Who fishes barbless?

gonetroppo · Post by **gonetroppo** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 6:09 pm

Picked up a fishing tips and techniques book the other day by Rob Pax, where he was advocating the use of barbless hooks for fishing. It got me wondering how many of us are doing this?
I always try to when kayak fishing for ease of extraction from the fish, and myself, but often wonder about the drawbacks, what are your thoughts?
For those that do, whats your method for removing the barb?

bertros · Post by **bertros** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:55 pm

Only in certain cases... there's a local river with bass in it where barbless hooks are a requirement.

unsinkable2 · Post by **unsinkable2** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:12 pm

Have crushed the hooks on a few of my stickbaits for next mackerel season- will be aiming to release a few so it makes sense to me. Otherwise nah.

Squidley · Post by **Squidley** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:37 pm

I've crushed barbs on circles a few times because I figured that style is less likely to fall out on a slack line

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 10:22 pm

bertros wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:55 pm
Only in certain cases...

^ this

The club I'm a member of has access to around 25 private impoundments which are stocked and it's a requirement that you must either use barbless hooks or crush the barbs on all hooks (bait hooks and lure trebles), as all the natives are catch and release only.

0n barbless/crushed barb hooks I've caught Murray Cod, Golden and Silver Perch, Catfish, Redfin, Brown and Rainbow trout, Mulloway, Snook, Bluefin Tuna, Snapper, Salmon trout etc. In saying that, if I'm fishing outside of our club waters and I'm fishing seriously then I don't crush the barbs. IMHO the biggest mistake people make when using a lure with either barbless or crushed barbs is to lift the fishes head out the water e.g. lure is now out the water and when the fish shakes it head the lure often comes out. If you leave the fishes head and lure under the water the resistance of the water makes it less likely the fish can throw the lure e.g. trout and salmon etc. are often lost when the fish jumps from the water and shakes its head, even with barbed hooks.

Steve

Anselmo · Post by **Anselmo** » Sat Jun 10, 2017 3:34 am

Only fish barbless

Just crush them with a pair of flat nosed pliers
started about 25 years ago when I was bass fishing
and have since tried both barbed and barbless, no difference in keeping fish on with barbless, and if anything more hookups stick with barbless
plus barbless are easier to get out of yourself (don't ask)

robwho · Post by **robwho** » Sat Jun 10, 2017 7:11 am

I fish barbless when targetting bass. One time i forgot to crush the barbs was the time a new lure flicked back like a bullet from being snagged on the bank and hooked my calf.

Dodge · Post by **Dodge** » Sun Jun 11, 2017 9:10 am

For all fishing always use hooks with crushed barbs, whether bait or lure.

Personally think barbs have no bearing on holding a fish, if drag or palm pressure, is set OK.

BBY · Post by **BBY** » Sun Jun 11, 2017 10:23 am

I try to squash the barbs on all my lures but sometimes forget. Main reason is for ease of extracting hooks from either fish, nets or human body parts. Happy to risk losing the odd fish but don't really notice any drop in rate of successful captures.

redwood · Post by **redwood** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:20 pm

Nice topic. I think I might start fishing barbless. Thanks.

Bungy · Post by **Bungy** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 5:07 pm

I sometimes fish with Barb and she fishes topless.....................................

Ritz · Post by **Ritz** » Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:26 pm

Buengy wrote: ↑
Sun Jun 25, 2017 5:07 pm
I sometimes fish with a bottle of genf20 plus and she fishes topless.....................................

I prefer barbless for some reason.

the yak shed