Removing ewg

[GoneFishingLTN]

If a ewg did get in your hand. It’s a lot harder/painful to remove correct? Anyone experienced this?

[FrnkNsteen]

For whatever reason. I have never gotten a single offset or ewg hook embedded. Of the few times I have been hooked, or famly/friends have been hooked, it has always been treble hooks.

 

The barb isn't different on an ewg vs a normal offset or straight shank hook. Though I COULD see it being a little more difficult to apply the downward pressure while jerking the line to remove the hook. Seems like it may want to lay over to the side more easily.

[MickD]

Compared to what?  I think it's the size that determines barb size which determines how hard it would be to remove.  I had a size 4/0 in my scalp and went to emergency to have it removed.  It was not a job for amateurs.  

 

If you are not familiar with the string method of removing hooks, you should understand it and be ready to use it.  I took a pretty big spinnerbait trailer hook out of a friend's hand way out in Canada and no problem.  It depends on whether or not you can maneuver the hook and string properly, but it can be a Godsend.  I've taken a couple out of myself using it.  

 

 

A couple things not clear in this video. First, you don't have to tie the braid to the hook, you can simply loop it through between the flesh and the hook and when you jerk, of course jerk both ends so you are  using a double line.  This makes it easier in many cases to do it on yourself if you are alone.   Second, pre-load the hook down into the flesh so that the barb is somewhat forced away from the flesh-it will clear more cleanly.    Kevin mentioned it, but didn't emphasize it enough-you have to really do a fast, very assertive, jerk.  It's not a pull, it's a JERK!  It is amazingly effective and almost painless.  Forget about pushing it through then cutting it off.  That is what pain really is.  And much riskier.

[Bluebasser86]

Don't know about EWG's, but I know for a fact that outbarbs (like the Katsuage on Megabass), are impossible to do the line trick on. 

[MickD]

Not impossible, but one may get a little more tissue damage since the barb cannot be preloaded away from the flesh.   I would still do the string method if getting to a doctor would be a big inconvenience.   Worst case is just a little more tissue damage.  In the situation in the photo (if the point were not already protruding) I would cut the lure off the hook, cut the other two hooks off the treble, then YANK.    In most cases. 

 

However I notice in the photo the point is already coming out, so pushing it a little farther  and cutting off the barb may  be the best approach to this specific situation.  

[WaterOtter]

Thanks for posting this!  It was hard to watch without getting squeamish, but it's a skill everyone should have and thanks for pointing out the finer details

[txchaser]

To the original question, the deeper EWG's are tough to get out, because you have to get the angle right. In the regular process the hook shank is roughly parallel to the wound channel. With EWGs if you try to pull straight out it just jams the barb in harder. So a little angle on the pull and on the push on the hook. 

Last bad hook in me was a 6th sense. I could not get it out backwards. Ended up having to push it through... and even with a sharp hook it took pliers to jam it through the skin. 

 

Better than going to the ER and getting some Lidocaine just for them to do the same thing. 

Get it quick before it starts hurting. I've been lucky so far in that nothing has been near nerves/joints/etc. One of those and I'm leaving it to the docs. 

 

[Bankbeater]

I've gotten hooked twice with treble hooks. Once in each hand. The first time the hook went through the corner of nerve tissue, and the second time the hook was very close to a blood vessel.  Both times I went to the ER and had the hook removed.  There was no way I was going to try to pull those out myself.