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It's time to start cleaning your lures and
sharpening those hooks. This year might prove to be a
great one. There's a lot of fish out there just waiting
to be snagged and sometimes, fingers, hands, arms, legs
thighs, knees and an occasional rear end.
The
most common accident during fishing season involves
hooks. The second most common hazard facing anglers is
getting too much sun. Both are easily avoided.
Sunscreen and a hat will handle the sun and a first
aid kit with a little knowledge of how to use it will
take care of the hook problems.
The
most important tool any angler should always have with
him/her for removing a hook is a sharp pair of wire
cutting pliers. I keep a pair in a zip lock plastic
baggy to keep it from rusting. I never use it for
anything except for emergencies. I have a duplicate
pair in my tackle box for other uses.
Here
are a few methods for removing hooks.
When
a hook's point and barb are protruding out the skin,
it's easier to cut off the barb and back the hook out
of the wound-this is when those sharp wire cutters
come in handy.
The
best method that seems to be recognized by most
experienced hook remover professionals and even by
some doctors is called the snatch method. No matter
where the hook ends up this method works.
This
method is quick, simple and relatively painless, as
long as you get it on the first try. The secret to a
first time success is yanking the loop of line, which
is wrapped around the embedded hook, rather hard so
the hook comes out on the first try. The reason you
should get it out on the first try is obvious, the
patient might not stick around for a second try.
The
snatch method of hook removal is simple and effective,
It's the best method to remove a hook that's deeply
imbedded in the skin and when the barb is buried.
To
perform the snatch method when the barb is imbedded,
all that's needed is a short length of fishing line,
at least 10 pound test, approximately 2 feet long.
1) Remove hook from lure. 2) Double the
fishing line and loop it around the hook, as close to
the skin's surface as possible. 3) Hold onto
both ends of the doubled line, wrapping them around
your hand for a firm grip and holding the line
parallel to the skinŐs surface in line with the hook.
4) With your other hand, press the eye of the
hook down onto the surface of the skin and back toward
the hook's bend, as if trying to back the hook out of
the wound. 5) While pressing on the hook eye,
yank the line sharply, parallel to the skin and in
line with the hook, to snap the hook back out of the
wound. 6) Apply antibiotic ointment, bandage
wound and check to make sure tetanus shots are
current.
A basic onboard first aid kit for anglers should
contain sunscreen, small bottle of hydrogen peroxide,
alcohol wipes. bandages, gauze, tape, hydrocortisone
cream for poison ivy and other itchy rashes,
antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin or Neosporin) and
aspirin. Another essential should be a brand new pair
of needle-nosed and wire cutting pliers, sealed in a
seal-lock plastic baggy. Anglers using worms should
think about up-dating their tetanus shot. The tetanus
germs are usually spread in soil.
Lets
go fishing and get that big one that got away last
year!
Visit
Bob's web site for the Marine Do-it-Yourselfer
http://www.catalog.com/bobpone/welcome.htm
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