Barbless Hooks for Fishing

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Barbless Hooks for Fishing

For many anglers barbless hooks offer a new challenge, one that pits their skill against fish's without the aide of the barb of a hook. After a brief adjustment most people catch the same number of fish (or more) with barbless hooks. This is attributed to the hook penetrating the fish's lip faster since the barb doesn't slow it down.

Pros and Cons Using Barbless Hooks

• Pro - it causes much less damage (and pain) to the fish. This means healthier and happier fish ready to be caught next time.


• Pro - if you hook your brother's eyebrow it's a much easier to remove (the hook, not your brothers eyebrow).


• Con - You have to get used to using barbless fishing hooks for fishing. A few fish may get away as you learn. This might be even more so with inexperienced anglers.


• Con - it may be more difficult to find the hooks and lures you want, although this is changing.

Tips

• Try to keep the line taught when reeling in the fish. But you have to do this with barbed hooks also (at least that's what my father would yell at me when I was a kid). But it's even more important with barbless hooks for fishing.


• You can make your own hooks without barbs using a file or pliers. Some folks say you don't need to remove the barb if it's flattened, others file it off. Be sure to store the hooks dry otherwise they will rust quickly.


• If you are worried about losing fish once out of the water a net may be helpful to have.


• While barbless hooks can do a lot to increase fish survival it's also important to handle the fish the right way once you've got it to shore. I liked this thought from Bish & Fish:
  
  "How long should you hold a fish out of the water? Hold your breath when you lift the fish out of the water - when you have to take a breath put the fish back in the water."