Going barbless....

[jiggin' fool]

Looking back at last year, the 2 largest fish I caught both were released as "bleeders". Yes, I have all the tools, including Knipex. And yes, with no regard to personal safety, I went to work immediately to save these fish, cutting hooks. Both fish ate a very popular "rubber-bait", and of the "Magnum" size. I should say "inhaled". So I have decided to go barbless with these lures because I don't want to stop fishing them, but I don't want to kill any fish either. Should I go barbless with all my lures, or just the rubber-baits, gliders and jerk-baits??? I just think of all those "headshakes" I have seen and wonder - how many fish am I going to lose? Do those of you that go barbless have any thoughts??? Has anyone went barbless.., and lost a bunch of fish and went back to barbs??? HELP!!!

[bronzeback]

I've yet to do it myself but i'm sure all it will take is having one fish go back in really bad shape for me to consider crimping my barbs. Some of the big names go completely barbless? I can't remember who it was though. I think as long as you get good penetration on your hookset and maintain pressure on the fish until it's in the net you're going to boat close to the same amount of fish as you would with the barbs. Fish get off, barbs or no barbs that's just the way it is. Fish right and fight the fish the best you know how and you'll get them in the bag just fine with crimped barbs. And you'll probably get them out of the bag and back into the water faster too. Just typing this is making me want to go crimp and file my baits right now.

[NETim]

I've been crushing down the barbs on my baits for years now. I think it does cost me fish but not a significant amount.

I'm more than willing to lose a fish now n' then to be safer. It's SO much easier to pull the hooks out of both the fish and ME.

I've been nailed good by thrashing fish and found myself connected to an upset Muskie by a 9" Jake. It's not fun.

The crushed barb was MUCH easier to back out!

[RK]

Hiya -

I'm barbless pretty much all the way around these days. The exception is jigs which are so easy to get out it hardly matters if there's a barb most of the time.

I suppose I do lose a fish here and there due to being barbless, but I'm pretty convinced I also land some fish I would have lost if I did have barbs. Barbless hooks penetrate a lot more easily. Either way, impossible to tell the fish you've lost because of barbless hooks from the ones you would have lost for some other reason, so who cares. Fish get off - don't worry about it.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[sbro73]

Fishing Barbless is the only way to go !!! Been doing it close to 10 years now! It's easy, for the fish and you!!!

[barbless]

I agree. Barbless is the only way to go. I bought some decent barbless lures & barbless crankbaits from Ouchless Lures. You can google them.

[JimBuck]

I've also crimped most of my trebles on bigger rubber baits and big blades. I like the idea not only for the fishes sake but for my own health. Barbless hooks come out of human skin a heck of a lot easier than barbed. I'll still keep barbs on my spinnerbaits but I don't feel the need to deal with barbed hooks anymore than I have to.

[rugbymn]

What's the best way to crimp the barbs? Just grab a pliers and squeeze?

[cbrooks]

What's the best way to crimp the barbs? Just grab a pliers and squeeze?

Thats how I do it. I also leave my barbs on spinnerbaits as well. If I ever had problems unhooking a fish I would just cut the hook.

[Muskiefool]

Dremel with a stone works as well, good post.

[delmuts]

I took an old side cutter; ground one of the jaws flat, and use that. The flat side against the hook, and the sharp side goes on the barb.

I also leave the barbs on spinnerbaits, and jigs.