Do you crush the barbs on your hooks ?

[jjtroutbum]

Well I do , I would like to say its all about safty but to be perfecty honest I think its actully because, I seem to get more hookups without havin to actually set the hook or can set a hook with much less pressure. I've had some anglers say they think fish throw hooks more easily with out barbs.

I feel with proper tecnique never a fish is lost with out angler error and I can try to limit as many of thos factors as possible but still can error in so many more ways than i could ever list.

So anyone else have any further input on how or why they crush or don't crush there barbs.

JJ

[Okieflyfisher53]

I crush the barbs on all my hooks for the reasons that you have listed, and also because the hooks are easier to remove on those occasions when they are imbedded in parts of my body.

Steve

[John Berry]

I always mash mine. This was brought home last week when I caught a double when fishing a dropper soft hackle rig at roundhouse shoals. I released the fish from the dropper and about that time the bow on the lead fly took a run imbedding the dropper fly up to the bend of the hook in my thumb in the process. As I easily pulled it out I remembered why I mash them

[Greg]

I just started crushing the barbs on my flies recently. I've been pleased. I think I have more hookups and fewer missed fish. Maybe a few more fish throw the hook but I think that's a good exchange.

Greg

[MTM]

I only do so if the client I am tying the flies for asks me to. Having guided for many, many years I have taken out a lot of hooks in my time. If you know how to do so it is just as easy as if the barb was not there.

If you want to take the barb down that is fine by me but do so before you tie your fly. It will cost you a lot less time and material if you should break the hooks point while pinching the barb down.

With the Micro barbs on the hooks of today I do not think it helps to pinch the barb on these hooks. Now the old Mustad hooks and hooks like them should have the barbs pinched. But like I said todays hooks the barbs are so small I do not think it matters in taking the hook out of the fish or out of a person. If done right. Just my opinion Ron

[jjtroutbum]

Just thought of another very important reason to remove barbs. Flies last longer, they are easier to remove from the mouth of the fish which is vital to not having to clamp on a pair of forceps and possibly destroy your fly..

[MTM]

Use one of the new hook outs and you will never know the difference. Nither will the hook. Ron

[jjtroutbum]

A buddy of mine had a katchem release and after I saw it I cut a dowle down, screwed a brass eyehook in the end a wala made four for about $4.00

[MTM]

There you go Ron

[Steve Smith]

Amen John Berry. I always smash the barb before I tie the fly. Period. That dropper will snag me everytime, and I too believe the hook "sets" easier.