Fish-Hawk.Net

Hello,

Just read an article were you have to use barbless fishing hooks to fish.

Curious to see here if members use barbed or barbless hooks and why.

Thanks

All of my fly fishing gear is barbless and much of my tackle is as well. I find it's significantly easier to remove hooks, they do less damage to the fish and I haven't noticed any major difference with respect to catch rates.

I'm also coming from a trout fishing, primarily C&R, background.

Been barbless for years. Still catch fish. My son finally switched after he ended up in the emergency room with a hook in his thigh.
... and it's so much easier on the fish

Catch and release: Barbless
Catch and keep (ice fishing, camping weekends): Barbed

No reason for using barbed hooks if you're practicing catch and release unless if you're fishing a competition or tournament.

Thank you all for your feedback greatly appreciated.

I use barbed, I have very few issues with removing the hooks or damaging the fish.

Not sure where you read that you have to use barbless hooks but I'm not aware of that for zone 18 or 20. I use barbed & don't have any issues with it even for CnR. When fishing with young kids I pinch the barb down.

I crimp all the barbs on my hooks. It just makes my life easier when I have to unhook the fish

Started fishing barbless when I visited PEI last year. Especially fishing with the kids, they tend to let the fish bite a little long, makes hook removal real simple. And should the kids happen to hook into Daddy, I'm sure it'll make me even happier come removal.

Steve

I found that using circle hooks (size 6 and eight) do wonders when fishing with the kids. Almost all fish (usually pannies) are hooked nicely on the lip.

riverdog wrote:Not sure where you read that you have to use barbless hooks but I'm not aware of that for zone 18 or 20. I use barbed & don't have any issues with it even for CnR. When fishing with young kids I pinch the barb down.

Riverdog I read that article in Bob Isumi's Real Fishing Mag Spring Fishing Tips page 46 "A Pilgramage to the Margaree.

So I asked that question here in the forum to see some views.

Thank you zippyfx, ipjrobson and Trilynx.

Trilynx I'm planning to go to P.E.I. this summer (fingers crossed) to do some fishing with my brother-in-law that lives there and glad to know that you were using barbless hooks.

Been barbless and happy since I put one between my ear cartilage and skull.


The number of fish lost is negligible and hook removal is a lot quicker.

alexb wrote:Thank you zippyfx, ipjrobson and Trilynx.

Trilynx I'm planning to go to P.E.I. this summer (fingers crossed) to do some fishing with my brother-in-law that lives there and glad to know that you were using barbless hooks.

I went fishing inland with the kids, caught lots of little Brook trout, no keepers but lots of fun. Tiny jig heads and a worm.

As for the barbless catch effectiveness, My 6 year old son had no trouble catching brook trout...

Eli wrote:Been barbless and happy since I put one between my ear cartilage and skull.


The number of fish lost is negligible and hook removal is a lot quicker.

Geez Eli it only takes one accident and have a different view and you are right the number of fish lost is negligible than have to remove a barked hook from your body.