barbless hooks

[tayspringer]

I have had a great response form my previous polls on returning spring fish. The majority of you all agreed that you would return your first fish of the season. It was also interesting to see that the majority also agreed that the beat and Ghillie should decide the rule about fish being returned.

My next poll is would you use barbless hooks for fishing until 31st May? Would you be prepared to take a pair of pliers to your hooks to flatten the barbs?

Thanks. I look forward to the response

[Sloggi]

No trebles and all hooks de-barbed throughout the season not just until May. This applies to the spinning rod too.

[elwyman]

Voted yes, but must admit I don't at the moment.

Intend to use doubles more than trebles in the future, I do think trebles can cause more damage, particularly small ones that can get well and truly buried in a fish's mouth.

[hornet]

Voted yes too, ;D

Loop doubles, crimped barb and hold on for dear life .

Never used trebles and do not think i will ever need to.

Hornet

[ibrox]

No need for barbs .
In my opinion you get a much better hook up without barbs ,
and its much easier to unhook a fish when returning .
voted yes

AA
aa

[exerod]

salmosalar.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1170498378

So that will be a yes from me

Andy

[altmor]

Personally, I would fish with what the beat's own rules allow. For example on the N. Esk / S. Esk it's mandatory barbless, and I oblige by crimping the barbs, either on doubles or trebles, with small pocket pliers.

I prefer not to spin - so not an issue with cutlery.

My view on this is a barbed hook, if classically taken by a salmon, should lodge into the hard gristle of the scissors. A barbed hook, to me in any case, by virtue of having a better "hold" is less likely to move, and thus reduces the likelihood of the point of entry widening or tearing as I feel a barbless hook can do. The less the impact of the hooking hole, I feel, will allow a quicker recovery, with less chance of infection when a fish is released.

This can, as all things, be likened to a small finger cut will heal and disappear in a matter of days, whereas with a larger tear to your own flesh, will take longer and be more susceptible to infection, before healing.

There again, I, as I'm sure most of us here, have caught and landed fish with the hook well down through the gills, and as we know, whether barbed or barbless, there's no difference to the result.

On the basis therefore that I do fish to the beat's rule, and fish such beats before the end of May, I would answer yes, but I'm not convinced there is a strong argument, if the question is directed at conservation.

[buzzers]

I always use barbless for both fly and spinner never had any problems. Its easyer to unhook and return fish,