I had a 24" Northern do something similar with a rattle trap once, it sounds this guy got it way worse than I ever did though. There is nothing like haveing a fish flopping around while you have a hook from the lure stuck in the back of your hand.
About a month ago a buddy of mine had an 18" HSB flopping in the boat that stuck a crankbait in his finger, and yes, the string method does work!
