De Barbing a hook

[Roland]

Evening All,

 

I'm going out to fish for pike tomorrow for the first time in a club match/day. I have got most bits and pieces that are required. A work colleague kindly gave me a coup;e of lures for the day however they have barbed hooks which are no permitted. Is there a way I can take the barb off?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[viney]

You can use a pair of needle nose pliers to crush the barb but make sure its completely crushed flat or it will cause you problems unhooking

[chesters1]

to test it just push it through a bit of cloth if it catches when you pull it out then the barbs still a barb ,i'v been squashing mine for years they work fine without barbs.

check though for rust on borrowed gear even a small amount could have the hook fail

Edited January 29, 2011 by chesters1

[Hopinc]

I have fished barbless for over 30 years. Where I can I prefer to use factory barbless hooks, but if these aren't available then the technique described above is the way to go.

 

Remember to keep your hooks sharp - use a fine file or diamond hook sharpener. Sharpen towards the point. Test them by touching the point against your thumb nail, if it feels as though it wants to cling then they are sharp.

 

Providing you keep a tight line (this is the key) you will not loose fish by going barbless.

 

You might also consider removing some of the hooks. Quite often I remove a set of trebles from a plug, or snip off one of the hooks of a treble using a good pair of hardened cutters (see my comments in the thread headed "Perch lures / spinners").

 

Treble hooks can cause serious problems. I once remember years ago whilst fishing with barbed hooks, hooking a tiny jack pike - two of the hooks went through the lower jaw, the third threw the upper.

 

I could not get at enough of any of the hooks to cut the points off. It was impossible to get the hooks out without causing severe damage and stress to the fish, so I had to despatch it. I hated doing that. I have never fished with barbs since that time.

Edited January 29, 2011 by Hopinc

[davedave]

Just crush it down tight with a pair of pliers

[Roland]

crushed thanks guys