fish hook removal.. ER's UNECESSARY!!

[ppatricelli]

The ER thread brings up again this recurring issue. The fact is that the vast majority of anglers STILL don't know/realize that there is a fasy, quick, painless method of removing imbedded fish hooks that can be done on the water, in seconds, is painless AND, if you got a knowledgeable doctor, would be exactly what he would do in the ER. Unfortunately many ER doctors still don't know the procedure and still use local anesthetic, cut it out, push it through, etc.

I have written up the removal method several times, including on this BB in the past. I would be willing to do it again if I get a committment from the controlling BB gods that the thread will be saved and permamnently available.

From a doctor, worked in ER's for years, removed 100's of hooks with the method, including on MYSELF.

[Nauti Buoy]

I thought most everyone knew that you push down on the hook to minimize the barb affect while you have someone else quickly pull out the hook using a string tied to the bend in the hook. Complement this procedure with two shots of whiskey: the first taken orally and the second poured on the wound to neutralize the "spirits". Is there a better way?

[ag1]

Use barbless hooks. Still hurts, however.

Al

[David Churbuck]

Please post the magic method and I will enshrine it in the FAQ forum where it will live forever.
dcc

[Bob Parsons]

I've posted the push the eye down and pull with string method myself. It can be a challenge to do on yourself depending on hook placement.

[Albiemanmike]

I found a really good link to the technique and some additional important information on this topic when i did a search. Here is the link to the technique and other info on how to post treat the wound, it goes without saying that it would be a very good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible to ascertain whether additional treatment will be required after removal. Infection obviously is the #1 thing to be concerned with in the case of a hook penetration. I am not sure if this is the same technique that Dr. Patricelli was mentioning or not so please correct me if this is not the correct technique PP to removal.

Tightlines,
Mike M.
HOOK REMOVAL LINK (http://www.kevinwakeman.com/fam/hookout.htm#F)

[ppatricelli]

The technique illustrated in the link (NOT the push through and cut off) is correct.
However that link is NOT something many people are going to take the time to read.
The biggest problems I have encountered in training people how to do this is most people
don’t understand that the YANK is more than that. Ideally it should be the equivalent of
a brick crushing karate chop with a full arm swing and constant acceleration that only
comes tight to the string in the last quarter of the movement. “Decisive” was the word
used in the article. Failure should not be an option. The thought should cross your mind
that if the hook doesn’t come free you’re going to rip the victim’s arm off. Done right
the hook should fly about 50 feet or so. Think “flicking” or “snapping” it out Too often
someone tries it by bringing the string tight, then pulling gently, then a little harder, then
gives a little tug. This hurts, and they stop and give up. The biggest problem is giving
them the confidence that yes, it is that simple, and yes, it works, slick and quick.

The anatomy:

The technique works anywhere except an embedded eye. Obviously most of the time we
are talking about a hook in the skin and underlying soft tissues. If the hook were actually
embedded in bone or penetrated a joint, such as in a finger, I would still use that
technique but there would be some extra considerations regarding antibiotics to prevent
infection.

The biggest common anatomical problem is that, to work, the skin surrounding the hook
must be fixed and stable enough to resist the momentary force of the yank. An ear, a
nose, an eyebrow, any location where the hook site is floppy or moveable must be
stabilized. The most frequent way to do this is to use FIRM PRESSURE and to PULL
BACK slightly away from the direction of the yank with the finger that is pressing down
on the hook eye. An ear or a nose will have to be grasped and held.

The hook:

Single or treble with two hooks embedded. I have used this technique up to 6/0 size. If
there are two hooks of a treble, then I loop the string through both embedded hooks so
the pull comes on both of them. Or, I have used a separate loop through each of the two
hooks and evened the strings up in my hand so they come tight at the same time.

The string:

Anything strong enough. I have used string, monofilament line, fly line. Anything that
isn’t going to break, is flexible, and that you can get a good grasp on.


THE TECHNIQUE:

Arrange the person so that the hook lies eye to your non-dominant handside , hook bend
on the dominant hand side. For a right handed person this means eye to the left, bend to
the right. You want your strongest hand doing the yank and you want the direction to be
across your chest from a cocked arm position near your non-dominant shoulder to an
arm extended, shoulder swinging position. As though you were taking a backhand swing
with a bat with that hand alone.

You can either tie the string to the bend of the hook, or just loop string loosely through
and under the bend. I use the loose loop because, with two strands of string involved, I
have reduced the chance of the string breaking by half. Also, a loose string naturally
even itself and finds the center of the bend when the force is applied.

Either you or the victim, er...patient, needs to stabilize the eye of the hook by pressing
down on it. This both stabilizes the skin AND keeps the hook from rotating shaft upward
in response to the pull. This done, the entire force of the yank then lands on the very
small amount of tissue actually caught under the barb.

The yank, and again, in my mind the term YANK does not do what I mean justice, should
come flat and directly away from the point of the hook. You are backing the point and
barb out exactly opposite the direction they went in. If the hook were in an arm, and the
arm was on a table, the yank would be in a plane above and parallel to the table.

OK, everyone positioned, string in place, hook eye pressed firmly down on the skin and
even a little drawn back. I have the victim close their eyes so they don’t see the yank and
don’t move, chicken out and withdraw their arm, etc.. Some people count to three and
go on two, but the person could still see it and move, so I prefer having them blind.

Go for it. Completely committed karate chop movement with the string coming tight
only in the last third to quarter of the swing when the hand is moving too fast to be
stopped by anything. FLICK. The hook is GONE!

I used to set up a target on the wall of the ER and see if I could hit it with the hook.
Using a loose loop, the hook flies right out and off the string. The person feels a slight
flick as though flicking off a fly with snapped finger. The more all out committed the
swing, the less resistance and less sensation felt by the victim.

What is actually happening is the the slight amount of flesh under the barb is all that is
holding the hook. With a slow pull, more and more flesh continually gets caught under
the barb as it is slowly withdrawn. But with a fast snap, once the hook gets moving the
shaft of the point is leading the way and the tissue doesn’t get a chance to fill in behind
where the barb is all the way to the surface. The secret is in the speed with which it is
withdrawn.

The last time I did this my patient had driven 75 miles out of his fishing camp in the
Cascade mountains with a hook in the back of his hand. He was nervous about needles,
pain, etc.. so I was talking about the fishing with him as I looped the string under the
bend and flicked it out before he really knew what I was doing. He looked down at his
hand, hookless now, in disbelief.

“That’s it? I drove all the way here for THAT? I could have done THAT! I can’t wait to
tell my buddies how you did that!”

And inevitably, “Are you really going to charge me for doing THAT?”

There are considerations of tetanus and infection. If one is due for a tetanus booster, that
can be done within 48 hours of the injury, no hurry. Generally I would NOT recommend
antibiotics for a low risk puncture site but would for high risk sites so you should call
your doctor and get an opinion.

This technique is so simple, so universal, so easily and quickly applied on the water that
it should be part of the curriculum of boater safety classes, for example. No need to fish
all day with a popper in one’s scalp, which I have done, or quit fishing and rush to the
ER, which I have done. Anyone who gets involved in trying to push a hook around and
through to cut off the barb deserves all the pain that they will feel, AND they are adding
to the tissue damage. And, if you want to leave the fishing to drive to the ER so that a
good doctor can do this, or worse, inject an anesthetic, cut down next to the hook to
remove it, sew it up, etc., etc., that’s up to you.

All flyfishermen should wear eyeware, at a minimum.

Peter

[Mark Cahill]

I have used this technique on (too) many occasions - it works like a charm.

I will move this over to the Frequently Asked Questions forum after a day or two here...

[Skunk Buster]

I'll be sure and practice this technique on the thanksgiving turkey before cooking!

[big_steve]

Nothing like having a 35 pounder on the tail hook of your plug while the "belly" hook is firmly stuck in your thumb (ouch)

Push down on the hook while pulling up on the loop. Works for me every time (now where are those pliers, I won't forget to bring them "next time"):D

[GAMDORE]

This is a true story........

2 men going fishing together (at night).......
before they arrive at their destination.......they stopped by a local fishing store to buy hooks. "you know those small hooks that comes like 50-in a small plastic envelope"

-the person shoves the plastic envelope with the hook inside the bagpack-

anyways, now they are at the spot and starting to fish.......
one person gets called because of a sudden "bowel movement"....

(guy goes behind the bushes in the crouch position........starting to do his business).

"hey! (guy doing the #2 what we used to call it during our elementary school)"

"i need tissue overhere!"

the other guy opens the bagpack, gets the roll of toilet paper and tosses at the guy doing his business behind the bushes.

-like 10-20 seconds after-

"gmmmmrmerererrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrph"
"grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmph"
(heavy painful constipated? sound)
(serious painful sounds)


"come over here! i need help"

now the other guy that tossed the toilet paper........
he is grossed out. why in the world would this guy be calling him to the spot where it is "steaming up".......


"i need help!"

"whats the problem? (its ofcourse all smelly&and you could just imagine the guys facial expression, going to the spot where his friend did the business)"

"LOOK. please i need help!"

"dude, I ain't looking down your butt. (right above the "stuff.")

"i'm trying to get it out...........it hooked me!"

"............"

(the plastic bag that held the hooks had burst.....and one of it somehow managed to get on the toilet paper which the guy used to wipe his .......himself with)

anyways, imagine these 2 knuckleheads trying to remove the hook that was stuck right at the "spot." yes......not around it but just right at the "soft delicate spot."

they did manage to finally figure out that they couldn't remove the hook on their own.....so they go to the hospital....and what I heard up to was this part where........

the doctor asked for him to clean himself up before he removed the hook. his behind was literally all smudged up with the "stuff."

[ed tedesco]

thanks guys for the infro-only had a hookup with myself once-six beers later the er technitions had a clown on their hands---as to the joke-sounds like that guy either caught a big one or just missed catchin it---:eek: :-%

[wajdi]

Althouth I'm 50 years young now, I recall this same technique being in the Boy Scout First Aid Merit Badge book. Does anyone know if they've removed it since then?

[glassguy]

Anyone try this with a circle hook?

[Pauper Piscator]

Brother stepped on a Rapala Magnum treble (A nice old rusty nasty one) Hook was bend deep in his heel.

The flesh of your heel is about 1/4 inch thick and hard as an old boot.

Give him credit, he was pretty tuff as I used TWO pairs of pliers to stab the point through the leathery flesh... millimeter by millimeter - crushed the barb and backed out. Pretty nasty all in all.

Now we mostly wear shoes on the boat. But I tell you this. You could have tied him between two of Hannibals elephants and string or no string, that hook was not coming out of that heel backwards. WHERE was the VIDEO ??? Sadly it was just me and him. In hindsight, I guess I could have had him hold the camera....

[RedHeadKevin]

I can vouch for PP's story... Yeah dick, I'd have been good at holding the camera.

[rollwithit]

I pinch down those barbs and avoid the doctor.

[cape5350]

Peter,

Since sending you a request for a version I can print I have successfully printed the post. My neighbor is a physician and he is very much interested in this technique. when I initially asked him how he would remove an embedded fish hook he began describing the push the hook through and and cut the barb method. I'll provide him and all my fishing friends a copy of the method you desribe. Thank you again.

[bones]

Click this: www.texasgulfcoastfishing.com/hook.htm for the easy method op hook removal. The first time I did this was on a child's foot in the Emergency Room and I was chewed-out by an irate mother. I couldn't convince her that this method is not nearly as painful as the lidocaine-injection-and-push-thru method.

This manuever is very difficult to do by one's self while out on the flats with a hook buried into your back or scalp. Been there, done that so I wore the hook in my back all day long assuming that it would evenually rot itself out or some passing angler could assist. Neither occured so I went thru a cooler of beer in a hurry. My recommendation is bend the barb flat.