I managed to get stung twice by the same hardhead. Has anyone had any experience with them? I have heard nasty things from being stung by those puppies. Should I see the quack, forget about it, get my papers in order or what would you suggest?
Printable View
I managed to get stung twice by the same hardhead. Has anyone had any experience with them? I have heard nasty things from being stung by those puppies. Should I see the quack, forget about it, get my papers in order or what would you suggest?
Was it a deep puncture and has it swollen? I imagine that everyone's reaction is different. If there's a chance of deep-wound contamination (like the tip broke off) then get to the ER. Did the puncture go into a joint or was it just superficial? It's a call only you can make. You don't have to get your affairs in order just yet. Hopefully.
Cry some and it will pass,have read to rub its slime on the poke but I never have tried that,worst pain to my hand I have ever had,I use pliers now and they can keep the hook if it is to stuck to bad
Apply antiseptic and heat in liberal proportions.
The pain eases (for me) after about an hour or two.
Fortunately never had a deep one though. I would probably go to see a doctor for that...
Keep an eye on it (assuming you have already used copious antiseptic and soap). It is winter and bacteria count is lower so you may be fine, but if it starts acting up get to a doctor promptly.
I've been stuck several times without a problem, but I have a friend who got stuck deeply years ago and the problem is still with him.
Main thing, to repeat myself, if it starts acting up (redness, swelling, pus, increasing pain, etc) get to a doctor promptly.
Yep what they said.
Well, I thank you fellows, your advice is much appreciated. I started by cutting the cats off at the boat rail but soon decided that that action was going to be a little tough on my hook supply. You couldn't cast away from them, they were all over the place and once in a while, you would pick up a red, trout or black drum. So I decided to use a long nose pliers, and that was when he bit me. The two wounds bled profusely and burned like the devil for a couple or three hours. I had put some germ-X on it. I put some alcohol on them when I got back to the condo and drank a few beers and this morning they appear to be fine, but I will keep an eye on them. Thanks again, guys.
Glad it's getting better. Those things hurt a lot.
You aint livin till you get a couple in your cast net. Its like digging through a hornets nest.
I'll probably get a bunch of criticism for this, but here goes...
You've heard the expression, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"
Well, that works with catfish, too. When I have a particularly stubborn one to de-hook (and want my hook back) I grasp the sucker barehanded so I can hold it tight and work the hook two-handed (pliers on the hook).
Hold him deep and hard by the jaw with pliers first to get your hand on him.
The trick is to put the dorsal barb between your pointer and middle finger (fin sticking up) with your thumb close behind one pectoral and last two fingers close behind the other (fins sticking out). Slide up on him from behind and HOLD TIGHT!
The only time he can stick you is when you are positioning your hand, so have a firm grip with the pliers and have your hands positioned firmly ON his body behind the fins as you slide your hand up behind his barbs.
I've never been stuck this way yet, but don't try it on one too big (or too little) for your hands.
A baseball bat or hammer seems to lull them off to sleep quickly for a less eventful de-hooking experience.
The beer did the trick
Look for an old man on the pier with a hat and walking stick. Ask him to show you a home made dehooker made from a wire coat hanger. They work great and you just spin the catfish off and keep your hook. If you have a hangar and pair of good pliers he will show you how to make one in less than a minute.
i know it was painful and the sight of blood is not exactly comforting but the fact that it bled is a very good thing.
Just a side question, but would rubbing alcohol or peroxide be preferred to wash a wound considering the bacteria? Either way I would probably go after that with neosporin as it has three antibiotics in it.
I had an unusual experience yesterday along these lines.
Dropped a 25# drum on my foot while trying to weigh it.
Several dorsal spines puntured the top of my foot, one piercing a blood vessel.
I bled like the proverbial 'stuck pig', but noted it would stop if I simply applied pressure to that wound.
Anyway, I let it bleed (a LOT) but was still moderately concerned about infection despite the water being cold and fairly clear.
I bound it up with a strip of old towel (like a tourniquet) and put my reef walker back on to hold it in place and limped (a mile) back to the car.
Left it bound all the way home (an hour drive).
Flushed it repeatedly with hydrogen peroxide when I got in the house and soaked it almost an hour in warm epsom salts.
Covered the wounds with a large bandage with a liberal amount of Neosporin.
It leaked a little overnite, but almost no pain or swelling. A bit sore though!
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=7075&stc=1
Today the holes are healing with little sign of infection when I changed the bandage...
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=7076&stc=1
Thank You Lord, it wasn't any worse!