This is a demo of a traditionally made halibut hook made by a Tlingit indian. It is made from spruce roots, deer bone, alder and cedar woods. This is something that is quite easily made by hand.
That is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. That's has to be a invention right up there with the atlatl and the bow and arrow and looks just as elegant as either of these items when made by the right hands. Our ancestors still have alot to teach us if we will listen. Thank you Lonnie and Pete for passing these lessons on to us.
That's a beautiful hook, I would be afraid to use it. Have a few books on native fishing tools and hope to try some. Gotta love the way the native cultures use nature to provide for all their needs. Am enjoying watching your channel because you focus on the natural and steer away from the modern, thanks Lonnie.
This was really cool ! i always wondered how this style of hook worked. I guess you need a big hook for a big fish. Happy and safe holidays to you and your family and thanks for sharing !
the halibut opens it mouth wide and actually sucks the entire piece in its mouth and has evolved to flush the additional water out it gills. halibut evolved to vacuum in the target then immediately project the target, in a sense a test shot. so once the hook is swallowed the natural instinct is to spit it back out, however the concept of the hook and position of the hand twisted root rope turns the hook side ways which prevents the halibut from fully projecting the hook. the bone is designed to keep your bait in place. our people use them as well (coastal tsm'syen)
the shape of the hook and position of the hand made rope is what allows the halibut to easily swallow the hook to begin with, entering the mouth at an A shape then turning sideways and jamming in the mouth or ribs of the halibut
I would like to know how you use them? Do you put one on a long rope and toss into the water? Do you make an entire string of them (like catfishing)? This is really fascinating! Will there be a video of your friend using this - I sure hope so?!!! The types of videos you make are ALL unique and just make the view want for more. Thanks!
I used to work with Pete who was the gentleman who demo-ed this hook. I no longer work with Pete and so I don't know the answer to that question. I believe that it was traditionally used as one hook mon one line since it was of course used by hand and not with hydraulic or electric run pullers. In other words, if one big halibut was caught then it would be a real workout just to bring that one up by hand. Halibut can weigh over four hundred pounds.
I have always admired those halibut hooks. I saw my first one at a museum in Ketchikan years ago and have been "hooked" since. They look so elegant and graceful; a true piece of art. However, I never knew how they were deployed. I appreciate the explanation Do you know of an outlet where I could purchase a genuine, handmade one like Pete's? Great work! Take care and God Bless, Jerry
I've been incredibly interested in all things Tlingit ever since I started writing my new fantasy series called Tribes of Anowara: where my main characters are culturally based off of them. When I first saw one off these tools I thought they were meant to act like gaffs, but now I know better.
Your best bet would be to find someone who knows how and ask them to make you one. I've managed to trade for peoples handcrafts that you simply cannot buy, and I have the feeling that this might be one of them.
Nice to "meet" you Pete! What a big hook! So I understand the hook was floating on the surface of the water? or was it adjusted to a certain depth? Great video, always great to learn from specialists!! Thanks
I think there was a stone sinker tied a foot or so from the hook, or whatever length you needed. Your line would go from your hand, down to the weight resting on bottom, then up to the lighter hook. As stated by other posters, this makes more sense functioning as a gorge, whereby the top bit with the barb only serves to hold bait. When swallowed, the whole thing turns sideways and jams even deeper with tension on the line. Have to go look at museum examples again now, but it would make sense to sharpen the ends of the bottom piece a bit to make this more effective. Also makes more sense as the bottom piece of wood is the heavy and strong piece while the top is basically a float and bait holder.
Halibut mouths are quite large. They are a very strange looking fish. They swim on their sides with both eyes located on the top side but the mouth is still located as if they swim upright. Their mouth opens sideways in relation to the way they swim. Plus, they *DO* get big. They can exceed 400 pounds in weight.
@@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival Thanks for the info. Sounds like they're simular to flounder ,but I don't think flounder get that big. Flounder are sideways also and they bury themselves in the sand. I love me some fresh flounder.
That is one nasty design! It is different than the others I have seen. One can easily see that biting it would be a one way street. Amazing how 1st nations mimicked nature. There ability to see design & mimic it was amazing. It is good to see that not all of that knowledge is lost. To me this is like a snakes tooth or any type of fish say a pike or salmon with the teeth all going down throat.
