S
Steve Burke
Guest
Contrary to popular belief, barbless hooks are not always safer than barbed ones. This seems to be because they penetrate more deeply, and they’re also more likely to move sideways and thus tear tissue.
Perch are particularly vulnerable to deeply penetrating hooks as they have vital organs near the surface of the throat. As a result barbless hooks, especially in the larger sizes, can actually kill them. Therefore to protect the perch, barbless hooks bigger than size 10 are now banned on the Coarse Lake at Wingham.
The Carp Lake contains largely just carp and, as I’m against bans wherever they can be avoided, members may therefore continue to use either barbed or barbless hooks on the Carp Lake. However, I’ll continue to monitor the situation and possibly bring in a barbless ban in the future.
I’m an all-rounder but do a lot of perch fishing, which is why I’ve noticed the problem with barbless hooks. A number of other perch specialists agree with me on the issue.
I’d appeal to other fishery managers to look at the whole question of barbless hooks, particularly in waters that contain perch. Barbless hooks do of course have advantages. However, any damage with barbed hooks is likely to be superficial, whilst barbless hooks can actually kill. My own preference is for barbless hooks in sizes 10 or smaller, and micro-barbed in larger sizes.
Does anyone know of any other waters that have banned barbless hooks?
Perch are particularly vulnerable to deeply penetrating hooks as they have vital organs near the surface of the throat. As a result barbless hooks, especially in the larger sizes, can actually kill them. Therefore to protect the perch, barbless hooks bigger than size 10 are now banned on the Coarse Lake at Wingham.
The Carp Lake contains largely just carp and, as I’m against bans wherever they can be avoided, members may therefore continue to use either barbed or barbless hooks on the Carp Lake. However, I’ll continue to monitor the situation and possibly bring in a barbless ban in the future.
I’m an all-rounder but do a lot of perch fishing, which is why I’ve noticed the problem with barbless hooks. A number of other perch specialists agree with me on the issue.
I’d appeal to other fishery managers to look at the whole question of barbless hooks, particularly in waters that contain perch. Barbless hooks do of course have advantages. However, any damage with barbed hooks is likely to be superficial, whilst barbless hooks can actually kill. My own preference is for barbless hooks in sizes 10 or smaller, and micro-barbed in larger sizes.
Does anyone know of any other waters that have banned barbless hooks?