Fishing novice seeking some safety advice
August 19, 2011 8:44 AM Subscribe
I went fishing with my friends for the first time last week. I enjoyed it. Help me fill in the gaps on safety though for the next that I go. Will gloves help?
I'm extremely cautious whenever I start off learning something new.
I feel that my friends skipped the safety lessons when taking me out to the lake.
One of my friends showed me a wrong grip to hold a bass and the gills were sharp against my fingers. I was fine holding bass with both hands, but that doesn't work for walleyes. The walleyes have a spine that can cut hands. I'm worried about the fish hook penetrating deep into my finger when the fish makes a sudden spasm.
We went to Jan Lake in northern Saskatchewan. Our boat caught 62 fish for the weekend. The closest other boat caught 12. I caught 11 bass and 2 walleye.
I'm extremely cautious whenever I start off learning something new.
I feel that my friends skipped the safety lessons when taking me out to the lake.
One of my friends showed me a wrong grip to hold a bass and the gills were sharp against my fingers. I was fine holding bass with both hands, but that doesn't work for walleyes. The walleyes have a spine that can cut hands. I'm worried about the fish hook penetrating deep into my finger when the fish makes a sudden spasm.
We went to Jan Lake in northern Saskatchewan. Our boat caught 62 fish for the weekend. The closest other boat caught 12. I caught 11 bass and 2 walleye.
Congratulations on learning to fish and a very successful first time. I use a glove on my left hand to hold the fish and nothing on my right hand to get the hook. Sometimes I have used a pair of needle nose pliers to wrangle the hook from fish mouth. If I do not have a glove available, I use my hand and accept I may get some nicks and whatnot.
I agree there should be a designated driver, but drinking beers while fishing is a good time for the others. The major danger is when someone is casting and drunk.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:55 AM on August 19, 2011
I agree there should be a designated driver, but drinking beers while fishing is a good time for the others. The major danger is when someone is casting and drunk.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:55 AM on August 19, 2011
Best answer: The other advice here is good, especially w/r/t alcohol. Water safety is WAYYYYYYY more important than worrying about fish hurting you.
Gloves can protect you, and can protect the fish, too (their slime is an important protectant), but I've fished my entire life without them and it's no problem. You can also use a towel to grip the fish and protect your clothing/hands if you don't want to wear gloves.
When it comes to holding fish, the biggest thing you can do is develop a sense of confidence, grip the fish firmly, remove the hook with purpose, etc. Timidity leads to the fish flopping, which leads to either getting spined or hit with the hook.
Getting spined by a bass is no big, deal, though, just slightly painful. Even a freshwater catfish isn't that bad (though saltwater catfish have a poison in them that hurts quite a bit).
One other tip: many fish stop flopping if you hold them upside down, though that can be hard if they have spines. That's when a towel or gloves might be useful, or tucking the spines back against the fish's body as you hold it.
Fishing is fun. Glad you enjoyed it.
posted by griseus at 9:36 AM on August 19, 2011
Gloves can protect you, and can protect the fish, too (their slime is an important protectant), but I've fished my entire life without them and it's no problem. You can also use a towel to grip the fish and protect your clothing/hands if you don't want to wear gloves.
When it comes to holding fish, the biggest thing you can do is develop a sense of confidence, grip the fish firmly, remove the hook with purpose, etc. Timidity leads to the fish flopping, which leads to either getting spined or hit with the hook.
Getting spined by a bass is no big, deal, though, just slightly painful. Even a freshwater catfish isn't that bad (though saltwater catfish have a poison in them that hurts quite a bit).
One other tip: many fish stop flopping if you hold them upside down, though that can be hard if they have spines. That's when a towel or gloves might be useful, or tucking the spines back against the fish's body as you hold it.
Fishing is fun. Glad you enjoyed it.
posted by griseus at 9:36 AM on August 19, 2011
When we go fishing, we always bring a couple rags for removing fish (never used a glove except when cleaning). For bigger fish like walleye or pike, I wrap the rag up around their head and hold on just under the head - around the gills I suppose (although it's an automatic enough process now that I'm having a hard time picturing how I do it). I've never had gills poke through the rag, although spines probably could. You should be able to find a good spot to get a grip.
Also, bring along some needle nose pliers like JohnnyGunn suggested or some Kelly forceps for those times when you don't want to reach near those walleye teeth.
posted by chndrcks at 9:39 AM on August 19, 2011
Also, bring along some needle nose pliers like JohnnyGunn suggested or some Kelly forceps for those times when you don't want to reach near those walleye teeth.
posted by chndrcks at 9:39 AM on August 19, 2011
Education is the answer!
One of the best parts about fishing is reading articles about fishing when not actually fishing.
A set of needle-nose pliers is the best tool for removing a hook, and I prefer to use barbless hooks, or hooks with the barb crushed flat. It does less damage to the fish and to stupid humans attempting to remove it.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:42 AM on August 19, 2011
One of the best parts about fishing is reading articles about fishing when not actually fishing.
A set of needle-nose pliers is the best tool for removing a hook, and I prefer to use barbless hooks, or hooks with the barb crushed flat. It does less damage to the fish and to stupid humans attempting to remove it.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:42 AM on August 19, 2011
Best answer: Wear sunglasses or some other eye protection. I can say from experience that getting a fish hook in one's eye is not a fun experience.
posted by andoatnp at 9:52 AM on August 19, 2011
posted by andoatnp at 9:52 AM on August 19, 2011
Don't drink alcohol, certainly. But do drink other (non-alcoholic) liquids. Being dehydrated on a boat is as stupid as being drunk. And most people don't want to have to rely on the lake water for hydration.
posted by dfriedman at 10:36 AM on August 19, 2011
posted by dfriedman at 10:36 AM on August 19, 2011
You can also use a towel to grip the fish
Please don't use a towel or rag to hold fish. It removes large patches of their bodies' protective mucus and makes them much more susceptible to parasites, especially fungal ones.
Grip them in the mouth. Use a leather glove if they have teeth.
posted by reverend cuttle at 12:57 PM on August 19, 2011
Please don't use a towel or rag to hold fish. It removes large patches of their bodies' protective mucus and makes them much more susceptible to parasites, especially fungal ones.
Grip them in the mouth. Use a leather glove if they have teeth.
posted by reverend cuttle at 12:57 PM on August 19, 2011
Best answer: A good landing net, some practice and a dehooking tool enable you to quickly land fish (if you need to do so), dehook them, and return them to the water (if you've landed them) with minimum stress to both you and the fish. Catch-and-release means better, more productive fishing for everyone.
posted by paulsc at 3:48 PM on August 19, 2011
posted by paulsc at 3:48 PM on August 19, 2011
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posted by mhoye at 8:48 AM on August 19, 2011