Google finally let me in. . I found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh9x8Lzaskc which is essentially what we did. We didn't use a loop knot - just wrapped the mono over itself. I also pressed down on the shank of the hook, not the eye. In the video you will see a small piece of clay come flying out. That could have been my flesh - press down on the shank - it forces the barb into tissue that has already been damaged by the hook, and the bard doesn't work. And I watched - I wanted to see it work. And I didn't flinch!
