OK I am sure that is has gotten around that I got hooked on Saturday after the water meet. It is true and here is the story.

"Flash back to the week before"

I read an article about switching out trebles to single hooks.  I always mash barbs on trebels, with the exception my favorite topwater, a Rapala Skitterwark in the spotted trout color, I just changed th hooks to VERY SHARP red VMC  trebles.I was in a hurry to get into the house, so I hung it on those handy hooks inside my Avalanche's truck bed.

"We now spring foward into Saturday"

After a great day on the water with my fellow TKAA members, I made a statement about how much I dislike treble hooks. Maybe the treble hook gods took a dislike to that. As I was loading my stuff into my truck I placed my crate into its usual spot. I shoved it in for good measure, and as I withdrew my arm I noticed a small "tug" (no relation), on my shirt sleave. I then saw my favorite topwater lure hanging from my forearm, I assumed it was just in my shirt, and was wrong. I pulled down my sleave and saw the trebel barb deep in my arm. Immediatly I go into a cold sweat and calmly begin to freak out. Chad Hoover, Kevin Kennedy and few others witnessed my demise.  I told Chad that I was probably going to pass out,, so he worked fast. There was also a group of folks in a car waiting on my parking spot. They promply drove off when I showed the shiny new red hooks stuck in my arm. Chad got out his heavy mono and set me up for the " close your eyes and snatch technique". He tied th mono around the hook bend, and another piece around the other treble. And told me to "get ready", I closed my eyes grit my teeth and Chad snatched the hook out clean! Releaved I went to sit in my A/Ced truck and waited for the cold sweats to go away (I never passed out). A few minutes passed and I removed the hook from my  shirt sleave, and mashed the rest of th barbs down. I am going to use that lure on my next trip.

Morale of the story, if you have treble hooks, DONT HANG THEN WHERE YOU CAN GET HOOKED, and be sure to fish with someone who can pull out hooks before you pass out.

Thanks Chad!

After reading that I decided to Google techniques for removing fishhooks. For all you doctor wannabees here's the scoop. Probably a good thing for all of us to learn. Cory, I glad it turned out okay.

String-Yank Technique

The string-yank technique is a highly effective modification of the retrograde technique and is also referred to as the "stream" technique. It is commonly performed in the field and is believed to be the least traumatic because it creates no new wounds and rarely requires anesthesia.⁸ It may be used to remove any size fishhook but generally works best when removing fishhooks of small and medium size. This technique also works well for deeply embedded fishhooks, but cannot be performed on parts of the body that are not fixed (e.g., earlobe).⁹ Physicians should be familiar with the concepts of this method because improper technique could cause further tissue damage.

FIGURE 3. String-yank method. (A) Wrap a string around the midpoint of the bend in the fishhook. (B) Depress the shank of the fishhook against the skin. (C) Firmly and quickly pull on the string while continuing to apply pressure to the shank.

While I was one of many who pointed and laughed (AFTER we made sure that Cory was okay!), this does serve as a reminder that bad things can happen and there isn't always medical help nearby. Along with the obvious safety items, like a VHF radio, lights, whistles, mirrors and the like, we should also remember to carry basic first aid kits in our kayaks. I know that Bass Pro sells a hook removal tool, with antiseptic and bandages for $5.99 and it would be a good addition to such a kit. Towelettes are also available for dealing with stuff like jellyfish stings and I believe they work on bug bites, too!

This happened to my friend. There was a group of 3 of us fishing shallow water and we had gotten out near a marsh to stretch out and change lures. My buddy slipped and instinctively put his hand out to catch himself. He caught himself on the deck my kayak where I was changing lures. Also instinctively he jerked his hand back when it was initially penetrated, however, the other treble was caught on the deck line, this set the hook deep into his finger.

This hook was not coming out by the string method it was sunk deeep. I towed him back about a mile and half to the put in and off we went to higher level care.

After getting hooked he was like damn it must really suck to be a fish.

This is a technique that is a MUST KNOW for kayak anglers. Unlike boaters, most of us have to get ourselves home. I have done this more times than I can remember and most times very few people know how to do the technique. I will demonstrate it at the next meeting with a piece meat. It is very simple and it can be done by the person with the hook in them (unless you sit on the hook). It really is very simple and less painful (physically and finacially) than going to the doc.

                                        GlockGuy may volunteer to be the piece of meet!!!!

****Disclaimer: DO NOT HOOK YOURSELF AND PRACTICE IN PREPARATION FOR THE MEETING****

Chad

Nice technique to know.  Better then mine of pushing the hook through, cutting off the barb, then removing it. 

I have found that if I bend the barb down only at the tip instead of flattening it completely, it leaves a hump that still helps to hold the fish BUT makes an accident like this one much easier to remove.

I would have helped you remove your hooks in the past, but you were always well prepared with your own dehooking kit, syringes, novacaine, hemostats and other minor surgery equipment. It was almost like you expected to hook yourself........

Chad