My stash of hooks consists of both the barbed and barbless variety. This is because i am not really bothered as to which ones i use. I was just wondering what other peoples views of these two types of hooks were, and what they think is the best type.

Hi All,
Just another slant on this discussion.
Some of the damaged caused by using barbless hooks has nothing to do with the hook it self, but by the way the angler plays the fish because of it.
Some anglers using heavy braids on heavy rods, play small carp very hard, because they are afraid that the hook will fall out if they don't.
If you transfer the stress point to the fishes mouth rather than the tackle during playing it, that is where the damage will happen.
So the comments earlier about torn mouths being caused by barbed hooks could just as easily be transposed to the opposite.

I agree mostly with what Leon says.

One other consideration about damaged caused, is the amount of time that different kinds of damage take to heal.
Try sticking a point into your own skin and wiggle it around a lot turning it.
Just like Peters Orange you get a neat round hole with the edges worn.
The tear that happens with a barbed hook, will heal in far less time than the deep worn hole of a barbless hook.
The real damage comes from infection, so healing time is far more important than small immediate damage.


……………Liam