How many of you use barbless hooks & is there any benefit other than not damaging the lips of a fish that you'll possibly kill?

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I've been grabbed by the shorb & furleys.

aye when u hook ursl it comes out easyer lol

Easier to remove from yourself and others

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use barbless all the time even coarse fishing , easier release of the fish and obviously less damage to the fish ,and better hook penetration ...........

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Why is it that barbless are not as widely available as barbed considering the move to a more caring attitude towards fishing?

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I've been grabbed by the shorb & furleys.

Making barbless hooks is reputedly harder ,because manufactures use the barb as a holding point.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I always use barbless hooks, some might say that you lose more fish than using barbed hooks. As long as you keep your line tight you will not loose anymore fish than using barbed hooks. As already mentioned its easier and quicker to unhook and release fish, also having had a barbed hook stuck in my hand and having to cut my fishing day short for a trip to casualty I would definatly recommend only using barbless hooks.

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I use them 100% of the time as i fish C & R,so if i do ever won't one for the pot i have no choice but to fish barbless

Like the above members stated well handy if you ever get one stuck in yourself or someone else

Neil

They seem to be widely available down here. Everywhere I go I have a choice. I now use barbless for all my fishing, including as above, coarse.
So simple to remove from clothing, fish and hands.

The use of barbless hooks is just about mandatory in coarse fishing these days. It was pushed by the rise of commercial coarse fisheries that insisted on barbless hooks in an effort to help protect the fish stocked into such waters. The benefit that many people (including myself) beleive about barbless hooks is that the lack of a barb actually improves the hook hold as the smooth point goes right in to the bend unhindered.
There are only three reasons that a hook comes out:
1. it wasnt in properly in the first place (ie. just nicked the skin outside the mouth) - barbed or barbless makes no difference to this one.
2. you have allowed the line to go slack.
3. you have physically removed it yourself.
So, providing you play fish correctly, the hook will not fall out.

Barbless hooks are easier to remove from fish, nets, jackets, hats, fly patches .... not just good for the fish and your gear, but also less chance of causing damage to the fly itself, so your lovingly tied fly will last longer too.