Do You Disinfect Your Fingers? Lol

[Chris S]

I keep a first aid kit in the boat with alcohol wipes, triple antibiotic and band aids for cut or hooks (long story) most of the time I rinse my hands after releasing a fish. 

[hatrix]

I have a friend that cut his hand between thumb and finger with braided line. He got hung up and tried to pull it loose. First he lost his thumb and finger. Next about 2 months later after IV,s and antibiotics he lost his hand. The last time I saw him at the lake he showed the mess to me, now they are taking his arm. All because he didn't clean a cut good enough. I am diabetic I take insulin and I am really cautious and you guys should be also.

Wow that's pretty extreme and  I would think its a case of probably just being very unlucky or having a very compromised immune system or very poor hygiene overall. 

 

As for your bass thumb lipping fish is for the birds even if they only have a jig or something in there mouth. Grab them by the shoulders and let them know whos boss when you grab them and they wont even resist. I rarely lip fish anymore sine all they do is struggle any ways and its just more hassle. When you grab them good behind the head even the smaller ones that are notoriously a pain hardly ever move and it makes life way easier.

[Catch and Grease]

^^^ That doesn't look nearly as cool though... Can't do a hero shot unless your lipping that bass! ^^^

[RSM789]

I have a tradition that my wife is hoping will stop someday.  When I return home & greet her with a kiss, I make sure to slide my thumb under her nose when she isn't suspecting it, so she can get a good whiff that I am not lying about the number of bass I caught that day.  Often I have to be tricky, distracting her from what she knows is coming & sneak the smelly thumb to her face or feigning that something is wrong with my hand & I need her to look at it.  I allow myself 30 minutes from the time I get home until I make her do the unwilling smell test & I succeed in most instances.  She always crinkles up her cute face, winces and says "Gross!!  Stop it".  Only then do I wash my hands.

 

How she has stayed married to me for 28 years is a complete mystery...

[hatrix]

I am not worried about cool since that comes naturally in everything  I do and it looks even cooler when you grab it like a boss really quick and throw it back like nothing. The guy waiting for it to stop spinning or shaking so he can get his thumb in his mouth looks lame. Also you would feel much different about them tearing your thumb up if you were down in a shaft tying #8 or #9 bar all day long. That alone would eat most people and having a tore up thumb doesn't make it any better.

[J Francho]

 

When you grab them good behind the head even the smaller ones that are notoriously a pain hardly ever move and it makes life way easier.

 

I can't fit my hand around the fish I catch this way.

 

Actually, I grab dinks this way, too.

[Big Jon]

I'd be nervous after wrestling too and being around people at work that have some strange habits...especially in restrooms where paper towels seem to last too long!!!

Anyway...tight lines

 

For some reason I trust the fish to be more clean than people, but to answer the original question, I just wash my hands when I get home.

[BassThumbAddict]

I only wash if the fish has ebola. 

[Catch and Grease]

I only wash if the fish has ebola.

Figured somebody would crack a Ebola joke eventually haha I got a few but I'll refrain from saying them...

[SirSnookalot]

Never gave it much thought until recently.  2 weeks ago while fishing I ran into a woman who had taken 3 ducklings to the rescue shelter, they were tested and I believe it was e.coli, not sure of the bacteria.

[J Francho]

Waterfowl are notorious for carrying all sorts of bad germs.

[hatrix]

I can't fit my hand around the fish I catch this way.

 

Actually, I grab dinks this way, too.

Well I don't have those days like you where I bag 20+ over 4 or 5# Then I might not care as much. Those fish flop around less any ways but when they do it's with a lot more power. You will learn me someday i'm sure

 

Also if you do lip just go deep down past the joint and tear that part up. It's not bad if that's where they tear you up. 

[J Francho]

I get bass rash on my hand, not my thumb.

[Bankbeater]

Depending on the size of the cut, I would be more worried about blood loss.

[boostr]

I have a tradition that my wife is hoping will stop someday. When I return home & greet her with a kiss, I make sure to slide my thumb under her nose when she isn't suspecting it, so she can get a good whiff that I am not lying about the number of bass I caught that day. Often I have to be tricky, distracting her from what she knows is coming & sneak the smelly thumb to her face or feigning that something is wrong with my hand & I need her to look at it. I allow myself 30 minutes from the time I get home until I make her do the unwilling smell test & I succeed in most instances. She always crinkles up her cute face, winces and says "Gross!! Stop it". Only then do I wash my hands.

How she has stayed married to me for 28 years is a complete mystery...

Ooh boy, this could go two ways: 1 You really did go fishing, or 2 you are cheating on her...

[Mike L]

I only disinfect cuts.  Otherwise, I wash my hands when I get home, or before eating.

Ditto....

Mike

[RSM789]

Ooh boy, this could go two ways: 1 You really did go fishing, or 2 you are cheating on her...

Well, there are times I kissed a large green female when I was out ...

[coryn h. fishowl]

nope, i don't even wash my hands before bed...i curl up with my pillow and have my funky bassy hand on top so i can fall asleep smelling my victories 

Are you sir, sharing the bed with a woman, because most women I know would have me celebrating my victory on the couch real quick...and if she doesn't...she's a keeper