Yesterday I spent 3 hrs at A'E having a treble removed from my cheek,not pleasant It was due to poor casting habits and being tired after a long day fishing ,I think the safety issue should be raised more often by tutors and the industry,
Ive been fishing for over forty years and have had the odd 'near miss' ,we all have but this one wasn't pleasant and ruined my weekend but it could have been alot worse....many thanks to Hereford General A&E .........sincerely hope any Anglers out there never have to go through that procedure !

Any coach or instructor worth the name would not continue with a lesson if the client was not wearing a hat and glasses. Indeed he should have available a risk assessment that considers all aspects of the local environment.

If the instructor cannot demonstrate that these precautions have been taken and an 'accident' occurs then there's every likelihood that his public liability insurance will be null and void.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Sorry to hear about this.
Not a loaded question, but was it de-barbed?

Cheer

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

Just like to add that years ago when I was around 14-15 yrs old I was fly fishing at Eglwys Nunydd Res in South Wales. I got dropped off by the old man and after he had gone I realized I did not have glasses with me - first time I had ever forgotten them.

I thought about the old fly in the eye scenario but thought whats the chances I've never had a fly even hit my glasses. So I decided to fish.....

Within, I'd guess an hour, I had a barbed hook in my eye. I pulled it out myself - I must have been very, very lucky as I had no ill effects - but I always made sure I had my glasses after that. It frightened me big time.

Also had a size 2 treble hook in my finger whilst spinning for Pike and it was right in - past the bend - again barbed - this was only about 10 months ago. Pulled it out myself - can't feel the very tip of my finger now - wouldn't do it again.

I totally agree with all that has been here. We all think " oh well..I'll chance it without the glasses..."

Check out this webpage: Why do Fly Fisher’s Wear Sunglasses? [COLOR="Silver"]

It's not only fly fishing that can be dodgy. Years ago I was afloat on the North Sea cod fishing. After boating a large cod I was lifting it inboard by holding the line. The cod gave a kick and the 4/0 Viking on the snood above the fish went right through the web of flesh between thumb and fore-finger. Ouch!!

We had wire cutters so my day was not ruined but it was a bit sore (and I have never been so stupid again).

I'm not a 'professional' instructor by any stretch of the imagination, but I do/have taught a lot of folks in California (years ago) or here in Southern Oregon how to cast a 2-hander. The safety factor (the "fly" - form follows function? -follows the line of the cast ... including DIRECTLY at the back of your head) is number one on the list to cover first.

Once told by a 2-hander caster waaaay beyond my ability, that a fly coming off the D loop with a short head (Scandi/Skagit) can easily be moving at 60-70 mph. Having come through with my rod to much in the vertical, I have no doubt of the truth of that when you get 'whacked' by a weighted fly. I is an 'OH XXXX! moment.

fae

This is an excellent thread and well worth heeding. beware any time you have tension on the line. i have pulled a fly from bankside bull rushes and the fly's sprung back and gone over the barb in my hand.. A chap lost his eye at Bushyleaze a few seasons back... be careful. one other tip for beginners which i see a lot is that the continue to cast where there's a strong wind blowing over their casting shoulder. if you're right handed and the winds blowing from the right, you have to be pretty proficient and careful to get a heavy fly out. likewise with left handers casting across a wind blowing into their left shoulders. be careful, the wind will blow the fly into your head if you're not careful. in situations like this i always recommend moving..

Great advice. I am a beginner and I did not know this. Cheers

It's a bad deal, but the industry or instructors could mention nothing but safety and still, sh!t's going to happen out there.

It's a raw deal, but hey, we're out there flinging sharp objects around. There's a limit to how safe you can make it. I mean what are we supposed to do, walk around in suit of armor? Wear a welding-style face shield?

I guess you could make fishing somewhat safer by not using hooks. To take it further, I suppose you could stop going fishing and thus eliminate the chance of having a fishing accident.

Grouse