt98 reply :
YIKES hoping something like this never happens to me...of course now it'll probably happen to me tomorrow.
Darren. reply :
Can I just say...OUCH!! 
That's gonna smart for some time to come.
Sam reply :
Glad you joined the club.
I have had to have two hooks surgically removed.
The last one, at the Doc in a Box, had the first doctor stumped so she called in a second doctor who had removed hooks before.
The first was a crankbait treble hook and the second a spinnerbait trailer hook. In both cases I asked the docs to make sure they did not destroy the lures. Still have spinnerbait and crankbait and use them from time to time.
Further North reply :
I have a silly question...wouldn't pinching the barb and backing the hook out have done the job?
I've stuck myself once - about a 3 lb. largemouth on a Rappala Clackin' Rap - I reached for the fish to unhook it after I had it in the boat...and it zigged as I zagged and jammed that big hook on the front treble just north of the top joint on my left thumb...
...problem was...the bass was still attached and still pretty energetic...we resolved that problem pretty quickly an over the side it went...
Now I'm stuck with the hook buried to the turn in the hook, well past the barb, in my thumb. I was along way from anywhere and by myself...knew that driving with that thing in my hand was gonna be a problem and I didn't want to have to load the boat, drive into town (a good half hour) and risk passing out along the way...did I mention that every time I moved, the boat moved, or anydarnthing moved...it hurt like crazy? I'm seeing little white sparks at the edges of my eyes when this ting moves even a little...
So...I study the thing...give it a little tug to see if it'll back out...LOTS of white stars...that ain't gonna work...so I grab my trusty pliers, sit down on the deck (less distance to fall is I pass out) and shove the hook point the rest of the way through. Everything goes white for a second and my heart rate goes up a bunch...but I'm still vertical and I think I know my name...and the pain dropped off right away.
I took a big drink of water, waited a few minutes until I felt like I was back close to normal...then I dug out the pliers, set my hand on the deck and smash the barb down, backed out the hook took a few deep breaths.
After a couple minutes, I cleaned out and wrapped up the thumb in a bandage...and went back to fishing.
Ever since then...I'm pretty religious about pinching my barbs down. The few fish I lose because I've pinched the barbs are worth it to me:
- If I ever stick myself again, I'm done and back to fishing in 30 seconds.
- Much easier to get the hooks out of the fish.
- Much easier on the fish
Every time I think about getting a little sloppy...I look at that little scar...remember those white flashes...and crimp my barbs.
scaleface reply :
You wouldnt think that hook would go all the way through . Must be some good hooks . What kind are they , I want some?
riverbasser reply :
I like to look on the bright side so at least it didn't go through the nail, seems that would hurt worse. You might also have saved this from happening to me since I will now be a little more careful. At least for the next few trips while it's fresh in my mind.
lakeannaangler reply :
Ouch!
Last year while crappie fishing I got every single hook point of a pointer 65 stuck in my hand.
papajoe222 reply :
I keep both a pair of wire cutters and mini bolt cutters on my boat for exactly that scenario. I also have an 18in. fluorocarbon leader solely for the removal of hooks.
I live just outside Chicago and the doctors in the ERs around here are clueless about removing hooks. Went to the ER once in Wisconsin and the Dr. had the hook out, wound sanitized and bandaged in less time than it took to fill out the paperwork.
Neil McCauley reply :
Almost had a worst case scenario last week...
When I have a well hooked fish in my canoe I sometimes hold them between my thighs (you might see where this is going...) while taking it out. Was doing this with a large crankbait from a bass last week and it somehow thrashed free and hooked a big treble into my inner thigh. Let me tell you there is no adrenaline rush in the outdoors quite like having a p$$ed off bass directly connected to a set of hooks perilously dangling around your nads. Thank God the fish fell off the hook. The hook in my thigh I had to just back out.
Last_Cast reply :
Looks good. 
frosty reply :
On 7/9/2016 at 10:47 AM, scaleface said:You wouldnt think that hook would go all the way through . Must be some good hooks . What kind are they , I want some?
This. Those are some tough hooks if you couldn't cut them with wire cutters!
Bluebasser86 reply :
My dad sent me this picture after catching the first fish he'd ever caught on the first Megabass Vision 110 he'd ever bought.
frosty reply :
On 7/10/2016 at 8:38 PM, Bluebasser86 said:My dad sent me this picture after catching the first fish he'd ever caught on the first Megabass Vision 110 he'd ever bought.
Oh good Lord man! That is the second most tender place on the human body!!! I really want to throw up a little right now!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 7/10/2016 at 8:43 PM, frosty said:Oh good Lord man! That is the second most tender place on the human body!!! I really want to throw up a little right now!
The fish was still on the back of the bait flopping around when it happened (3lb rainbow trout, which is like trying to grab a wet bar of soap that moves). Funny thing is, my dad's biggest concern in the whole thing while he was at the hospital was that his bait not get damaged in any way (he didn't think to just take it off the split rings, instead he took the whole bait to the hospital).
frosty reply :
On 7/10/2016 at 8:47 PM, Bluebasser86 said:The fish was still on the back of the bait flopping around when it happened (3lb rainbow trout, which is like trying to grab a wet bar of soap that moves). Funny thing is, my dad's biggest concern in the whole thing while he was at the hospital was that his bait not get damaged in any way (he didn't think to just take it off the split rings, instead he took the whole bait to the hospital).
That's funny cause I was just looking at the megabass lures this morning and thought they were awfully expensive, I can definitely see why he was concerned, but I'd still sell my mothers soul to get that hook out!
Mike L reply :
Take the dang finger but save the lure!! ...Gotta love that man! 
Mike
Bankbeater reply :
Last time I hooked myself was about 20 years ago. Ever since then I am very very careful.
gimruis reply :
9 out of 10 times when hooks get in people instead of fish they get in the hands. That is what the MD told me 2 summers ago at the ER after he removed two crank bait treble hooks from my head. Yes, my head. The old man thought he could stand in the front deck next to me without any issues getting in each other's way and on his back swing he hooked my head. Felt like I was gonna pass out the lure actually hite me so hard, including several shots of lidocaine and stitches later. Thats why the boat has two decks to cast from, front and back, not 2 in the front.
Further North reply :
On 7/12/2016 at 10:25 AM, gimruis said:9 out of 10 times when hooks get in people instead of fish they get in the hands. That is what the MD told me 2 summers ago at the ER after he removed two crank bait treble hooks from my head. Yes, my head. The old man thought he could stand in the front deck next to me without any issues getting in each other's way and on his back swing he hooked my head. Felt like I was gonna pass out the lure actually hite me so hard, including several shots of lidocaine and stitches later. Thats why the boat has two decks to cast from, front and back, not 2 in the front.
Try fly fishing for pike or musky with a couple anglers in the boat.
We throw these:
...yes, that's a 5.0 hook about 2/3 of the way back, turned sideways, connected to the front hook with 50# wire...
That whole fly is just short of a foot long...
Get a couple guys flinging those on 30 feet of line, back and forth across the boat...it's pretty much the definition of "caution" and "communication".
Jon G reply :
About a month ago I had an accident and hooked myself for the first time. The problem was that this hook was a 5/0 Trokar Flipping Hook.....
toni63 reply :
Strike King KVD spinner bait. Mustad Ultrapoint trailer hook is what the description says it is. I kept the bait and have used it since but haven't put a trailer hook back on it yet.
As far as bending the barb flat and reversing it out, I suggested that to the Doc at the ER and his comment was "we can do that if you like, but my experience has been when doing that there will still be enough sharp, jagged metal coming back through the hole to tear up the inside of your finger pretty good. You'll have more days with a messed up finger than if we wait until we can get some bolt cutters and trim the end off completely."
I am a guitar player and fret with that hand, so I really didn't like the sound of cutting up the inside of that finger any more than necessary, so i was good with waiting. And seriously, I was standing in a Guitar Center the next day playing a Les Paul that I ended up buying. I just couldn't bend notes as aggressively as usual, but i could play chords and light lead runs just fine. Two days later, none the worse for wear.
I am using a net, my grippers and pliers to take hooks out now. Doesn't matter what size. I just kind of shy away from getting my hands anywhere near a thrashing fish with a lure or hook in it now. Call me a wuss if you like, but I'd rather not get another hook in me and having seen how easy it is, I'd just rather not have to deal with it again.
Further North reply :
On 7/12/2016 at 12:00 PM, toni63 said:I am using a net, my grippers and pliers to take hooks out now. Doesn't matter what size. I just kind of shy away from getting my hands anywhere near a thrashing fish with a lure or hook in it now. Call me a wuss if you like, but I'd rather not get another hook in me and having seen how easy it is, I'd just rather not have to deal with it again.
Probably a good plan, at least until you get your confidence back. I find single hooks much easier to remove from the fish, especially if I've crimped the barb. A fair share of the fish I catch have a lot of teeth anyway, and I'm not sticking my hand in there to de-hook 'em anyway...
gimruis reply :
On 7/12/2016 at 11:21 AM, Further North said:Try fly fishing for pike or musky with a couple anglers in the boat.
We throw these:
...yes, that's a 5.0 hook about 2/3 of the way back, turned sideways, connected to the front hook with 50# wire...
That whole fly is just short of a foot long...
Get a couple guys flinging those on 30 feet of line, back and forth across the boat...it's pretty much the definition of "caution" and "communication".
Definitely. I do some occasional musky fishing myself but the same principle still applies, one angler on each deck. Fishing isn't really supposed to be a high contact sport and I'm not gonna start wearing a helmet out there so I would rather just avoid it by prevention. Lay low
Gundog reply :
A friend of mine agreed to go fishing with me in his boat one day. He was on the front deck, I was at the back. On my first cast with the baitcaster the line looped around the tip of the rod and my lure swung back and hit my friend right in the neather regions and stuck there. I was laughing too hard to hear him curse me out. He wasn't stuck too bad but he did need the pliers to get himself unhooked.
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