[Doc]

Here in Alberta, we don't have a choice. All hooks must be barbless according to the fishing regulations. Before the regulations came into affect, I would use barbless about 80% of the time. Always left the barbs on for hooks smaller then a #14 though. As far as damage, if you've ever had a barbed hook impaled into your skin, you know that removing a barbed hook causes more damage than removing a barbless hook. Same goes for trout. You could really see the damage causes in the mouths of our trout on some of our C&R streams like the Livingstone.

Cheers,
Doc