[Steve Lewis]

Guy's,

I want to fish with barbless hooks on my lures, what is the easiest way of doing it :?: Use a pliers and flatten the barb, File off the barb or just replace with barbless :?:

 

[Marc D...]

Do exactly what i used to do when the doggies are about Steve,, just bend the barbs flat against the shank of the Hook with a pair of pliers, worked a treat for me bud',........

 

[Keith White]

agreed. better than barbless.

 

[The Squid]

I am split in two halves, I am veary much a catch and release fisherman, but I do like the hook up and scrap using a light drag whilst lure fishing.

I am wondering about the hook up and land rates between plugs and soft baits with or with out crushed barbs?

A friend that I bait fish with for Bass has always used crushed barbed hooks, but last year I saw him lose two good bass that he should have landed.

 

[bob jameson]

Ah but some you win & some you loose Rodney ,,, thats the fun of it keep a tight line ... no slackers :aarrg:

 

[Mick Ward]

Its a fair enough point to make Chris, but I think if you are totally committed to C&R then does it really matter if you ose the odd one or two? I know and appreciate its nice to have the grip and grin shot for posterity, but for the sake of the fish we should not be too offended if they fall off from time to time.

 

[Henry Gilbey]

Crush the barbs, horse the fish on a nice tight drag, get them in green and lively, few photos, slip them back strong. Nice and easy. No problem with losing fish on barbless hooks if you give 'em the gears.

 

[Ben Edwards]

Crush the barbs, horse the fish on a nice tight drag, get them in green and lively, few photos, slip them back strong. Nice and easy. No problem with losing fish on barbless hooks if you give 'em the gears.

i can see why you would do this henry, but i reckon if there on the rocks and really lively, they could damage themselves??? this once happened to me with a sea trout i caught which was about 1lb and i swung it in and it went fecking nuts, i couldnt grab it and a fair few scales came off. i eventually managed to get it back but dont reckon it survived... do you find that bass do this? maybe with bigger fish you can grab them easier... i wouldnt know i havent had a decent bass yet lol!

 

[The Squid]

Crush the barbs, horse the fish on a nice tight drag, get them in green and lively, few photos, slip them back strong. Nice and easy. No problem with losing fish on barbless hooks if you give 'em the gears.

Henry,

For me the sport is to catch and land the fish with soft drag, my dargs are less than 2lb for lure fishing and not much more for bait fishing.

Whilst bait fishing for Mullet I have played them for a much much longer time than Bass and have managed to return them healthy and well to fight again even when they seem worn out.

The Bass that I catch and return (the vast majority) have amazing life in them when I return them to fight another day, so maybe I will not crush my barbs!!!.

 

[The Squid]

Its a fair enough point to make Chris, but I think if you are totally committed to C&R then does it really matter if you ose the odd one or two? I know and appreciate its nice to have the grip and grin shot for posterity, but for the sake of the fish we should not be too offended if they fall off from time to time.

Mick,

Me and photos with fish, you know that is not me.

I like to give the Fish the fairest chance on lure or bait by using light drag, and yes I lose fish because of using light drag, but that is where my fun (sport) is, and I think it is fair to the Fish!

A couple of years ago i had a 5lb 2oz Bass on the surface on your boat and remember you saying tighten the drag.

 

[Barry Howlin]

I am with Henry on this one no point doing a hollywood with fish on your line and all of a sudden hes gone to ground because you did n"t keep his head up or worse still gone