If you are a pro fisherman, you probably know the importance of a proper fish hook remover for the fish and release process. Additionally, a fish hook remover keeps you safe during releasing hooks. However, for a newbie in the angling world, using a hook remover properly might be problematic.
I have seen quite many fishers getting confused about how to use the hook remover. Many people even doubt on the utility of a fish hook remover. Given the vast advantages of a fish hook remover, this ignorance about such a useful tool is surprising.
Hence, I decided to shed light on the topic so that you may use the fish hook removal with ease. I will also describe the types of fish hook removal, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the hook.
So, let’s not waste time and see how a fish hook remover is useful for us.
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Different Types Of Fish Hook Remover
First of all, a little information for you. A fish hook is a dedicated tool to cut the hook stuck with fish to safely release them or to remove the hook without hurting your finger from the fish bites. You can use a wide range of fish hook remover that you can find easily in online shops.
However, I have picked some easy to find tools that you can use as fish hook remover-
- A long-nosed plier is one of the most commonly seen hook removers. It is easy to find in your home and works great. Moreover, you can also use it at home for different purposes.
- Sometimes, Letterman also works as a delicate fish hook remover. It is useful because of its combination of a wide range of products such as punches, screwdrivers, knife, and pliers.
- Also, a regular plastic plier can work as a fish hook remover. The best thing about the plastic plier is that it’s lightweight and so, floats in the water. You can use plastic pliers to remove hooked lip fish. But its broadness is a hindrance to removing profoundly hooked fish.
Now, it’s time to describe to you the most critical tool itself- the fish hook removal. It is a dedicated tool to remove a fishhook. It usually comes with two handles. You can hold them and move them to adjust the hook catcher on the front side. There are an end groove and a disgorger.
The disgorger holds the hook and pulls it back to unhook it from your already caught fish. The technique of using a fish hook removal is quite an easy task. But it would help if you practiced it frequently to master the technique.
In the following section, I am going to describe the most general guideline on how to use the fish hook remover. Remember that there are different methods for using fish hook removal. You will get them to know in the article’s relevant parts.
The Most Common Way to Use A Fish Hook Remover
A proper fish hook is safe for fish and you. It decreases the hurting rate of a fish almost remarkably. It makes your task of unhooking a hooked fish effortless and less laborious. But to use a fish hook removal may turn out to be a daunting task for newcomers in the angling world.
For them and also for those who don’t like a fishing hook removal, I am going to disclose a much sought out way of fishing hook removing process.
But before we know how to use hook remover properly, it’s essential to keep two things in mind. These are-
- Size of the hook removal: The size of the hook removal largely determines how large hook it can unhook from a fish mouth. If you love a lake or river kayaking where small to medium fish reside, a regular-sized hook removal should work excellently for you.
On the contrary, if you are fishing in the coastal line and aim to catch big fishes like Blue Fin Tuna, you will require a large hook removal. It is because big fishes need large hooks to catch them. These are weighty. So, large hook removal with a bit of weight will be useful for you in this case.
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- Saltwater or freshwater hook removal: Although it has less importance than the size of hook remover itself, you need to know the basics for enhanced performance. In general, a regular fish hook removal can be used for both freshwater and saltwater. This won’t make a huge difference.
But some manufacturers like to produce different hook removal for particular use in either saltwater or freshwater. So, keep an eye on it before you opt for a hook remover.
Now that you know the two critical considerations for your fish hook removal, its high time we discussed the way to use it most conveniently.
- At first select the size of your fish hook removal. If you have caught a big fish, use the larger one and the smaller one for small fishes. Now make one end of the hook remover ready to unhook the hook from your caught fish.
- Hold the fishing line as tight as possible. It will make the process of removing a fishing hook more comfortable for you.
- Now, use the other end of the groove to hook the fishing line.
- Try to slip down the hooked groove along the line slowly. Continue it until the slot reaches the bottom of the hook.
- You should hear a sound or feel a hindrance when the groove will catch the fish hook.
- Then, put some effort to push the groove deeper. You only need to push it slightly, so don’t overdo it.
- When the groove catches your fish hook, you will feel it. This might be a slight sound or your sensitivity.
- When the disgorger catches your hook correctly, pull it to take out the hook from fish mouth.
That’s it. You have successfully learned the use of a fish hook. Once you master the technique, it will save much time while unhooking the hook. All in all, a fish hook remover when appropriately learned turns out to be a piece of indispensable equipment for catch and release angling.
Different Techniques of Removing the Fishing Hook
The American Family Physicians, in their article, ‘Fishhook Removal’ have described four unique methods to remove a fish hook using hook remover. Two professors of Michigan State University College jointly wrote the report.
These two professors are Matthew Gammons and Edward Jackson. According to them, the most reliable and convenient ways of removing a fish hook with a fishhook removal are the following methods.
Retrograde Technique
It is the most straightforward fish hook removing procedure from your hand. But it has the lowest success rate also. It works excellently for two types of hooks. These are
- Barbless hooks
- Superficially embedded fishing hook.
The retrograde method uses downward pressure to disengage the hook for easy removal.
String Yank Technique
Due to the low success rate of the retrograde technique, the String Yank method was developed. It is a smart modification of its predecessor, retrograde technology. Sometimes, people refer to it as a ‘stream technique’.
What’s best about the String Yank process is that it is accessible in the field. I mean to say that you can use it while you are on your angling session. It doesn’t require any anesthesia and causes less traumatic pain.
As it creates less wound, the patient gets cured soon — what an incredible advantage.
Needle Cover Technique
Needle cover method is useful in two times.
- Firstly, when the hook is a large one with single barbs.
- Secondly, if the fish hook is embedded superficially in the finger, in this case, the needle cover method is the most effective.
During the process, a needle is inserted parallelly with the fish hook. It requires local anesthesia and so, might need some time for the completion process.
Advance and Cut Technique
Although named advanced technique, it is one of the oldest and conventional fishing hook removal techniques from your finger. The biggest positive of this technique is that it turns out to be successful almost every time.
Even if your finger gets wounded with a larger fishing hook, the advance and cut technique will remove the hook successfully. That seems quite capable to get rid of the pain. However, it causes slight damage to your surrounding tissues which is significant negativity of the process.
Note: All these four techniques are meant to remove fish hooks from the human finger, not from the hooked fish. Once you learn the method of how to use fish hook remover, you won’t require these four methods. That’s the beauty of a fish hook remover.
Advantages of Using A Fish Hook Remover
A fish hook removal is a utility tool. It helps both pro and amateur anglers in many ways. Once, you truly understand the process of how to use fish remover; you will be surprised to see its advantages. Nonetheless, I am going to describe the most significant benefits of using a fish hook remover.
Saves Fish
Catch and release fish method is a popular medium of angling. It helps anglers catch their favorite fish and release it later. What more, some states in the USA have a restriction on catching particular fishes.
A proper fish hook remover comes handy in both the cases. You can remove the hook from fish without hurting the fish itself. It creates less wound and increases the chance of the fish survival rate in water almost significantly. Thus, a fishing hook removal tool helps you to save fishes and enjoy the fun of angling at the same time.
Saves Your Fingers from Unnecessary Wounds
Most fishers have had the experience of fish bites in their lifetime. The most numbers of fish bites happen when anglers try to remove the hook from its mouth. Sometimes, fishers get minor injuries due to fish bites. It then disallows him from fishing fun for a few days.
But you can use a fish hook removal to unhook a fish even without entering your finger in the moth of a fish. So, your finger will remain safe.
Quickens the Unhooking Process
Usually, unhooking fish with hands requires quite a bit of time. It slows down your fishing procedure instantly. As a result, you may catch less fish than your expectations. How pathetic!
Well, the use of a hook remover will be handy for you in this case. It is a mechanical process and so, requires much less time to remove a hook from the fish compared to the use of your hand. So, it has a high impact on your overall number of caught fishes during your fishing session.
Inexpensive
The fishing hook is a relatively simple tool. It is usually made of stainless steel or plastic with two handles to control the groove on the other hand.
Since it is a simple tool and a small one too, it comes in a much less budget than you might think. I have found that most fishing hook removal is available between 2$ to 5$ only. How cool is that?
Simple Technique
The use of a fishing hook remover is effortless and convenient. It won’t take much time for you to master the technique. It matters little whether you are a newbie or not, learning the use of a fish hook remover will take just a few fish unhooking.
Once you use the fish removal hook for few times, you should know the process correctly. Isn’t it incredible?
Conclusion
A fish hook remover is a handy tool. But for some unforeseen reasons, fishers don’t like the device as much as they should.
Hence, our guidelines on how to use hook remover should come handy for them. Moreover, our direction on the different hook removing the process from our hand should keep you safe even if you accidentally get stuck with a hook.
Once you learn the various use of a fish hook remover, you will, undoubtedly, thank me. And we are waiting with the utmost eagerness to read your comments. Hurry up, mate.