Barbs

[BackCastingGolfer]

I just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts on barbs. I have seen both with barb and without being said as the "best", even for catch and release. I think I even read in a magazine not too long at that fishing with a barb is better since you don't have to constantly worry about the hook unhooking/shorter fight better for the fish. I'm not saying one way or the other. Just wanted to see if we can get a decent discussion going.

[flyrodman]

I just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts on barbs. I have seen both with barb and without being said as the "best", even for catch and release. I think I even read in a magazine not too long at that fishing with a barb is better since you don't have to constantly worry about the hook unhooking/shorter fight better for the fish. I'm not saying one way or the other. Just wanted to see if we can get a decent discussion going.

When I don't pinch down barbs or tie on barbless hooks, I find that in some cases that releasing fish takes longer than without a barb. I don't worry about losing fish on barbless hook because as long as you keep tension on the line, there shouldn't be many thrown hooks. With barbed hooks, you can usually get away with slack in the line while fighting fish. I think that in most cases you will be fine with barbless or barbed hooks. Hook removal is no doubt easier with barbless hooks though.

[Trout Commander]

I don't buy barbless because they are expensive. I do mash the barbs. If you know how to fight a fish you don't have to take any longer to land them and don't lose many more than with barbs. I'm not saying people who do fish with barbs can't fight a fish though, mind.

Plus flies are retrieved from fences/weeds/trees/rootwads/theguyinthefrontoftheboatshead/your shirt when they are barbless.

[laker67]

Hook removal from body parts is a whole lot simpler with barbless. Twice, in as many years, I have had to rip and tear flesh from the palm of my hand to remove a size 10 2487. Also much quicker from fish when fishing places such as RR where you are restricted to the bank and reaching a fish is sometimes awkward at best. Barbless or barb bent over is the way to go.

[BredMan]

I use barbless (pinched down or ground off) for catch-n-release. Just so much easier all the way around and offers more of a challenge for me too. I do use barbed hooks otherwise although I am finding myself using more barbless these days. When fishing jigs I don't have the barbed and barbless separated so many times I will be fishing a barbless without even knowing.

[Arofishing]

Pinch down my barbs. I'm not worried about losing a fish, but I am worried about ripping off some of the fish's skin/mouth on account of a barb being a pain in the butt.

[mic]

I pinch down the barbs

[Ham]

I struggle to land trout on size 20 and smaller that are barbless. If those same tiny drys have a barb though, I land most of them.

I tie barbless ONLY. I primarily do so because I mainly fly fish in the catch and release areas and on the White River tickets are written if the barb isn't mashed down "enough". I have broken hooks trying to get the barb mashed down "enough".

As a bonus though, it sure is nice to be fishing barbless when you get a fly stuck in you instead of the fish.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not afraid of barbless hooks, but all my flies have barbs. I prefer smaller barbs like TMC's have vs. the outrageous ones on most Mustad fly hooks..... but Mustads are a bargain, so I deal with it and haven't suffered noticeably.

Almost hate to burn bread on myself by saying this but; I'm pretty good (or lucky) about keeping hooks out of my own body.

[mic]

Almost hate to burn bread on myself by saying this but; I'm pretty good (or lucky) about keeping hooks out of my own body.

Your screwed now.