Now that barbed hooks are more or less outlawed where ever we fish why don't hook manufacturers get wise and make more barbless hooks. surely they know that barbless is the way forward. I would have thought that they would have embraced the barbless concept with opened arms as it must be one less operation that their machinery has to perform in the manufacturing process and they could still charge the same price even though it would be cheaper to produce, a big benefit for them. Also stronger hooks for the fisherman, cause lets face where the barb is is a weak point, so one less weak point means we can use finer hooks.
Now finer hooks means that the hook manufacturer benefits again cause he can use finer steel but ultimately our fish benefit the most.

You take a barbed hook and flatten the barb it still leaves a raised part on the hook although not as harmful as a barb it still takes more effort on our part to remove the hook from the fish and even if you break the barb off IMHO that is even worse as there is now no smooth hump for the flesh to ride over but a blunt ragged piece of steel which will snag the flesh of the fish while trying to remove it. Is it just us that are thinking of the fish and their welfare by only using barbless hooks or is it now common across the globe.
Surely I would not think that we stand alone in this thinking and that other nations have the same regards for their fish as we do.

Alan

alan, I think a lot of hook makers have- just kamsan to follow suit, and if they did they would make a lot of money for sure

I totally agree with Alan manufacturers have been slow,
Theres more fisheries expecting Barbless, and i dont care what anyone says flattening the hook does weaking it,
Also my eyesight is not great and i left a tiny minute piece of barb,
And yes this is the one that buried deep in my finger, and refused to come out,
if that had been barbless it would not have been a problem.

come on traders your the people in direct contact with the manufacturers you should be putting them wise to barbless.

Alan

I remember the late Alan Bramley of partridge telling me that barbless hooks were actually harder to make because the barbs were used to hold the hook when it was being bent. Mind you that was a few years ago so technology may have changed to negate that.

However, how many barbless hooks do the american/woldwide market use? I suspect that britain is a small matket in comparison so maybe thats our problem??

And you can take a barb off a barbed hook but you can't put one on to a barbless.

__________________
Previously known as molley
and
Don't call me "mate" .

Why would you want to put a barb on a barbless hook when nearly every where you go you have to use barbless hooks.

Alan

Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh!!!
Please read also the post I replied re the American etc market .

__________________
Previously known as molley
and
Don't call me "mate" .

Yes I read that stuart but we are not in America mate.

Alan

I said America etc Manufacturers have to consider their entire market and not one single country .

and try reading my signature but you probably did .

__________________
Previously known as molley
and
Don't call me "mate" .