Stainless Steel hooks

[Diabolos]

Contrary to some of what has been posted, stainless hooks do rust in time...this includes the famous Daiwa Sea Strikes. And it occurs to me that if some SS hooks do fall out or rot out, we would never know because these would be the ones we never came across.

Each will have their own hook preferences based on personal experience. My choice when fishing for big stuff gives consideration to the fish, but is heavily weighted towards the sharpness of particular hooks. Fishing barbless is the as near as failsafe option for quick and clean release. Having used all of the hooks mentioned previously, I would input that none come close in sharpness terms to the Gamakatsu bronzed O' Shaughnnessy...problem is they don't currently do them in sizes above 8/0.

Edited February 26, 2006 by Diabolos

[Norm B]

Hi Norm and Peter

 

We use barbless or flattened barbs for the tope and the skate and usually leave loch Aline taking more hooks out of fish then we leave in.

 

I recon Dan's probably got it right, with the barbless stainless steel hook. The biggest problem we have with barbless rather than a flattened barb is the bait can fall off. when doggies are pestering the bait.

 

One of my anglers that posts on here theGuyfella came up with the solution by fixing an elastic band on the eye of the hook and stretching it over the bend of the hook thus keeping the bait away from the point.

 

It's suprising but barbless seems to make very little difference to the catch rate, particuarly with good anglers that keep the right ammount of tension on the line.

That's the answer then, only take out quality anglers.

[Ian Burrett]

Contrary to some of what has been posted, stainless hooks do rust in time...this includes the famous Daiwa Sea Strikes. And it occurs to me that if some SS hooks do fall out or rot out, we would never know because these would be the ones we never came across.

Each will have their own hook preferences based on personal experience. My choice when fishing for big stuff gives consideration to the fish, but is heavily weighted towards the sharpness of particular hooks. Fishing barbless is the as near as failsafe option for quick and clean release. Having used all of the hooks mentioned previously, I would input that none come close in sharpness terms to the Gamakatsu bronzed O' Shaughnnessy...problem is they don't currently do them in sizes above 8/0.

 

Hi Steve

 

It looks like there is a gap in the market for a suitable 8-14/0 size hook

 

I love the 6/0 BNL 3261 for the tope but they are a fraction on the soft side and have straightened out on bigger fish

[Diabolos]

Ian

 

I'll be down at the NEC for all of next week's show. If I get five minutes to bunk off, I'll have a wander and see if there's any half decent hooks doing the rounds that might serve as a reliable halfway house between the 3261 BLN and an O' Shaughnessy. If there is anything that catches the eye, then I'll grab some and fire them in the post to you. However, last year there wasn't hellish much to turn heads other than a couple of half-naked pole dancers...so don't hold your breath. Hopefully get out fishing with you later in the year.

 

S

Edited February 26, 2006 by Diabolos

[Snatcher]

Intresting post Ian. Cannot really add anything as not my "bag"

 

On the subject of hooks though did you catch my post at the back end of last year

 

It came from Stan Massey - John "tie me a shark lure on this 22/0 circle hook"

 

Actually done the biz after a bit planning. Thing is it probably took about 3/4 hours to constuct and will take a mean shark seconds to rip apart. Interesting stuff though

[dale]

just to confuse matters.

 

certain trout waters banned barbs and now they are revisiting that decision as its been found that barbless hooks do more damage to the fish's mouth.

 

don't fancy having barbs on a skate hook though......

[Ian Burrett]

just to confuse matters.

 

certain trout waters banned barbs and now they are revisiting that decision as its been found that barbless hooks do more damage to the fish's mouth.

 

don't fancy having barbs on a skate hook though......

 

Hi Dale

 

I googled barbless hook and came up with the following Forum

 

http://www.coarsefish.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2489

 

AS you say, certain freshwater men believe barbless cause more damage than barbed hooks.

 

The only conclusuin I am coming to, is there isn't one

[Steve Burke]

The issue of barbed v barbless hooks comes up frequently on the coarse forum here on Angler's Net. See for instance http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.p...227&hl=barbless

 

Despite doing little sea fishing these days I've found this thread very informative. Thanks guys!

[Ian Burrett]

The issue of barbed v barbless hooks comes up frequently on the coarse forum here on Angler's Net. See for instance http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.p...227&hl=barbless

 

Despite doing little sea fishing these days I've found this thread very informative. Thanks guys!

 

 

 

very interesting thread there Steve

 

I see your a convert to the barbless hooks

 

Quote from above AN site

 

"I believe Steve Burke also bans barbless on his water at Wingham..".

 

What were your reasons for reaching this decision.

 

Also RMC/Cemtex have banned barbless on all their Carp ponds

 

http://www.rmcangling.co.uk/show.phtml?ID=582

 

I wonder if anyone has a copy of that mag?

 

The plot thickens

[Steve Burke]

very interesting thread there Steve

 

I see your a convert to the barbless hooks

 

Quote from above AN site

 

"I believe Steve Burke also bans barbless on his water at Wingham..".

 

What were your reasons for reaching this decision.

 

I believe it depends on the circumstances. Later on the thread I referred to above I wrote:

 

"I agree with Leon that it's horses for courses and depends on the species/circumstances. It also depends on the size and design of the hooks themselves.

 

In my experience barbless hooks tend to do less damage on unhooking (especially by inexperienced anglers), whilst barbed hooks can do more damage during striking and playing.

 

Why barbed hooks cause more damage then is often debated.

 

Some years ago I was also of the opinion that there should be no differences between barbed and barbless hooks, with for instance each penetrating equally. However, like a number of other experienced perch anglers, I found that barbless hooks were causing some perch deaths. Obviously I was wrong, so what could the problem be?

 

At the time I was in the tackle trade and so talked about the matter with a hook manufacturer.

 

They pointed out that hooks often go in at an angle and thus, although the distance penetrated is the same, the point of the hook doesn't always reach that far below the surface of the skin.

 

However the angle can subsequently change, especially during the playing of the fish. A barbed hook would tend to stay in the same place and at the same angle. On the other hand a barbless one would be more likely to move and thus the angle change, with the point of the hook possibly ending up further from the surface.

 

Additionally, as barbless hooks can move about more easily, they would be more likely to pierce vital organs anyway.

 

This suggestion seemed to be a logical explanation.

 

However, whatever the reason, what to me is more important is results in the field - and these showed that barbless hooks are not the best for perch.

 

Only a tiny barb seems to be needed, and in fact the pattern of hook I prefer for perch fishing has a miniscule one. In fact the barb on the size 6 is about the same size as a normal microbarbed size 16!

 

Having said that the state of the mouths of some UK fish is deplorable. This is all too often the case on overfished waters where fish are caught repeatedly, especially by beginners. If I managed a commercial water (God forbid!) I might well insist on barbless hooks for this reason.

 

On the other hand, an increasing number of specimen waters are now banning barbed hooks.

 

At Wingham I allow a free choice on the Carp Lake as it doesn't contain perch. However the Coarse Lake does, and here I ban barbless hooks above size 10. In each case I state that I prefer microbarbs.

 

So if you want to come to the next Forum Fish-In at Wingham, you'll either have to obey the fishery rules or I'm afraid decide not to come!"

 

Anyone interested in this subject may like to do a search of past topics for "barbless"".

Edited February 27, 2006 by Steve Burke