Grips?

Do you guys use grips for release and or hook removal, or would I look like a "fish out of water" if I used one? LOL

When it comes to one's personal safety, to heck with what anyone else thinks. I keep a pair of leather gloves handy for all sorts of fish release/hook removal purposes. I see too many "manly men" taking trips to the ER... :poke1:

a small bat helps take the attitude out of a fish across the back of the head....always have pliers on my side and a long extended pair in the bucket at the pier cart for the deep hook sets....most of the time just cut the line and get it later when cleaning after dead :poke1: and just grab another leader rigged and have at it some more....depend on what the fish is too!!!

Thanks for the advice DiveDeep and Ironman. I'd really rather not lose one of my digits trying to remove a hook!

I use a rubber tent peg mallet to anesthetize fish with attitudes. They don't seem to feel a thing when I take the hook out. Not a big fan of the "pier slam".

[quote author=Haywire link=topic=2810.msg25317#msg25317 date=1362450419]
Not a big fan of the "pier slam".
[/quote]

+1
A) It's senseless because a quick blow to the top of the head accomplishes the same thing without blowing blood and slime all over the deck
B) It looks really bad to folks who might be on the fence between supporting fishing/hunting and supporting the PETA types.

[quote author=divedeep link=topic=2810.msg25304#msg25304 date=1362436859]
When it comes to one's personal safety, to heck with what anyone else thinks. I keep a pair of leather gloves handy for all sorts of fish release/hook removal purposes. I see too many "manly men" taking trips to the ER... :poke1:
[/quote]

A king's teeth are plenty sharp enough to go through a pair of leather gloves. As easily as it went through my finger, it won't have a problem with leather. I would keep my hands as far away from a toothy fish's mouth as possible

Was referring to grabbing things like wire leaders, and using a glove with a long tool. Seen too many people get gashed over the years to put my hands close to a live king's or spaniard's mouth. This mother's son has not made it 40 some odd years afield without being injured by a critter by being foolish. :poke1:

You could classify my incident as a freak accident. That is one of the main reasons I have a gaff with a really long shank on it now. Teaching yourself how to work a manual reel with your middle finger was quite a task.

[quote author=the original pier pest link=topic=2810.msg25322#msg25322 date=1362458863]
You could classify my incident as a freak accident. That is one of the main reasons I have a gaff with a really long shank on it now. Teaching yourself how to work a manual reel with your middle finger was quite a task.
[/quote]

Thanks to John g :bow: there are a few more long shanked gaff's on the pier to be used by others :fishing: