Barbless hooks?

[John F]

Anyone has any experience with barbless hooks?

I've seen some sites (mainly flyfishing) that actually claim that the hook-up rate is better on these hooks (= less resistance to penetration)...

I've also read somewhere that Peter Pakula believes in this and tried to sell barbless hooks for big game but it didn't stick... old habits never die!

What's your experience?

[Stokstyf!]

I've only had bad luck with barbless hooks doesn't increase the hook up rate for me...

[John F]

Tell us more about it? Did you use it for salt/fresh water? Gamefish?
Thanks!

[Stokstyf!]

Tell us more about it? Did you use it for salt/fresh water? Gamefish?
Thanks!

I've used it for saltwater angling mainly to catch bottom fish and when  you strike the hook sets then when you reel the fish up with its head starting to shake the hook comes out and thats very frustrating!!!

[Ziggy]

For the past few years I ahve been using barbless hooks when trout fishing (even when catching for the pot). I cant say I have noticed any difference in my catch rate - I think that I may even lose the same number of fish. I do try and maintain a tight line when bringing in the fish

[Ziggy]

See this:

http://www.performanceflyrods.com/barbless/barblesshooks.html

this is intersting (extracted from http://www.highcountryflies.com/turck/fishing_barbless.htm )
There is another, frequently overlooked, reason to fish barbless which has nothing to      do with protecting fish and everything to do with increasing your strike to hook-up ratio. Simply put,      it is easier to achieve a solid hook set when using barbless flies because you are freed      from having to overcome the resistance of the barb. Admittedly, a barbed hook will hang on      to a fish better than a barbless hook, but you have to bury the barb in the tissue of the      lip or mouth first.
Have you ever set the hook, doubling the rod over for the briefest of moments, only to      have the hook "pull" and rod subsequently straighten. The barb actually inhibits      hook penetration and a certain percentage of "missed strikes" with barbed hooks      can be attributed to this fact.
this one http://www.flyguysoutfitting.com/barbless.html has some intersting observation on types of hooks if fishing barbless

[WalkersKiller]

Ive used barbless hooks quite a bit when fly fiishing and when i am catching and releasing... The only experiences I have had with barbless hooks is the same sort of hook up rate as with barbed hooks except ive lost quite a few fish after they have been hooked. I know its beter for the fish but I would prefer to land my fish get a photo and release it rather than fight it for 5 minutes and the hook pulls!

[steve m]

Hi
In our league here we have to use barbless hooks on slide traces...

i have not found a differance as you aways keep presure on the fish/shark anyways so it is fine...

[Fritz]

I cant say that barbless hooks work better for me, what I can tell you is to keep the tension on the line at all times.

[Tommo]

It depends on what species you are catching. I use totally barbless hooks for GT's for example, and don't lose fish, although it is crucial to keep line tension at all times. We should do this anyway when fishing regardless of whether we are using barbs or not...

For tigerfish, with very hard mouths, I like to flatten the barb a bit to make penetration easier, but they jump and shake their heads vigorously, so I don't want to totally flatten the barb. I end up crimping it about halfway down, and that seems to work well.

With circle hooks you can flatten the barbs regardless, the barb serves no real purpose and is just a hindrance.

[icstuff]

I have found that barbless hooks are easier to remove from my flesh.