Getting Old, Slow And Careless?

[RAMBLER]

Yesterday, I was crappie (I know, it's a bass forum but this isn't about the fish) fishing.  I was using a Bill Lewis Tiny trap. The hooks are only about an inch apart.  Caught a 12" fish and reached for the fish to unhook it.  It flipped just right and sunk a hook into my right thumb burying the hook past the barb.  Now, the fish is flopping around hanging on my thumb.  I grabbed for the fish and got hooked again, this time in the middle finger of my left hand, also sinking the hook in past the barb. Now, my hands are hooked together with (by this time the fish has grown in size exponentially) a monster fish hanging from my hooked digits.  If I could have gotten to my wire cutters, they wouldn't have done me much good.  I don't remember how I got that fish and lure braced just right but I finally ripped the one hook backwards out of my thumb.  Then I could get to the pliers.  I couldn't get the hook out of my finger until I unhooked the fish and then I could pull the hook out of my finger.  I do carry bacitracin salve and band aids on the boat, so a little first aid and back to fishing.  Yes, my tetanus shop is current.   Guess what, it hurts to type. 

[Bluebasser86]

At least it was a tiny trap so the hooks weren't quite as big. I got stuck by a XRK25 that came screaming back to the boat after an unsuccessful hookset a couple weeks ago. Even those little #8 trebles are still hard to get back out. Glad everything turned out okay for you. 

[Catch and Grease]

ouch... glad it wasn't any worse!

 

I had the same thing happen with a 1-2 pound bass, I was getting a lipless crank out of its mouth when he flopped causing me to lose my grip and both trebles got stuck in my wrist, luckily he didn't flop much more while I was stuck to the fish..

[PersicoTrotaVA]

You sir, are a REAL man.  I don't know how many pansies would have quit after that, but you sir, did not quit.  Massive respect!

[SHaugh]

Old slow and careless ?   Sounds more like wisdom and bark to me....     A younger fella would have probably done worse...

[J Francho]

I had a fish spit a big swimbait back at me, resulting with two big Owner ST-41 trebles buried in my shin.  Got them both out, and kept fishing the rest of the day.  I might have passed once or twice getting them out.

[F14A-B]

I felt the pain just reading... Yes it's happened to me. It is soo painful.

[WillJ]

Yeah thats rough stuff took a hula popper in the ear as it was being thrown when i was younger enjoyed that

[SirSnookalot]

I was handcuffed exactly the same way as the op from a small bass, had to go to the er.  Couple of times had a 1/0 4x hooked in my legs, got help from some beach goers and kept on fishing.

[Dwight Hottle]

I have to say you handled it well. The smaller fish are always the worst ones to handle. If you can't get a good hold on them use a lip lock for removing trebles.

[tomustang]

It happens.

Past the barb I just cut it off and wrap tape around the excess and keep fishing.

My fingers are super sensative to pain, I don't think I could've ripped one out like you did.

[Raul]

Been there, happened that, but it was a 2 pounder hanging from my thumb.

[gardnerjigman]

That is what we call up a certain creek with out a paddle. You sir... made your own paddle! lol

[Crestliner2008]

You handled it perfectly under adverse conditions. You live and learn I guess. However, please consider the following. All my hooks - trebles, straight, off-sets - have the barbs crimped down tight. The only hooks I don't do this with are the drop shot hooks. Smallies have a tendency to jump a lot as you know and with the sinker flying about on the jump, I just lost too many fish this way. But all others are crimped. I catch a lot of fish each season. I lose some - although not very many. And I enjoy myself knowing that I'm keeping myself and my partner reasonably safe.

[Bankbeater]

Ouch!

[Catt]

ROFLMAO

 

Lipped an 5 pounder that did that burying a 5/0 hook past the barb between my thumb & fore finger!

 

Couldn't cut the hook till I found my pliers, couldn't get to the pliers out of the rod box which was locked, so I'm walking around the boat in tears

 

Didn't feel old, slow, or careless...just kindda stupid for not being prepared!

[J Francho]

Where you been Catt?  Football? We were wondering about you - even have a thread in the secret mod forum.

[Catt]

Where you been Catt?  Football? We were wondering about you - even have a thread in the secret mod forum.

 

 

I've got so much on my plate lately it wasn't funny! 

[geo g]

Sorry for laughing, but just visualizing both hands hooked and the fish still hanging there was definitely picture worthy. I have been to the ER twice with big trebles buried to the top of the bend from shear stupidity. I got snagged and tried to rip it out with shear power. The big Bill Dance Deep Diving Crankbait flew back at me like it was shot out of a cannon, and hit me square in the belly. I cut it off, continued to fish for three hours, and then hit the hospital with the big lure hanging. There were lots of laughs in the ER. The stupidest thing was, I did it again a month later, and went to the same ER and doctor. His advice was to switch baits. It could of been worse. A foot lower would have been a game changer. LOL

[Raul]

In this situiation there´s only two from where to choose, you are either old and slow or young and careles. Rambler is the first one I was the second one but now I´m getting into the first option territory.

[Tony L.]

When you do something long enough, you're bound to have some slip ups. I believe that I interpreted your story a bit differently than you did. With age and experience comes not carelessness, but badassery and the wisdom to get yourself out of a nasty situation.

[Catch 22]

It hurt me to even read that

[A-Jay]

For me old & slow means wary and careful which equates to much less duress in the long run.

 

As a younger & dumber "angler" I do recall one incident where I ended up "pinned" to a 12 pound bluefish at midnight which promptly pulled me off a rock jetty and took me for a swim into the 10 knot inlet. 

 

None of this was fun.  Some how a couple of very basic survival instincts kicked in and I managed to escape that rather grave ordeal with only a minor puncture wound and a bruised ego.  But I did need a change of shorts.

 

I will admit to immediately purchasing a rather long GAFF !

 

A-Jay

[SirSnookalot]

For me old & slow means wary and careful which equates to much less duress in the long run.

 

As a younger & dumber "angler" I do recall one incident where I ended up "pinned" to a 12 pound bluefish at midnight which promptly pulled me off a rock jetty and took me for a swim into the 10 knot inlet. 

 

None of this was fun.  Some how a couple of very basic survival instincts kicked in and I managed to escape that rather grave ordeal with only a minor puncture wound and a bruised ego.  But I did need a change of shorts.

 

I will admit to immediately purchasing a rather long GAFF !

 

A-Jay

In a previous post I stated I had been hooked 2 times in the legs, they were bluefish off the beach.  In both cases the fish were caught on a Poppa Dog top water lure, I get nervous every time I put that lure on, lol.  Those blues can really jump around a lot, just have to be real careful.  Fishing alone I release those fish, not too good table fair IMO, so a gaff is out of the question.  Many down here do eat them, they can have all I catch, limit is 10.

[Oregon Native]

Have had that happen on Clear Lake with the same bait when bass were schooling like crazy.  Got caught up in the frenzy and ended up with a little bass pegged to my hand with trebles.  Lil bass didn't make it after squeezing the life out of him....then yanked hooks out and fished with a section of fishing towel wrapped around fingers.  To this day the sound of a rattle trap in a fish's mouth gives me chills.

Tight Lines