Bent down barbs vs. barbless hooks

I definitely believe so.   When you look closely, you will find most hooks manufactured to be barbless have a longer point that slightly curves up toward the shank of the hook.  In my experience, that design really holds fish on the hook, despite the absence of a barb (assuming you maintain tension during the fight).  Take a close look at something like a Firehole 316 or 317.  I credit the design of those hooks for holding fish on when I am fishing size 18 and 20 zebra midges and Barr’s emergers.  There are times when I have to use my forceps to reverse those hooks back out, and yet there is minimal to no damage to the fish.

When you mash down the barb of a hook, you are left with a short-pointed hook where you have neutralized its primary fish-holding feature.  As a result, you have just reduced your odds of landing that fish.

Sure, you can mash the barb and get away with it.  Many of us have done that.  But, now you are asking that de-barbed hook to do something it wasn’t designed to do.

My 2 cents.

JRC

Grasshopper Jim

Well you have learned, grasshopper Jim.  The pebble from my hand you can take now. All that you have written is true as though I said it with my own mouth. Well done!

I’ve been a fan of using barb-less hooks for a couple of years and I feel like they are just as good for netting fish as a barbed hook. The only problem I’ve run into is when fishing a dropper off of the bend of a barb-less hook.  I’ve tried several different knots and none of them seem to work. I finally tried using a very small drop of cement on the knot at the bend. This has worked very good for me. It does require carrying a small bottle of cement in your vest, or what I’ve resorted to is tying up a number of rigs at home and wrapping them on a foam disc. It works but also violates the rule of tying on before checking out the stream.

Steve Baker

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by Steve Baker.

Danstag

Actually it hurts to leave any hook/fly in a tree. If it didn’t you wouldn’t see me climbing halfway up it to fetch my fly. I believe barbless is the way to go. Just keep “tension” on the line and the fish won’t get away. Plus, they are easier to take out of the back of the head. I find that a good 60% of the time when the fish gets into the net – it’s then when he spits the hook. I like Firehole Sticks for hooks. I like the black color too – seems to be “more invisible” under water. Just sayin

Danstag

Actually it hurts to leave any hook/fly in a tree. If it didn’t you wouldn’t see me climbing halfway up it to fetch my fly. I believe barbless is the way to go. Just keep “tension” on the line and the fish won’t get away. Plus, they are easier to take out of the back of the head. I find that a good 60% of the time when the fish gets into the net – it’s then when he spits the hook. I like Firehole Sticks for hooks. I like the black color too – seems to be “more invisible” under water. Just sayin

Danstag

Actually it hurts to leave any hook/fly in a tree. If it didn’t you wouldn’t see me climbing halfway up it to fetch my fly. I believe barbless is the way to go. Just keep “tension” on the line and the fish won’t get away. Plus, they are easier to take out of the back of the head. I find that a good 60% of the time when the fish gets into the net – it’s then when he spits the hook. I like Firehole Sticks for hooks. I like the black color too – seems to be “more invisible” under water. Just sayin