Fish Hook Hole?

[.308 Norma]

Please pardon my ignorance, but what is the purpose of a “fish hook hole” in a knife blade? I picked up a recent edition of The Backwoodsman magazine and there was an article about knives that the author felt were useful, and kind of all-purpose. The knife he designed and built himself had a rather wide (for its length) blade, and it had what he called a “fish hook hole” near the blade’s spine. The hole appeared to be about ¼” in diameter, and the author offered no further explanation.
I’d email the magazine itself and ask what a “fish hook hole” is for, but I don’t really want the magazine to have my email address. Besides, I figured someone here could answer my question sooner, and I wouldn’t have to wait for the next edition of the magazine.
Thanks!

 

[Mk-211]

I think it's a term he made up himself, along with the hole in the blade.

Most holes you see in the blade are for opening the knife, think spyderco as an example.

Other than that, I've never heard of the term describing a part of the blade.

 

[Armored farmer]

some electrician tools have a hole that is for bending wire in a 'j' to fit around a screw.
Maybe it would be a fish hook making hole on a survival knife.?

 

[hso]

I've handled a couple of knives in my time, but never heard the term.

I'd say Armored Farmer has the sense of it. Without pliers it can be difficult to bend sturdy wire into a tight J .

 

[kBob]

I have used the slot on the back of some SAK screw diver/cap lifter blades to help remove fish hooks. Thought that was what it was far until someone used it to bend wire with repeatedly until it broke. It is so small only a small gauge wire wits though and most fish hook shanks fit well. Can not imagine using a hole to do help with a hook though.

Wish I had understood the use of the hook tool on the back as a kid when tied bundles were common. We all thought it was a gutting hook for small game. I thought a finger worked better and was easier to clean....

-kBob

 

[theotherwaldo]

Nope.
Never heard of it.
The closest that I've seen is an electrician's knife that I found in a tackle box that had a deep cut in the end of the screwdriver blade so that it could be used as a disgorger as well as a screwdriver.
-A fish hook slot, so to speak... .

 

[WestKentucky]

some electrician tools have a hole that is for bending wire in a 'j' to fit around a screw.
Maybe it would be a fish hook making hole on a survival knife.?

I think AF is on the right track. Either for making a hook from a salvaged piece of wire, or more likely for straightening a bent hook. Most of the guys who pack a fishing kit for survival focus on catching small fish as they are typically more plentiful and easier to catch. Those fish typically live near stuff that can bend a light fishhook quite easily and if all you have is 3 or 4 hooks in your kit then you need a way to either repair or replace the hook by bending it back into proper shape.

arguably a small pair of needle nose pliers would be as effective, likely much more effective, and less time consuming in the grand scheme of things because fish can easily swallow those hooks and without pliers they can be hard to get out without damaging them. The one “fishing knife” I have has a scaling blade with a small hole in it, and a V notch to help remove a hook. Even the purpose built knife is less effective than a small pair of needle nose pliers.

 

[lemaymiami]

Finally something I actually know a bit about (got my first job on a boat back in 1973...) and have been a full time guide now since 1996... Bigger hooks need some help when you're tying leaders to them - so you look for anchors, something to hang your hook on to be able to cinch heavier leaders up tight... On my skiff I actually have two different pad eyes (nothing but a metal or nylon loop secured to the deck with a screw or bolt at each end) that you can hang a hook on to get some leverage - particularly with wet or slimy hands... to be able to really pull on leaders when setting knots. An alternate way of doing things is to have something on a folding knife that serves the same purpose. On my Benchmade Ascent, the butt end of the handle has a hole meant for a lanyard that serves that purpose. Haven't heard of anyone having a hole in the blade end for that purpose - but if you build something I guess it's your choice what features it gets... By the way I'd only use a feature like that with the blade closed on a folding knife... and the leaders I use for hooks day in and day out start at 30 lb but might be as heavy as 125 or 150lbs breaking strength.... Not hard to set a knot by hand with the 30lb -but it gets progressively harder from that point on up. Any fishing knot that's not properly tightened is very likely to break under a sudden load (that's something I know too much about...).

and now that we're on my favorite topic - I just can't resist... "Be a hero... take a kid fishing"

 

[.308 Norma]

Bigger hooks need some help when you're tying leaders to them - so you look for anchors, something to hang your hook on to be able to cinch heavier leaders up tight.

Thanks everyone. And lemaymiami, I'm guessing you got it. I can see how using a small hole in the back of a knife blade for anchoring a fish hook while tightening a knot would come in handy. IF you were careful of course - because the knife in the article is a fixed blade knife and its edge would be exposed while you were tightening the knot.
BTW, there's something like 26 lakes and reservoirs, and I don't know how many streams for fishing in the county where my wife and I live. I'm talking about trout, bass and bluegill fishing of course - not anything you'd need anything over 8 or 10lb test line for.
Nevertheless, since this virus thing started a few months ago, my wife and I have done more fishing than we did in the past 40 years we've lived here. The lakes and reservoirs are always mossy by the middle of July, but the creeks and rivers are still good, and the lakes and reservoirs will clear up again in another month - as soon as the temperatures drop and the farmers stop irrigating.

 

[Armored farmer]

Finally something I actually know a bit about (got my first job on a boat back in 1973...) and have been a full time guide now since 1996... Bigger hooks need some help when you're tying leaders to them - so you look for anchors, something to hang your hook on to be able to cinch heavier leaders up tight... On my skiff I actually have two different pad eyes (nothing but a metal or nylon loop secured to the deck with a screw or bolt at each end) that you can hang a hook on to get some leverage - particularly with wet or slimy hands... to be able to really pull on leaders when setting knots. An alternate way of doing things is to have something on a folding knife that serves the same purpose. On my Benchmade Ascent, the butt end of the handle has a hole meant for a lanyard that serves that purpose. Haven't heard of anyone having a hole in the blade end for that purpose - but if you build something I guess it's your choice what features it gets... By the way I'd only use a feature like that with the blade closed on a folding knife... and the leaders I use for hooks day in and day out start at 30 lb but might be as heavy as 125 or 150lbs breaking strength.... Not hard to set a knot by hand with the 30lb -but it gets progressively harder from that point on up. Any fishing knot that's not properly tightened is very likely to break under a sudden load (that's something I know too much about...).

and now that we're on my favorite topic - I just can't resist... "Be a hero... take a kid fishing"

There you have it. Sounds right to me.

 

[lemaymiami]

I grew up fishing freshwater in the sixties and was pretty much self taught (and not very skilled). Years later after the service I wound up in Miami to go to school with lots of time off (thanks to the G.I. Bill). Once I tried saltwater it was all I wanted to do...
Got my first job in a tackle shop six months later, then a year after that my first job on a boat - and almost fifty years later I’m still at it, while also finding time for a career in police work along the way...
Pretty much in geezer territory now but still guiding full time when I have clients - and have no plans to slow down any time soon ( as long as I’m able...). Just nothing like the salt or brackish parts of the Everglades...

 

[Jesse Heywood]

IIRC, there was an episode of forged in fire that featured a fish hook hole. And thanks to
lemaymiami we were educated on the use.

 

[WestKentucky]

I grew up fishing freshwater in the sixties and was pretty much self taught (and not very skilled). Years later after the service I wound up in Miami to go to school with lots of time off (thanks to the G.I. Bill). Once I tried saltwater it was all I wanted to do...
Got my first job in a tackle shop six months later, then a year after that my first job on a boat - and almost fifty years later I’m still at it, while also finding time for a career in police work along the way...
Pretty much in geezer territory now but still guiding full time when I have clients - and have no plans to slow down any time soon ( as long as I’m able...). Just nothing like the salt or brackish parts of the Everglades...

You got any good spots to find a big ol peacock?

 

[lemaymiami]

My most recent peacock bass...


In short, no need for any "special spots" for peacocks - they're in every canal or lake down here in south Florida - but north of Broward county they're scarce... Anyone on foot with a light or medium weight rod and a few lures can try here or there (don't forget to get a freshwater license - myfwc.com for an on-line purchase). Focus on any place where culverts drain small neighborhood canals that drain water out of nearby suburban small ponds or lakes that allow run-off to move into larger drainage canals. Also any places where small canals drain join larger canals - and particularly bridges over canals since they like to hang around pilings... Forget all that slow retrieve bass fishing stuff. If peacocks drove cars they'd want loud mufflers, garish colors, and are most active right in the middle of the day...

I'm a saltwater guide but have buddies that have added some freshwater guiding to fill in slow weeks. I've been considering it but I'd have to sharpen up my freshwater skills first. Amazing how much about fishing is the daily knowledge you get from being on the water day after day....

 

[mokin]

Thanks everyone. My evening is complete. I can step away from the forum and get on to something constructive. But I probably won't.