| When fly fishing, many anglers prefer to catch | | | | Another "friend" of mine once slipped on a rock |
| and release their fly fishing prizes. Still, what should | | | | and hooked himself something fierce in the meat |
| you do when you're the prize? | | | | section of the palm about an inch below the pinkie. |
| That's Gotta Hurt | | | | There wasn't anyway to push the hook through, |
| If you become a fly fishing fanatic, you will | | | | so it had to be pulled back out the way it went in. |
| inevitably hook yourself one day. Of course, this | | | | The problem, of course, is the barb could have |
| has never happened to me, but my "friends" | | | | caused a lot of damage on the way back out. So, |
| have done it repeatedly. Being a thoughtful and | | | | what's the solution? |
| observant person, I've seen how they go about | | | | There are two solutions [excluding the hospital] to |
| unhooking themselves from a fly. Again, this is | | | | avoiding barb damage. The first requires two |
| never happened to me. Ever. No, I won't take a | | | | people. The hooked individual should press the |
| lie detector test. | | | | hook slowly toward the curve of the hook. Put |
| The Barb | | | | another way, you want to compress this curve |
| The best hook removal method depends on the | | | | of the hook. This sounds brutal, but actually should |
| location of the hook barb. The barb is the part of | | | | cause the barb to retract from the meat of your |
| the hook that keeps the hook from simply sliding | | | | hand. The second person then applies pressure to |
| back out of the fish or, in this case, you. The | | | | both sides of the entry point to pull it open. The |
| essential question is which direction will result in | | | | hooked individual should then GENTLY slide the |
| the least damage from the barb. | | | | hook out trying to follow the curve of the entry |
| A "friend" of mine once managed to hook himself | | | | path. Sounds painful, but it works. |
| through the flap of skin between the thumb and | | | | If you're alone, follow the same instructions but |
| forefinger. The hook penetrated from the top of | | | | you'll have to do without the pressure. Just go |
| this hand through to the palm. The barb had gone | | | | slow and easy. If the hook doesn't slide, don't |
| all the way through the skin. In such a situation, | | | | force it. Just head off to the local emergency |
| the best method is simply to cut the line at the | | | | room. |
| base of the hook and push it the rest of the way | | | | Catch and release is a good way to fish. Even if |
| through the skin. This technique will result in a | | | | you catch yourself. |
| minimum of damage. | | | | |