Having to remove a fish hook from your finger is no fun task, but leaving it in the wound certainly isn’t an option. This is a dreaded situation that happens to just about every angler: you hook something, but it isn’t a fish. There are a couple ways you can remove a fish hook from your finger, but it’s important to follow each step to the letter to minimize discomfort and risk of additional injury.
First, tie a loop of fishing line about six inches long over the eye of the hook. Be sure to use strong line, something that can handle at least 10 pounds of weight. Pass this loop over the eye and up to the top of the bend. If performed correctly, you’ll see the loop at the top of the hook in a way that a tug would pull the hook up and away. Trying to pull the opposite direction would result in further pain as the barb will catch fresh tissue.
Next, firmly push down on the eye of the hook until it touches skin. When you’re ready, give it a firm pull up and away. Performed correctly, it will cause the hook to bend and slide out more or less the same way it hooked inside the skin at first, meaning the barb won’t catch and won’t be as painful to remove.
If you’ve been caught with a smaller hook, you have the option of using forceps or pliers to extract the tool instead. Push down on the eye of the hook as described above and rotate your wrist as you grab the top of the bend, turning the forceps toward the eye.
Once you’ve removed the fish hook, wash the affected area thoroughly with warm water and soap to prevent bacterial infection from setting in. Dry the area after washing and apply a clean bandage with a dab of antibacterial ointment to start the healing process.
If you think the fish hook is embedded too deeply to remove yourself, or have any reservations about doing so, do not hesitate to seek professional medical attention. The risk of infection and further injury is not worth setting a personal record!
Featured Image from Mael BALLAND/Unsplash
