Comments on: How to Remove a Fish Hook from Your Finger: An Illustrated Guide

By: FeatherBlade

FeatherBlade — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:49:27 +0000

Technique 2 is doable, especially if you have another person with you. I had to do something similar when was putting up trim and finish-nailed my thumb to the wall. That involved working a pair of flat wire cutters between my thumb and the wall to cut the nail shank, and then dousing the whole thumb (nail and all) in alcohol. Apply antibiotic ointment as lubrication and pull the nail out, then run under hot water while pressing out as much blood as you can for 10 minutes, like you would an minor animal bite.

I suppose hot running water might be in short supply out on a stream, but the alcohol and ointment you.could carry with you.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:15:08 +0000

Hey guys – having driven a size 4 long shank hook deep into the pad of my middle finger on Sunday, the A&E doctor carried out technique #2 on me, after a digital block. She had great trouble forcing the barb through the skin and the whole procedure was fairly unpleasant, and I’m now left with nerve damage to my tip which I’m hoping will heal over time. I wonder if she was aware of #1? Kinda wishing I’d had a crack at it myself now but i wasn’t brave enough

By: alex

alex — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 13:52:22 +0000

+1 on crushing barbs, in a lot of cases,here in australia we fish with small lures (under 2inch) with small light gauge trebles a lot,and crushing the barbs,really helps as its quite common to stab yourself with these small trebles (size 12 or 14,also quite often having to remove and replace damaged ones) and it also makes it much easier to release fish,you may lose a few fish but its really minimal,as long as you do your part and keep up the tension.I’d hate to be on an expensive long awaited trip in a remote location and have this problem.

By: Jeff Schaeffer

Jeff Schaeffer — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 15:31:14 +0000

The string technique really works. Press the eye of the hook down against the skin. I keep a small length of old fly fishing line in my first aid kit for these mishaps. Saved a guy a 45 mile trip to the ER. Be sure to disinfect the wound, and make sure the victim is up to date on tetanus vaccine.

By: blacky

blacky — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 04:06:28 +0000

And technique number two is pretty nuts. Maybe doable with a fly hook like a 16 or 20…but I assure you that almost no one could push a 4/0 saltwater hook through their own finger
. To induce that level of pain on your own initiative is probably not achievable for most of us unless our lives were on the line. Go ahead… I dare you to try it out in your garage sometime soon just as practice.

Crush your barbs.

By: blacky

blacky — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:59:14 +0000

I don’t know about this. I’ve been fishing for years and years and have never had a hook stuck into me. Most of my lures have multiple treble hooks… I suppose one would cut the treble hook off the lure and then cut the two non-offending hooks off. But to comment specifically on number one and two, it seems that the diagram vaguely indicates that downward pressure is applied to the hook. In actuality, ypu would need to apply enough pressure to force the shank into the flesh so as to allow the barb some “breathing room”. I would think you would have to firmly hold the hook shank with a pinch grip and really push it…otherwise the barb is going to rip into flesh when its pulled backwards.

By: mkkkkkkkkk

mkkkkkkkkk — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:16:35 +0000

I have been practicing emergency medicine for 30 years. When I first started practicing, a paramedic from the offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico showed me technique #1. I have used #1 successfully over a hundred times since then with only one case where the hook was so embedded it didn’t work. In the ER I inject the site with local anesthetic. If the hook is in your hand or arm you will need someone else to help you. If you do remove a hook, get medical attention as soon as possible. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics and tetanus immunization (if greater than 5 years since last vaccination) is indicated. Fish, worms, and any other bait is a breeding ground for some nasty bacteria and you don’t want a wound infection with any of them. And lastly, if you are not confident about what you are about to do, leave it to the professional and head on down to the ER. Half showmanship, half magic, and a pinch of medical training. Can make my whole shift worthwhile.

By: jay

jay — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:34:28 +0000

Do the # 1. You still must keep fishing.

By: john

john — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:54:37 +0000

I’ve tried this technique and while it works, don’t think it’s going to be a cakewalk. There are several things working against you if you have a hook in your finger as pictured. First of all, your finger pad is composed of hard fatty-type tissue that isn’t that easy to puncture or manipulate a hook through. Second this tissue has more nerve endings in it that pretty much anywhere else on your body. This translates into pain on a scale that few have experienced. Go to the doctor if you can. If he’s any good, he’ll do a simple digital nerve block and make the whole process much easier. I’ve actually done a digital block before in the field many times(I was a Nayv Corpsman), and the primary reason I carry 2% Lidocaine without Epinephrine, some 5cc syringes, and some longer 25G needles in my first aid kit due to my experiences with hooks in fingers.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:49:30 +0000

How does this work on your finger? you have one hand doing the eye pushing down and another hand with the hook in it ….what is Quickly pulling the line? I am a lone fisherman.