Naturally, when you have made a big catch in your day’s fly fishing, you may want to pose for trophy photographs (more on that next time). Even if you are not going to do that you need to learn how to hold a fish and remove hooks safely. Holding a fish presents many of the same problems as landing one by hand. Basically, you don’t want to run any risk of injuring yourself. For example, there are several ways to remove hooks without creating problems or exposing yourself to dangerous fins and teeth. Plus let’s make sure you post for that photo shoot without harming you or the fish.
Always watch out where you put your fingers. Holding a bass with your fingers works okay, but the same isn’t true for fish with teeth. If you put your hand in the gills of a pike that’s fine, but if you go too far inside, they can damage the fish, and the gill rakers will cut you. Removing hooks creates special problems in handling fish. You need to hold them securely and take the hook out of their mouths. If you're keeping the fish, it doesn't matter if you squeeze them tightly with a glove and jerk the hook out with a pair of pliers; but don't do that if you plan on releasing the fish, because you'll seriously injure them. Needlenose pliers should be a staple in your tackle, as they are useful not only for removing hooks but for many other jobs as well. But a hook disgorger is a better tool for hook removal. It’s a device with a squeeze handle that operates little jaws at the end of a long shaft. You simply dislodge the hook by grabbing it with the small jaws and twisting it out from the mouths toothed fish with teeth without getting your hand too close. Another helpful accessory is a jaw spreader, which is a simple wire spring that holds the fish's mouth open. And if you are so minded, do send us some of your fly fishing photos, and we will run some of them in the blog.
