I believe @Pat Brown had to wear gloves last year due to an infection in his fingers/hands directly from fishing injuries.

 

Stay up to date on your tetanus shot. Just one situation from a rusted hook or a slimy barb could result in a sepsis infection in your blood, which can be fatal in rare cases.

You got a nasty *****. 

I’ve been pricked before but never had blisters like that. 

40 minutes ago, gim said:

I believe @Pat Brown had to wear gloves last year due to an infection in his fingers/hands directly from fishing injuries.

 

Stay up to date on your tetanus shot. Just one situation from a rusted hook or a slimy barb could result in a sepsis infection in your blood, which can be fatal in rare cases.

This is an interesting situation as it relates to tetanus. As a fisherman who gets stuck with hooks, metal tools, etc. from time to time I have always had a tetanus shot every 10 years. 
 

I’m at about 8-9 years when I went in to get antibiotics for my recent infection and I brought up if I should get a tetanus booster. My doc said I could if I want but the recent research over the past 10 years indicates to get the vaccination as a child but not necessary as an adult. Another report says to get a booster every 30 years, not 10.
 

Crazy eh?   

one time when I was on a bowhunting elk trip.  my brother and I were making our way towards a distant bull.  we only got a peek at him.  

 

we cross a fence and a spine of wood goes into my pinkie cuticle.  just jams up into there like some savage bamboo fingers torture.  I bite the sliver out and  we hike on.    over the next week, my finger got warm, painful to the touch, turned reddish.  I could feel my heartbeat in my finger.  at home I showed it to my urgent care nurse...it was cleaned and I was put on antibiotics.  messed up my guts.  when it healed it itched, then the skin came completely off.  hahah..

 

nurse said, just stopping to wash my hands would have prevented it.  if I was an early settler, I would have lost that finger.  I think.  lesson learned.  now I wash everything.

On 3/21/2025 at 1:19 PM, Fried Lemons said:

Worst fishing related injury I've had was from a 28" pike. I thought I was safe with the gill plate hold but apparently if they thrash the teeth in the back of the throat can still get you. My finger was bleeding so much I thought I might need stitches. My whole hand was red when I stopped at a CVS. I probably looked like I just killed someone.

Thats the gill rakers. They'll get you every once in a while and they're easier to avoid on bigger fish with more room in their mouth.

Infections are as serious and as deadly now as they always have been. We're just very good at treating them. You never know when a simple scratch or poke will turn into something much more. Bacteria is a nasty thing.