[aroostookbasser]

hemostats and a wet hand

[Bob Lang]

A net to hold 'em and a barbless hook normally slips right out. If you do it right you never touch 'em with your hands. On occassion I have had to use forceps, usually if they tried to swallow the hook.

[zerolimit]

Normally a little finger pressure or a little shake removes the barbless hooks I use but if not, I'll use hemostats.

[Trout Madness]

For anything under 12 inches, I use a Boga Grip followed by a stout rap between the eyes with a lead core staghorn priest I picked up in Scotland. This usually quiets the little bugger down long enough for me to extract the barbless hook with my fingers provided that I don't run it through my thumb pinning me to the fish. That's when the fun really starts. Just kidding Terry, I use my fingers.

[GeorgeMcFly]

whats a long distance release? the fish snapping your line when he takes off like a bullet and is gone like a set of rims at a p diddy concert?? lol

[Fishplease]

I use a net and forceps.

[mrcleanx]

A net and fingers mostly. Sometimes I'll need the forceps if the hook is deeper.

[Fly2Fish]

Originally Posted by FISHN50

...I've never tried one of those small Boga Grip like tools on trout & I wonder if they will immobilize them long enough to release them quickly without handling them & compromising the protective slime. I've used them on strippers & of course bluefish & pike , & other toothy critters but I wonder if trout's lower jaws are strong enough to handle the strain. I don't think I'll have to lift the fish out of the water completly just the head. Has anyone tried using those tools?

FISHN50, assume you are referring to those Rising tools like Lippa4Life and Crocodile Pliers? I'd be interested to hear anyone's opinions on them as well.

[Fly2Fish]

Used my aluminum ($$$) Lippa4Life for the first time a week or so ago in the San Juan/NM on 17-20" trout. Found that I was able to return them to the water much faster and in better shape than I would have been able to do otherwise, even with barbless hooks.

[trout champ]

I use forceps if I have to; but the waters I usually fish are Catch and Release so I use barbless hooks.