How to avoid getting [treble] hooked?

[Woody B]

I have lip grippers but rarely use them.  ( I should)  I've got a fairly big cut resistant glove for my left hand hung up with a magnet.  I can easily slip my left hand in it to land treble hooked fish.  

[Basser2021]

23 hours ago, jimanchower said:

A couple of weekends ago the conditions were great when I got on the water at about 4:30p and I was excited to quickly catch a bass on a jerkbait, which is what I was out to do after a successful stint a few days prior. Once I had the fish in the boat (kayak) and I went to release him, he flopped at the wrong time, and I ended up with a barbed hook in my left thumb. After unhooking the fish and pondering my options I took a big swig of my barley soda, put my pliers to the hook, looked away, and popped that baby out. No[t much] blood or tears; back to fishing 2 minutes later.

 

Anyway, my question: What are your dos and don'ts for handling of these baits with a bunch of treble hooks? I'm definitely going to net a fish bigger than a couple of pounds, but once they're in the boat and generally under control are there some best practices for how to not hook yourself?

 

Get pliers.

[geo g]

I have been hooked pretty good at least 5 times over the years.  Everyone of those times  involved snagging a treble hook bait on weeds and wood, and trying to power it out with the rod putting a big bow in the rod.  Once free it shot back at me like a bullet, twice deep in the belly with a deep heavy crankbait, in the hand and arm with jerkbaits.  The ones in the hand and arm were easy to get out, just push all the way through and cut off the barb.  The two in the belly were a different story, took two trips to the ER.  This is over a 40 year period.  

 

Lesson learned finally, I now keep the rod in direct line with the snag and let the trolling motor pull it out.  This is much safer and no blow back.

[gim]

On 9/15/2022 at 10:17 AM, KSanford33 said:

slime dart

Is this what you call a hammer handle northern pike?  lol

[KSanford33]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Is this what you call a hammer handle northern pike?  lol

No, pickerel. Pike usually aren’t as slimy (or they’re big enough to grab by the gill). Up here, pickerel are commonly referred to as slime darts or snot rockets. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

No, pickerel. Pike usually aren’t as slimy (or they’re big enough to grab by the gill). Up here, pickerel are commonly referred to as slime darts or snot rockets. 

Pike aren’t as slimy?! It’s hard to imagine as fish slimier than a pike. It’s like a bad sinus infection of snot.

 

Pike are definitely referred to as snot rockets here too.

[1984isNOW]

 This has always been what I call a snot rocket. Never caught a pike, but pickerel are like try to crack an egg and pour it into your hand. 

[galyonj]

On 9/15/2022 at 10:16 AM, TnRiver46 said:

my buddy that I hooked in the back of the head with a treble hook rooster tail would get a kick out of reading this 

 

Was that your PB human or nah?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, galyonj said:

 

Was that your PB human or nah?

Funny you would ask, he’s 6’9” so yep 

[galyonj]

6 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Funny you would ask, he’s 6’9” so yep 

[schplurg]

Smash the barbs.

[PressuredFishing]

On 9/14/2022 at 6:37 PM, jimanchower said:

 are there some best practices for how to not hook yourself?

being cautious works wonders

[Crow Horse]

4 hours ago, schplurg said:

Smash the barbs.

X2. Barbless is better for both the bass and the angler (in the event of getting hooked).

 

I only fish barbless. I lose some fish occasionally  but I'm C&R so it's not a big deal to me. It's a bit more challenging and keeps me on my toes.

[Big Hands]

On 9/14/2022 at 6:37 PM, jimanchower said:

but once they're in the boat and generally under control are there some best practices for how to not hook yourself?

Take a moment to consider how they are hooked, and what will be my best way to remove the hook(s) safely for both myself and the fish. But if one of us has to endure some damage, I do my best to make sure it isn't me. 

 

Proper tools and a plan can help prevent getting impaled. I also prefer to do the whole operation myself so I don't have another unpredictable party adding to the danger.

 

I usually have more than one type of pliers because no one pair is perfect for all hook extractions. I also like to have a good size pair of side cutting pliers along too. If I suspect the possibility of me getting hooked is higher than normal, I'll cut 1) the line so there isn't going to be anything putting pressure against the situation 2) a hook if possible to avoid excessive damage to a fish. Once I cut the hook, I can usually push the hook point through the same direction it went in. 

 

A rag will suffice if you don't have a glove and feel you need one. 

[PhishLI]

[flyfisher]

On my kayak I use lip grippers and depending on the size of the fish and location of the hooks, I may just lip them.  The key is if you lip them you can't be soft about it, you gotta grip and hold on to prevent that inevitable shake which is usually when bad things happen.  I also majority of the time use my pliers to remove the hooks.

 

Kayaks are definitely a closer quarters kind of thing as your legs are right there and waiting to be hooked.  If it is possible and not something worth taking a pic or weighing I will also try and just grab the trebles with my pliers while the fish is still in the water and release them that way too.  

[Darth-Baiter]

i wanted to add something.  a few weeks ago a bass threw the hook right when i reached down.  the bent rod, thru the treble into my hand like a trebuchet.  oddly enough, the hook only went deep to the barb.  the barb didnt penetrate.  thick skin?  dunno.

 

anyways i celebrated my fortune and plucked the hook out and kept fishing.  that night, i could feel my heartbeat in the tip of my finger.  i looked at it and it was red and swollen.  my finger looked the E.T's.  fattened on the end.  it hurt like the dickens and was hot to the touch.  i cleaned it, wrapped it and went to bed.  it hurt for a couple of days and it is now fine.  the hook hole still hurts if i press on it.  NOW?  i put a few antiseptic wipes in my PFD pocket.   easy access.  i will rip open a package and clean the hole.  i have a first aid kit in my kayak, and should have stopped fishing to clean the puncture.  bare minimum.  

[the reel ess]

I use a net for trebles most of the time.

[Big Hands]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

that night, i could feel my heartbeat in the tip of my finger.  i looked at it and it was red and swollen.  my finger looked the E.T's.  fattened on the end.  it hurt like the dickens and was hot to the touch.  i cleaned it, wrapped it and went to bed.  it hurt for a couple of days and it is now fine.  the hook hole still hurts if i press on it.

Sounds like some infection may have set in. 

 

As a person that has worked in trades for decades and was basically raised around tools and materials, and therefore have had way more than my share of wounds, especially to my hands. 

 

My go to was to use a q-tip or cotton ball to put a drop or two of hydrogen peroxide onto the wound and see if it bubbles. It generally will every time. Let it sit and bubble for a bit, wipe it off and put another drop on it. Repeat several times. Do it again the next morning, and maybe once or more times that day. Getting ahead of it is better than waiting, especially for something that has a good chance of becoming infected. . . . like a wound from a hook.

 

Even if I have to tear a wound open to bomb it with hydrogen peroxide, it will usually clear up an infected wound.

 

If it's red around the wound, or if it hurts to press on it, it is likely infected. Sometimes it's from bruising, but more likely infected.

 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, but I may or may not have slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[TnRiver46]

My buddy hooked himself in the heel yesterday while tying on a lure in the parking lot. We dabbed a tiny bit of clear whiskey onto a paper towel and applied. Hopefully it killed any bacteria, it was a strong elixir 

[gim]

11 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

My buddy hooked himself in the heel yesterday while tying on a lure in the parking lot.

Do I dare ask HOW

[TnRiver46]

Just now, gimruis said:

Do I dare ask HOW

Hahaha I’m not sure, maybe he was getting the rod out of the car. Something before I pulled up 

[gim]

33 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hahaha I’m not sure, maybe he was getting the rod out of the car. Something before I pulled up 

I think you may need to re-evaluate if this dude should be your “buddy.”

[txchaser]

[The Bassman]

On 9/26/2022 at 6:33 PM, schplurg said:

Smash the barbs.

Agreed. I do it just with trebles and yes I lose fish but gain peace of mind. Smaller fish do pose the biggest hazard but I find that at least half the time they come loose just by letting them touch the ground and flip around.