1. When the Fish Hook Isn't Very Deep
This first aid method is best if the fish hook is stuck in your finger superficially. It's also more effective if the hook is barbless. Wash your hands with soap and water if possible. Grab the shank of the hook with your free hand and apply gentle downward pressure. This movement will help rotate the hook and maybe disengage a barb, if there's one. Then slowly pull the hook out at the point where it entered the skin.
2. The Fish Line or String-Yank Technique
This technique works best on small- or medium-sized hooks and can even pull out deeply embedded hooks. You can use a fish line or any piece of string or twine. Wash your hands with soap, if possible. Otherwise try to clean as much of the dirt off of them as you can with what you have available. Loop the fish line through the middle of the bend of the fishhook. If there's a barb, then you need to hold onto the shank and push the hook inwards and downwards so you position it away from the barb. This move causes the barb to disengage. Keep the hook in this position so that the barb remains disengaged. Then quickly jerk on the fish line so that the hook pops out. The hook might go flying, so it's important to make sure no one is standing too close to you when you use this technique. Put on a pair of sunglasses, too, to protect your eyes from the flying hook. While this technique can be done on your own if the hook is barbless, you'll probably need someone to help you if there's a barb hooked. Pressure needs to be maintained to keep the hook disengaged and you won't be able to do this and pull the string at the same time on your own.
3. Cutting the Hook
Clean your hands and the area around the embedded hook the best you can. Ideally you should use soap and water, but if you're in the field,that may not be possible. Gently apply pressure along the shank of the fishhook and pull on the hook at the same time. You can cut off a barb with wire cutters if the hook is near the surface of the skin. Push the tip forward through the skin, cut the barb and then pull the rest of the hook out the way it entered.
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