Barbless Hooks?

George Cawthorn · Post by **George Cawthorn** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:20 pm

I have heard that in most pro tournaments barbless hooks are used.

I have also been to a private lake where "barbless hooks only" was posted as a regulation.

At the time I assumed that meant crunching down the barb with my pliers.

Is that what the pros do or are there special barbless hooks made for the tournaments? Also if crunching the barb down is what to do, are the hooks also tweaked in some way?

Fire Ball · Post by **Fire Ball** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:59 pm

I think they make barbless hooks, but if you are cheap, just crunch them down, lol. I think that you would lose a lot of fish without the barbs...

johnnie crain outdoors · Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:39 am

There are several barbless hooks manufacured for all types fishing. Bending the barb down is okay, but may actually lead to additional lost fish. Where the barb is bent downn it makes a larger hole than a barbless hook does. That hole may cause the fish to rip loose. I don't agree that barbed hooks are needed or even wanted for the most part. With several thousand $$$ on the line-I want a barb maybe two? Not sure in all instances if bending down a barb would qualify as a barbless hook-like at some trout fishing accesses.? Never fished a tournament with only barbless hooks-I probably woul;dn't enter. JC

George Cawthorn · Post by **George Cawthorn** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:18 am

I was under the impression that the Bassmasters Tournament was barbless hooks only.

I do recall seeing some videos and was surprised how easily they could get the fish unbuttoned. There must be a lot more skill involved in landing them with out the barbs.

I would imagine you can't give them the slightest slack that way.

kspringer · Post by **kspringer** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:34 am

I dont know of any tournaments that are "barbless" hooks. I do know that most pros will use barbless hooks during pre fishing for tournaments. This allows them to hook the fish and get a feel for size of fish, but allows them to "shake" fish off more easily without handling fish. They feel this reduces stress and makes them more likely to catch the fish during the tournament.

George Cawthorn · Post by **George Cawthorn** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:29 am

Well anyway I thought I had heard that somewhere.

Maybe what I saw on the videos was them doing it in practice.

It did look like they got them off so easy... I was wondering.

johnnie crain outdoors · Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:56 am

No they aren't barbless hooks, just years of practice removing hooks from fish. Ever watch them slap a spinnerbait, jig or crankbait on the end and the hook pops out. Works really well. When I tried barbless hooks on crankbaits I lost some fish I think I could have caught-you never know. Won't use them in any tournament thouigh. JC

George Cawthorn · Post by **George Cawthorn** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:27 am

Well this may sound really stupid but I thought that the pros on the tour were so good they didn't need barbs.

Just get em hooked and keep them on without giving them any slack at all.

johnnie crain outdoors · Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:38 am

It's true they don't let a fish fight much.Bass can throw a lure with six barbs in its mouth, I wonder how they do it?

George Cawthorn · Post by **George Cawthorn** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:46 am

The pro I used to watch that just blew me away with that never let them have an inch of slack action was Woo Daves.