True fishing tale: The spine that stuck and the ER trip that followed

As a kid, Mark Bingham, 79, of Logan, fell into the Bitterroot River in Montana while fishing during January. The thermometer read -29.5 degrees Fahrenheit that day. Mark pulled himself out of the river, went home, changed into dry clothes, and then returned to the same spot so he could cast his line out again. That’s the kind of fisherman he is.

With a hefty tackle box full of life experience, Mark has had his share of fishing-related incidents, accidents and memories — and he received a combination of all three categories just recently. His true tale begins on Willard Bay, and concludes with a happy ending at Brigham City Community Hospital.

A cat, a barb, an injury — and a fish tale worth telling

In a small aluminum boat, Mark and his buddy fished for walleyes (a freshwater fish in the perch family) within Willard Bay. They had made their way clear across the reservoir without a bite, when suddenly Mark felt a lively one on his line. After reeling it in and scooping it into the net, Mark realized that he had hooked — not a walleye — but a 20-inch long catfish.

“I’ve fished since I was first able to pick up a pole, and I’ve never caught a catfish and never even been around one,” Mark said.

With great caution, Mark reached into the net, avoiding a possible snag on the hook. But what Mark didn’t realize is that catfish have spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins that serve as effective defense mechanisms. Not only are the spine’s tips extremely sharp, the edge of the spine is barbed and serrated.

“That thing buried his spike clear over one of my knuckles and I couldn’t get it out,” Mark recalled. “I said to my friend, ‘I’m attached to this fish!’ but he didn’t understand what I was saying. The fish was still flopping around and my friend was yanking on it to try and separate it from me.”

Within a short time, Mark and his friend figured out a plan. Using pliers, they cut the fish’s spine off, leaving approximately one inch of it sticking straight out of Mark’s hand. They then released the catfish back to its natural habitat and continued their adventure with a trip to the nearest Emergency Room.

First, Mark operated the boat on its return voyage across the reservoir (with his wounded hand), then after they loaded the boat and gear, he drove himself to Brigham City Community Hospital.

“When we walked in, I was the center of attention. It started with the gal at the front desk, she got me right in to see the doctor,” Mark said.

Brigham City Community Hospital offers full-service emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So no matter when that unpredictable catfish spine puncture wound (or any other emergency) occurs, board-certified physicians and expert nurses stand ready

On this day, Dr. William Betz, who specializes in emergency medicine, met with Mark to evaluate the damage.

“He came in and we had a good laugh about it, but at the same time, he was all business. He assessed my hand and then immediately went about what needed to be done,” Mark said.

Right away, Dr. Betz’ expertise and pleasant bedside manner put Mark at ease

“How do you pin down a first impression?” Mark said. “Dr. Betz fits in the age group of my five sons and I would adopt him as one of my sons immediately. His kindness and expertise in the way he handled everything was impressive. I wasn’t just another patient to see; he was personally concerned.”

With compassion, attention to detail and precision, Dr. Betz removed the catfish spine that penetrated Mark’s hand. He also prescribed Mark an antibiotic to prevent infection, as catfish can carry harmful bacteria.

“Dr. Betz’ biggest concern was the bacteria and what it could do to my system,” Mark said. “He was careful in his instructions about how to care for my wound to make sure it didn’t get infected.”

Today, Mark’s hand is completely healed. He says he’s grateful for the proximity, timeliness and ability of medical professionals in his community.

“I have great respect and love for people in the medical field,” Mark said. “When I’ve been in a world of hurt and had problems, I’ve found so many nurses — male and female — and they’ve been so good at what they do.”

As a Level IV Trauma Center, Brigham City Community Hospital physicians and nursing staff have specialized training in evaluating, diagnosing and stabilizing trauma-related injuries

“This is not the first time of getting something cut out of my hand related to fishing. I’ve seen a lot of doctors, and many while under stress. As I’ve reviewed it, this incident [at Brigham City Community Hospital’s Emergency Room] was one of the most pleasant and delightful ER visits I’ve ever had — and it was really because of the people,” Mark said.

At the end of the experience, Mark says he gained a great fishing memory, more knowledge about catfish and an even deeper gratitude for the relationships with and skills of local medical professionals. It’s a true fish story, with a happy ending — and one worth sharing.