Barb Mashing Tool

[snagged in outlet 3]

Ok.  I’ve tried everything but nothing really seems to work quickly and effectively.   Seems I’m constantly having to roll the hook or try to catch just the tip of the bard to hopefully snap it off.  
Anyone have a good tool they use.  
I don’t think barbs help much on jerks and cranks and it should would be easier on the fish.  And possibly me😆

[trouty mouth]

It won't help out on the water, but the best barb masher I've got is my fly vice. It smashes the barbs down and leaves the most clean/flat mash over my pliers/hemostats while out on the water. 

[tjm]

Probably not the best, but for forty years or so I've gotten by with a small pair of needle nose pliers, this particular pair is about 4" long with smooth jaws. I actually searched a few hardware stores back then for just such a tool to use on the fly tying bench, I think mine were a machinist's tool and quite costly, but they have similar in the jewelry/craft tools I think. For me it's about three to five times faster with pliers than fiddling with the vise. I usually debarb as many as I intend to tie before starting to get materials out and drop them into a magnet parts bowl as they are mashed. 

Now you said jerks and cranks, so probably larger trebles? I'd probably find a flatnose pliers with smooth jaws since the wider jaws have more bearing on the bigger barbs. I'd overhaul those lures on the bench too rather than on the water and hit them with a hone after the barb bending. On trebles, I imagine a surgeons clamp to hold the hook shank while working on the barbs might make it go easier.

I'll keep an eye on this for better solutions, just in case there is one. FWIW I'd have guessed the barbs to be needed more on lures.

 

[bfishn]

I carried a cordless Dremel for touching up hook points, should cure a barb quickly too.

[Terrierman]

Not the knife.  But those little pliers are always close.

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43 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

But those little pliers are always close.

That’s what I’ve been looking for!   Brand?  Thx!

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On 9/15/2023 at 9:01 AM, tjm said:

Probably not the best, but for forty years or so I've gotten by with a small pair of needle nose pliers, this particular pair is about 4" long with smooth jaws. I actually searched a few hardware stores back then for just such a tool to use on the fly tying bench, I think mine were a machinist's tool and quite costly, but they have similar in the jewelry/craft tools I think. For me it's about three to five times faster with pliers than fiddling with the vise. I usually debarb as many as I intend to tie before starting to get materials out and drop them into a magnet parts bowl as they are mashed. 

Now you said jerks and cranks, so probably larger trebles? I'd probably find a flatnose pliers with smooth jaws since the wider jaws have more bearing on the bigger barbs. I'd overhaul those lures on the bench too rather than on the water and hit them with a hone after the barb bending. On trebles, I imagine a surgeons clamp to hold the hook shank while working on the barbs might make it go easier.

I'll keep an eye on this for better solutions, just in case there is one. FWIW I'd have guessed the barbs to be needed more on lures.

 

Yep.  I try and mash them all down at home on ones I planned to use in the restricted area like the White.     But I’ve decided barb’s don’t offer any advantage so I want to go through everything and mash them all.  
I actually think fish throw the barbed jerks more than the ones I mash down.  How does a fish throw a bait that has nine hooks on it anyway???😐

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, trouty mouth said:

It won't help out on the water, but the best barb masher I've got is my fly vice. It smashes the barbs down and leaves the most clean/flat mash over my pliers/hemostats while out on the water. 

I saw that on YouTube for small hooks like flies but I don’t want to do that to my vice on heavier crank bait hooks.  Thx though!

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51 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

Not the knife.  But those little pliers are always close.

Found em.  Thanks!!

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1 hour ago, tjm said:

Probably not the best, but for forty years or so I've gotten by with a small pair of needle nose pliers, this particular pair is about 4" long with smooth jaws. I actually searched a few hardware stores back then for just such a tool to use on the fly tying bench, I think mine were a machinist's tool and quite costly, but they have similar in the jewelry/craft tools I think. For me it's about three to five times faster with pliers than fiddling with the vise. I usually debarb as many as I intend to tie before starting to get materials out and drop them into a magnet parts bowl as they are mashed. 

Now you said jerks and cranks, so probably larger trebles? I'd probably find a flatnose pliers with smooth jaws since the wider jaws have more bearing on the bigger barbs. I'd overhaul those lures on the bench too rather than on the water and hit them with a hone after the barb bending. On trebles, I imagine a surgeons clamp to hold the hook shank while working on the barbs might make it go easier.

I'll keep an eye on this for better solutions, just in case there is one. FWIW I'd have guessed the barbs to be needed more on lures.

 

And needle nose don’t have enough leverage to get it done quickly.