[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

[trout champ]

If I can find barbless flies I'll use them, but I ususally just flatten the barbs on hooks.

Randy

[tie one on]

I have only ever used barbless hooks once. I was given
several extra barbless hooks on a pattern I learned during
a fly tying class I had taken. I have never purchased them &
more than likely never will. I most certainly would never deter
anyone from using them, if that's their choice. I was always
taught that if a fish is caught that I did not intend to keep,
that they are always treated carefully when extracting the
hook. I have never waivered from that teaching.

Tie One On

[fatguide]

I always pinch the barbs down on barbed hooks before I tie the fly. That way if the hook breaks while doing this I haven't waisted my time tying the whole fly. I have used barbless hooks and had problems with two fly rigs. I tie the dropper fly tippet directly to the bend of the first fly. Had problems with the knot sliding off the upper fly. The pinched down barb usually always leaves a little nub that keeps the knot from sliding off.

Just my .02

[Joni]

I buy the Barbless, but I don't go out of my way to find them cause I will squish the barbs if they have them. The cop at a lake one year told me if his nail can catch anything on the bend it is not squished enough so I do make sure they are squished good.
Never had a dropper slide off, but I guess anything is possible.
I Always use barbless, even if not required.....why?! cause they are much easier to get out of myself, which has happened "once" too many times! LOL

[BigCliff]

I have come across about as many studies saying that barbed hooks are better for fish as I have saying humans have nothing to do with global warming, and I give them equal merit.

Barbless/pinched barb hooks penetrate better because the barb itself interferes with penetration. I find that barbless hooks are also easier to get free from underwater snags. (especially using the downstream bow technique)

[zerolimit]

Originally Posted by BigCliff

I find that barbless hooks are also easier to get free from underwater snags. (especially using the downstream bow technique)

Cliff, how do you perform this technique? Just let enough line out to create a downstream bow in so the current pulls from the opposite direction? I'm always interested in reducing the lost fly count. Thank You.

[ezamora]

Originally Posted by BigCliff

.....I find that barbless hooks are also easier to get free from underwater snags. (especially using the downstream bow technique)

that's an interesting topic probably deserving of it's own thread. how do you execute the downstream bow technique? when i'm snagged, i often let loose some fly line and allow the current to carry it downstream, hopefully the current's help wil free it, but it usually doesn't work.

what DOES work for me more often than not is to execute basically a roll cast over the snag, 2-3 roll casts over the snag almost always frees the fly. oops, we're deviating from the main subject now :-)

eric
fresno, ca.

[BigCliff]

Done.

[Flywgn]

I cast (pun intended) a vote for 'barbless'. Sometimes when I purchase flies I must do away with the barbs, but then I consider them to be 'barbless' anyway.

Many of the rivers and streams I fish require barbless flies or lures, plus after so many years of fly-fishing and releasing fish my experience has been that little or no harm is done to the fish.

Almost 90% of the fish I release (which is about 99% of all the fish I catch in fresh water) I release underwater and almost never have to place my hands in contact with it.

Interesting about Alberta. I didn't realize that barbless hooks are required throughout. I've been only on the Bow and since all my flies are barbless I never gave it a thought.

BTW, as a footnote and completely Off Topic, I think this is a fine and informative forum. Each time I check out the topics I always manage to leave with additional items for my files.

Allen R