Learn this from Charlie Dobbins back in the '80's.

Garden Hoe with hidden Hook inside.
Used for reaching things in Pickup bed or water trapline.
-Make sure to remove all sharp edges-

Good post Hern.
That would make a dandy feed hook for trapping beaver under ice at the den in winter.

When I first met Hern probably, 20 years ago or so, he went along on my trapline and carried a hook like that. At the end of the day he gave me the hook. I found it to be the most useful tool I used on the trapline.

We used to make those for snake handling

I just bought one of those screw in wall hooks at Lowes years back that you use to hang tools etc. in your shop or garage. Got a old garden tool handle since we have several lying around in the corners of our shop. Drilled the end of the handle a hole just a bit smaller then the threads on my hook. I did add a hose clamp over the end to help support the hook over time.

Didn't have to ruin a perfectly good hoe Hern.

I use my tater rake for the same purpose. Thanks for sharing Hern.

I use both snake tongs and snake hooks pretty much every day (of the summer). The hooks take a beating, and end up breaking quite often. Commercially, replacements are $30. This idea is perfect for making my own. Takes most of 10 minutes with a yard-sale hoe. Thanks Hern.

Jack

Snake hook and tongs as well. But mine has lasted. It is a furmont titanium hook. Long out of print and considered by some as the finest of all hooks. I intend for it to be in my casket when the time comes.

BTW, a hoe without a sharp edge is useless.

Bob, one can buy those hoes at yard sales and flea markets at a really low price, probably less than you paid for your hook at Lowes.

Just told my wife I was going to be watching at garage sales for a good used ho...and she slapped the snot out of me!

Great idea!

Moosetrot

I took an old shovel handle and screwed an L hook into one end

lol, naw, this week got this rusted, neglected hoe at Yard Sale, 25 cents

you could leave the blade 2 inches wide for set making and weld a 3/4 pipe 2 ft long with a carriage bolt head makes a good coon tonker and hole maker in a mud bank made mine in 1968 when they came with forged heads wish i'd of made it longer would have been a great cane
Good post Hern never considered using it to snag wire when i made mine but I was young and didn't need such frivolities

Found this one on the highway last fall, my wife thought I was nuts for turning around to go get it . I use the dog gone thing all the time .

Great idea!

Great idea and thanks for sharing. It would work well for those hard to reach itches too.

I made one out of an old paint roller. cut the shaft off and bent it into a hook. Fit any old screw head broom handle, or extension paint handle. will reach to 16 ft!

That metal-to-metal contact makes an unmistakable sound when searching for a steel trap underwater.