Thread: A hooking situation

I've heard stories and I'm sure you have also and may have witnessed someone having a hook stuck in them. Most times with a little care and common sense the hook can be removed rather painlessly if you understand the principal involved. Small hooks like we use to crappie fish usually are not a problem because the wound is not deep and are on the surface but large hooks might need medical attention.

This morning about 7 AM I received a call from my Brother in law telling me that his grandson had a hook stuck in his face near his eye. He had witnessed me removing a hook from another brother in law years ago in which I removed a hook from his finger painlessly and quickly. I used the string and pull out backwards method. Everyone was amazed at how simple it was. I, of course, learned the method from reading an outdoor magazine. Today's situation was a little more delicate than in a finger but the same method worked fine. He sent me a picture to show me the problem. Rather than use a string, I explained the method to him and told him to use needle nose pliers instead. The idea was to grab the hook in the bend, push the hook in the direction so as to elongate the entrance wound away from the barb and simply give it a swift and solid jerk. We hung up and then he called me a couple of minutes later thanking me. He said it came out with pain or blood and did not do any more damage to his face.

Everyone should learn this method. Press downward on the hook to disengage the barb and then give the string a good solid tug and the hook will pop out. The most important part is the pushing downward to disengage the barb. Instead of string, especially if you're alone and have no one to put the downward pressure on the hook,is to use a pair of needle nose pliers or forceps to grab the hook at the bend. Slowly using the pliers push the hook downward to disengage the barb and then snatch it out quickly. Quickly is the key, it is less painful and if for some reason you do not do it just right and the barb catches some meat on the way out, its too late to do anything about it. Before you realize that the barb grabbed some meat the hook will be out.



My brother in law's situation this morning. At first glance it looked bad but on closer examine the hook was just under the skin. If it had been any deeper my advice because of the location, would have been to take him in to a doctor.




Here is a link to a video just like what happened years ago when I first used the method. This video is so much like what I did that it could have been us being videoed. The treble hook on a jerk bait was in the exact same location and I also jerked on 2 instead on 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfSGAso5vpI

Great post Gene.