Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

You got some good tips here. You should be set.

bobber22 Loc: Ocala, Florida

Freshwater catfish fins can hurt, but saltwater catfish can send you to the hospital. Be clear.

Paul britton Loc: Carlsbad nm

Ya hes right with salt water cat be careful they are some mean suckers

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I am not sure why I never hear others doing it. If I am keeping cats, of which I only seem to get bull heads or channel cat, I just carry a hand pruning sheer. Three clips and the problem is gone. I started doing that as I always seemed to get stuck when cleaning the fish. Probably overtired after a night of fishing. If you follow the holding instructions others have provided it is quit simple quick and absolute. It sure makes removing a conventional hook easy and cleaning even easier. Warning: Get rid of the barbs so you do not sit on them

agatemaggot Loc: iowa

A buck a piece for hooks ? I would be looking for another sport shop or buying bulk on E-Bay !

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

The fins are toxic and if stabbed deeply bad infection may result.

agatemaggot Loc: iowa

Over on the Miss. river they use a small , nasty little thing called a Willow cat for Walleye bait ! About 2 inches long and if you ever tried to put one on a hook you would swear they have at least 10 spines on both the back and the bottom. Tried them on (one) occasion and decided crawlers were the way to go !

bobber22 Loc: Ocala, Florida

Owner twistlock 3/0 checkout the price $1.00+ per hook

agatemaggot Loc: iowa

E-Bay, 2 - 5 packs for $6.00

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

Here is what you need to dehooker fish period, cats, red fish, sea trout, snook and even baracuda

Jophipps Loc: Warren oh.

I use barbed hooks
I grab catfish around the belly. I dont have to worry about the top fin .
A towel helps hold them better and use needle nose pliers.

ECarl Loc: STURGIS, Michigan

I prefer to keep/clean/eat/enjoy Bullheads/Catfish. So the first thing I do is get a good grip on the jaw with a pair of mechanics pliers, then take my side cutter pliers and clip off the stingers/barbs, renders ‘me harmless, proceed to remove your hook.
This procedure is probably not a good idea if you are going to release the fish as it is their only means of defense.
What bobber22 was describing is actually known as a Clamp Hemostat, used in Surgery. But you can find cheaply made in India versions in most any Bait & Tackle store. Pretty handy for hook removal, but be careful you don’t destroy your line to hook knot clamping down on it.
Ecarl

TightLinez Loc: Louisiana

Get a catfish flipper.

They come in a few different styles depending on the manufacturer, but the principal is the same:
Leverage.

If you're right handed, hold the fishing line in your LEFT hand about a foot or so away from the fish.
With your RIGHT hand you slide the tool down your line to the fish's mouth & in contact with the hook...by holding the line taut in your LEFT hand, and the flipper tool where the hook meets the fish in the RIGHT hand, you "flip" the fish in a QUICK forward/circular motion AWAY from your body & into the water.

Without having to touch the fish.

I own both types shown in the 2 below videos, & both work well.

The H & H Catfish Flipper is the less expensive (around $2- $4), more compact version of the 2, & with a carabiner can be attached to a belt loop.

The Floating Ford Flipper (around $15) is not compact & has the benefit of being long enough to include a measured 16 inch handle that'll allow you to check the length of your fish (to make sure your catch is legal), so it's a fish flipper that has 2 uses (also glows in the dark & floats).

I own both, have easily removed hooks from numerous catfish and stingrays with them, & while using them have never had to touch a fish.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBnOOh57-Gg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5V74oi5YQA

Pliers & protective gloves are also worth having, but if you don't want to touch a fish you don't intend to keep, the flipper is hard to beat...

TightLinez

bobber22 Loc: Ocala, Florida

Hemostat was not what I was talking about. FinFisherman supplied a pic of the tool I use. A clamp but not hemostat.

Vatagman Loc: Richmond Va

If you do get finned, rub the slime from the fish onto the finned area. Trust me the pain will go away real quick. One more piece of info, the older and bigger the cat is, the less sharp the fins are.