So lately I have been fishing jigs religiously but with several cold fronts passing through the bite has slowed down signifiantly and I have been producing few fish. However the other day I had a 2 1/2lber on a jig with a hook that I sharpened extensively. When I went to lip him he jerked his head and I pushed my thumb right onto the hook. Ouch!

Just curious if anyone else has a similar story. Just never ever see the pros get hooked. Even when they are using trebbles.

I have, with trebles, and now my preferred method is to grab the fish around the belly, works just as easy as lipping them.

While lipping no, while trying to unhook it --> yep, it ain´t funny having a very lively jumping feisty 3 pounder hanging from your firmly hooked thumb.

Well pros have the power of editors

With jigs? Not really. Trebles are another story....

Not since I got a lip gripper.

Minor cuts and punctures from hooks are part of fishing. Be careful and try to avoid the really bad ones and you will live, I promise.

With jigs? Not really. Trebles are another story....

^^This. I'm sportin' a little purple spot on my left thumbnail where one point of a treble hook poked right through the nail while I was unhooking a bass.

Tom

i'm with Francho if i catch a fish on a treble lure i always, do what my buddy and i call "kvd em" which means grab it on the back of the head. because even if they flop around forever and seem worn out, as soon as you thumb her she's gonna thrash once more. they don't really seem to flop if you "kvd" em.

Well pros have the power of editors

i remember an episode of city limits where ike was casting and hooked the cameraman or someone in the back of the head with a lure

Yep !

I've done this a couple times. Not with a jig, but I could see how it could happen if you didn't take extra caution. There have been times that I wish I could have gotten about 2 inches closer so I could ram my hand in the mouth (and in all the trebles) so I wouldn't have lost the big fish lol I know thats a dumb move, but I know I would do it without thinking it thru in the heat of the moment. lol

This is why I either lift the bass into the boat or use a net.

bad luck huh? on a jig? I got hooked several times with treble hooks, but Jigs...man!!!

Not yet, and hope not too.

I have never, nor will I ever remove ANY treble hook without some form of pliers.

For me anyway, using pliers reduces the risk enough, that I won't do it any other way.

You handle enough bass you are going to get hooked.

I remember when the Daiwa TD Minnow first hit the market with those needle sharpe hooks. The bass would somehow get all 3 sets of treble hooks in the mouth or on the side of the head. Trying to unhook a TD minnow from a lively bass without getting hooked was a learning experience and everyone who fished them had the same problem.

I rarely rod lift a keeper size bass or use a net and lip most of my bass, with the exception crankbaits at night is always net time.

One night I was lipping a 14.2 lb LMB on a crankbait and the fish jerked free of my hand on the lift, the loose treble hook caught the top of my hand with the full weight of a hot bass trying to get away. The nerve damage to my hand is still a poblem decades later.

Use caution and common sense, one laspe and your can get hook badly.

Tom