Oh man. You folks have me in stitches (pun intended). Some funny storries - at your expense!

I've never been seriously impailed by a hook, but I did drive a fly through the back of my Grandpa's hand when I was about 11 years old. All the way through the meat.

Man, I felt horrible.

He didn't get upset, but he had me take out his pocket knife (razor sharp), and as he pulled up on the fly, he had me cut the back of his hand until the hook came out.

Man, feeling horrible doesn't even remotely describe what I felt at this point. Even though he passed away many years ago, I still can vividly recall that feeling.

To this day, I will almost always look to see what is behind me before casting.

Oh, and after doing some combat fishing for Reds on the Kenai, I am a firm believer in always wearing some impact resistant shades, if at all possible, while fishing. I never got hit, but came darn close 3 times!