Just saw on bassmaster.com that he cut his day short becasue he got hooked while getting a 6# in the boat. Quote from Bassmaster.com....

Palaniuk said he got the hook in his finger while catching the fish around 9 a.m. He tried to push the hook barb through the skin for about a half hour, but couldn't do it. He then fished for another hour before deciding he wanted to get it taken care of.

Unless I am missing something I dont think he knows the line trick might have kept him on the water and out of the emergancy room...

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I've had to do the line trick once and it worked great. If you've never seen this video online check out the link below(may not be for everyone so watch with caution). If these guys can get THIS saltwater hook out, I'm sure there's nothing too deep you can't get out using this trick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKAAGWZskGg

Ouch! The line trick just may have helped him out. Personally I have been hooked three times like that in the past, but fortunately the hook had gone all the way through and I could just cut the barb off or I was able to get the hook out just by twisting it upside down then backing it out, if that makes any sense. I have to admit that I'm a little bit worried about just yanking it out with a piece of fishing line, but that has been promoted quite a bit as a good way to remove a hook.

dang, based on the photo album, he cut that sucker off completely, and has the remainder embedded in his finger. . .

Always wear sunglasses. Sure wouldn't want to try that trick on someone's eye.

great photo album, I intended to include the link in my previous post and forgot.

http://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/hook-sends-palaniuk-er

Now I know why he had to get off the lake.

Yeah that sucks! And it does look like he cut it off! I wonder if he ever got back on the water. Any way after the doctors get a hold of it I bet it is going to be tough to fish. I am not a doctor but I bet they had to cut it out. Wonder if the line trick would of been alot easier...I am going to say yes on my opinion...but I am not there

the photo album, shows pictures of the doc removing the remaining hook at the ER, but doesn't go any further. Surely he made it back in time to be able to weigh in. Not sure if he'd have enough time to fish any longer, or if it would be allowed by the rules.

Wow that�s cool. When I looked at that album earlier...those ER pictures were not in there....

I doubt he would have left the water unless he had a decent limit. Probably has 17-18 pounds and figured it was worth the risk to lose the fishing time. Or, maybe it was too painful to fish through. We will find out soon....

Did he cut the hook or did it break? Once he got out of the boat he was DQ wasn't he?

I just read that he made it back on the water for a little more fishing and finished the day with a 20+lb stringer.

I also just saw the same posted by BASS on their facebook page (yes, Im almost ashamed to admit it . . . )

You have to watch using the line trick is certain areas with tendons such as fingers. Its going to cut some on the way out as the point leads the barb. Works best in fatty tissue.