BARBED OR BARBLESS

[Terry Edmonds]

I ALWAYS USE A BARBLESS HOOK IN ALL COARSE FISHING AND BELIEVE ITS THE BEST WAY TO GO,I BELIEVE ITS SAFER FOR ANY LOST FISH TO GET RID OF THE HOOK,IT REDUCES MOUTH DAMAGE,NOT INCREASES AS SOME ARTICLES ARE SUGGESTING AND I THINK ALL FISHERYS SHOULD HAVE A BARBLESS ONLY RULE.
WHAT DO THE REST OF YOU THINK?

 

[Malcolm Bason]

I always use barbless because I cannot guarantee that I will not damage the fish's mouth when removing a barbed hook. The arguments have raged for a long time now between those who favour one or the other type - each to their own, and I respect their views.

Some anglers have the confidence to remove a barbed hook from , for example, a perch that has swallowed it (don't they alwats!) - I DON'T. )

 

[Stephen Shaw]

Personaly I prefer micro barbed hooks, I have found with barbless they tend to move around a lot more than barbed hooks causing a much greater wound in the fishes mouth. A barbed hook tends to stay put when playing a fish.
Next time you catch a sizable fish on a barbless, note the amount of blood and damage to the hooked area and compare that to a barbed hook and you will see what I mean.
I beleve for larger fish the microbarbs are the best option causing least damage to the fish and whilst still allowing the fish to rid its self of the hook easly if you snap off.
I am sure alot of anglers will agree with me on this

 

[Malcolm Bason]

Hello Stephen. QUOTE: "I am sure alot of anglers will agree with me on this"

- I'm sure you are right!

QUOTE: "Next time you catch a sizable fish on a barbless, note the amount of blood and damage to the hooked area and compare that to a barbed hook and you will see what I mean."

Could you please explain what you mean by 'sizable'? And could you also please state which species by which you set your example and what hook size you were using?

I have never found any significant difference between the two (or three) types of hook, when the fish is hooked through the lip, which if presentation of the bait on the hook/hair is correct, should always happen.

As this thread is on the carp fishing forum I assume that you are referring to carp, which always 'suck and blow' their bait, and it is this blowing effect which effectively creates the hook hold. If the bait presentation is correct then 9 times out of 10 the hook with penetrate the lip when the carp attempts to 'blow' the bait back out.

Therefore there should not be any significant difference between barbed or barbless regarding bleeding (if any) from the wound made from the hook in the lip. That is my humble opinion, for what its worth, on the subject. )

 

[Terry Edmonds]

are you sure that micro barbs fall out easy if you snap up ? if so why doesnt the hook move around like a barbless hook when your playing a fish?
any barb on a hook is very difficult for a fish to get rid off they havent got hands to pull the hook out!
i also have never noticed increased mouth damage because of barbless hooks, ive only noticed that barbed hooks are harder to remove from fish.

 

[Carp Angler]

Only a quick answer as I'm on my way to bed.....

"when the fish is hooked through the lip, which if presentation of the bait on the hook/hair is correct, should always happen."

Fish are only hooked in the lip when the presentation has either caused the hook to skid from the mouth to the lip (this is why fish lose their curtain) or the rig has caught in the lip as the last gasp place to hook into.

An efficient rig will catch hold as soon as it moves INSIDE the mouth, not at the final exit point.

If the previous sounds garbled, then I'll provide a clearer explaination when I'm more awake.

 

[Nicky Garbutt]

i always use barbless hook just in case they get stuck in me and then theirs no need for hospital and their better for new comers to use.

 

[Sam Ross]

i'm not really that bothered on what i use as they both have their up sides and their down sides, such as , barbless hooks are easier to remove but they cause the fish to make the hole from the hook bigger when it fights, barbed hooks do the opposite of the reasons given above