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 New Posts  Barbed or barbless
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inzenity
Posts: 448
inzenity
   Old Thread  #16 30 Jan 2026 at 9.18pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #15
It's not that i struggle with it, but there is a moral dilemma to our hobby, it's silly to deny that. And sometimes i think some more about it, and about history, and about the relation of man and nature, and nature itself and then i go enjoy my fishing.

Crushed barb btw, for decades.
framey
Posts: 5129
framey
   Old Thread  #15 30 Jan 2026 at 9.06pm  1  Login    Register
Here’s the dilemma I always have

We can’t decide if a barbed or a barbless hook is better for an animal that we are sticking a lump of metal into its face and dragging it into the bank and then taking it out its natural habitat just to take a photo and then put it back to be repeated.

We wouldn’t stick a hook in a dogs mouth and drag it around but it’s ok for a fish?

Yes we look after them as well as we can but we are still hooking an animal for our own selfish interests.

I prefer not to catch if I’m honest it means my demons are silenced lol

jhhilton1983
Posts: 1853
jhhilton1983
   Old Thread  #14 30 Jan 2026 at 6.33pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #4
Framey perfectly said it.... Many fisheries have to account for the lowest form of angler.

There are many pro's and con's to both, its a argument that will never be settled.

Imo - Barbed all the way, but I respect any rules that require barbless
audiguypaul
Posts: 1511
audiguypaul
   Old Thread  #13 30 Jan 2026 at 5.21pm  2  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1
I'm barbless now and wouldn't change back, there is always the chance of causing damage regardless of hook type, but stick a barbed hook into your finger past the barb and try and get it out, then tell me barbed are better. I've not noticed any difference in fish loss on barbless but am happy in the knowledge that the can spit them out if needed, they often do in the landing net which is where i think a lot of mouth damage is caused.
g4fne
Posts: 15051
g4fne
   Old Thread  #12 30 Jan 2026 at 5.13pm  0  Login    Register
IMO barbed hooks are far more brutal and unnecessary. They should be considered as poor practice these days, in the same way as not using a mat.
sirch454
Posts: 139
sirch454
   Old Thread  #11 30 Jan 2026 at 2.54pm  1  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1
Barbed hooks should be banned. Less likely hood of a fish being tethered with barbless
RKB
Posts: 1602
   Old Thread  #10 30 Jan 2026 at 10.00am  1  Login    Register
In reply to Post #9
Far easier to remove a barbless hook whilst a fish is in the net too. I am usually able to detach the fish from the mainline before taking out of the water, either by unhooking them or detaching / cutting something. Completely agree that mouth damage is caused by people who don't know how to remove barbed hooks properly.
OatcakeFred
Posts: 1419
OatcakeFred
   Old Thread  #9 29 Jan 2026 at 11.04pm  0  Login    Register
Given the choice, I go for barbless. And I rarely lose fish. I just like the fact that it's so easy to unhook them. Gather the net and fish up, onto your cradle, unhook, then put fish and net straight back in the water. Fish recovering while you faff around with camera and weighing kit.
vossy1
Posts: 7981
vossy1
MODERATOR
   Old Thread  #8 29 Jan 2026 at 11.02pm  2  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1
I just cannot get my head round losing fish in weed with a barbless hook yet alone the damage of slipping during the fight meaning possibly more than 1 hookhold,if that happens?

For me the main reason for a barbless hook to move during playing is lack of pressure on the hook, the exact reason you want to use them in weed, ie its much easier for a fish to lose the hook. That's not a problem with the hook itself, it's a problem with the anglers playing technique and the hook they're using.

With large fish a hook may also move if too small a hook is used, irrespective of barb, as the hook doesn't get firm purchase.

I've always used barbless, but I have used micro barbed when required. I've very little experience of barbed, but my own view is they're not designed to come out, as such they must cause more damage by being removed than a hook with reduced or no barb, and that makes them less suitable for a fish subjected to repeat capture.

Edit, just to add, if a fishery owner can show me barbed don't cause more damage than any other hook (just like some barbless owners can) why wouldn't I use them on that water. You also have to question given those facts if the hook type is actually the problem.



Jamesvg
Posts: 1160
Jamesvg
   Old Thread  #7 29 Jan 2026 at 9.49pm  6  Login    Register
Personally I don't buy the arguement regarding barbless doing more damage due to tearing or general movement of the hook hold. The barb isn't going to stop the hook rotating or tearing in the mouth, only stop it sliding back out the way it went in -as long as pressure is maintained there shouldn't be an difference in this regard.

I've never noted any mouth damage in my own extensive experience of fishing with barbless hooks that I could attribute to the lack of a barb.

I'm firmly of the belief that the link between barbless and mouth damage is based on most runs waters/those frequented by new or poorly skilled anglers being barbless only. The general fish care, unhooking skills and frequent captures on these waters produce mouth damage which is blamed on the lack of barbs.
framey
Posts: 5129
framey
   Old Thread  #6 29 Jan 2026 at 9.22pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #5
Barbed for me
Some of my waters will allow a crushed barb so happy medium
If I have to use a barbless it will always be a curve or in turned point as I think it helps.
harveyboy
Posts: 1498
   Old Thread  #5 29 Jan 2026 at 9.20pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #4
So which do you prefer framey?
framey
Posts: 5129
framey
   Old Thread  #4 29 Jan 2026 at 9.11pm  2  Login    Register
Crazy really when most hooks now are really micro barbs not like the old gaffs of yester year.
But unfortunately fisheries
Have to account for the lowest form of angler.
harveyboy
Posts: 1498
   Old Thread  #3 29 Jan 2026 at 8.05pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #2
Good point but not relaxing fishing like that,not for me anyway.
0nslow
Posts: 1285
0nslow
   Old Thread  #2 29 Jan 2026 at 7.44pm  1  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1
Isn't it only problem if your rig is checked?
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