Never say never--what do you use to cut a hook?

[Thornback]

My fishing buddy made a bad cast and his lure hit me beside the head knocking my cap half off. I reached up to grab my cap, I grabbed the lure and he jerked the lure back. The treble hook scratched my neck, made a deep 3/8" long cut between my thumb and index finger, and put two hooks in my thumb past the barbs. I used a pair of Kobalt needle nose pliers with cutter to cut the two imbedded hooks free of the lure. I had to cut with my left hand and was surprised I had the strength to cut the hooks, but I was pumped. I had blood running down my neck and down my arm as I tried to remove one hook. I made up my mind the hook was coming out, whatever I had to do. No ER for me!!! Several times I had to dunk my hand in the lake to wash off the blood so I could see the angle of the hook. Suddenly the hook slipped out. Then I started working on the other hook. It took a little longer but suddenly it also slipped out. I wrapped my hand with gause and once home I drove over to my family doc and got an Rx for anti-biotics. My friend was beside himself and I actually felt bad for him. I told him not to beat himself up because it was an accident and in a month it would be healed over. Today you can't even see a scar. Glad I had those Kobalt needle nose pliers and first aid kit in the boat.