The only hook that I have confidence in for barbel fishing is the Kamasan Animal (barbless). Trouble is I'm mythering that their bright nickel finish will scare off the fish. Am I worrying needlessly?
There are loads of good barbel hooks, it's down to your confidence in your present ones, you obviously are concerned so I would say change them for something else. I have started using Drennan barbel hooks, they are a matte grey, Ive had 2 barbel in 2 sessions plus chub so I have every confidence in them.
I think a fish recognising a hook for what is it is open to speculation (apart from when surface fishing when they obviously do)
I use black hooks which I am happy with. I am not too sure if silver coloured hooks would make a difference or not, i.e bits of glass in the river etc.
...but don't fish with them, because you'll have ruined their tempering!
If you're really worried, whip a bit of suitably coloured thread down the shank. Any fly-tying site or book will have the basics.
I had toyed with the idea of painting them but wondered if I was being silly. What advantage is there in plating them anyway? Longevity isn't really an issue with hooks is it?
You suprise me; as I've said above I've never had a problem with Animals. Might be because I use Maxima as my mainline with its good stretch qualities.
Have had 12lb barbel on size 10 Animals without a problem. Don't tend to go smaller though.
Some years ago I used to fish the Thames in winter and the best bait was small cubes of bread crust put onto a gold hook. Daft as sounds you never got a bite if you changed the colour of the hook, I will admit the river had a bit of colour to it, and that may of been factor. So maybe it's a simple case of camorflage between the bait and the river colour?
When I last went to Bury Hill, fishing off a boat, I was plumbing up (swan 2 inches from shiny hook). As I watched the float settle.....boom, away it went. I struck without thinking (obviously) even though I had no bait on.
Result - 21lb mirror, or common )
Explain that one? It was no way an accidental foul hook....