I always fish barbless (I crush the barbs flat) and was curious If anyone else is and what strategy they use when fighting a fish. Mine varies, depending on the size of the bass and nearby vegetation or structure. Some days I rarely drop a fish and other days I might drop 40% of the fish.

 

Large fish I back off the drag when close to my yak. Generally I've noticed that when they change direction I'm most likely to lose fish.

 

It goes without saying (but I'll say in anyway), I always keep a tight line.

 

Any suggestions?

 

I fish a private farm pond where the owner requires barbless hooks.

7'6 rod med moderate worked great.

 

I felt like I was fly fishing because don't care for anything over 7' but keeping a bent rod prevented lost fish.

I'm using a 7' rod which works really well being in a 10' yak.

 

I've noticed that when they slam my plastic my landing percentage goes up. When they are less than enthusiastic about striking my plastic, the dropped fish percentage goes up.

All about constatn tension barbs or not.  I think you have what you need to do and there isn't a magic formula.

When fishing barbless, I always try to ski the fish back to the boat.  Just reel them in as aggressively and quickly as you can.  If you can get ahead of the fish pull them in before they get a chance to fight, you stand a pretty good chance of landing them.  If you've got a big one that's peeling drag, then I don't know what to do.  Pray?  

My primary thought is when the fish is on, never… ever… allow the loss of tension in the line… period. I have caught salmon way bigger than any bass in places barbed hooks are illegal and I’ve never lost any fish while using barbless hooks — if I kept tension in the line for the entirety on the battle. This is the key because even a blue gill half the size of my hand can throw off a barbless hook. 

I also advocate barbless when at all possible. I was heavily involved with the FWC here in the state of Florida with the current land based shark fishing regulations. On the subject of hooks, I pushed hard for barbless circle hooks but it only worked out to be a recommendation in the revised state regulations, which mandate non-offset non-stainless circle hooks. Barbless hooks are a must, as far as I'm concerned, when it comes to a speedy release of a ticked off shark on the beach. With bass, maybe the same thing. As long as constant pressure is applied, shouldn't have a problem. 

I mainly fly fish and all my bass flies are barbless.  When I first started fishing for bass, particularly smallmouth, I lost quite a few when they jumped.  It took awhile but it finally dawned on me that when the fish jumped there was slack in my line that allowed the bass to throw the hook.  I learned my lesson about keeping tension on the fish.  It's a bit dicey with a 9 foot rod and a reel with a decent drag.  I fish barbless with my spinning gear and the same rule applies.  So to repeat what everyone else has said keep tension/pressure on the fish.   I'm not sure I would back off the drag when the fish gets close.  I'm fishing from the shore or a boat, not a kayak.   

I, too fish barbless or crush the barbs down. Mainly to make it easier on everybody when it comes to releasing. As far as strategy goes, its all about keeping constant tension. As soon as you let that fish get some slack, they usually win.

An experienced back-reeler will know what to do...

 

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I like seeing the barbless trend ?.  I have bad eyesight, so it benefits both the fish and me.

Tight line is the key.  Never give them slack, the only time I do is when they get caught on structure or weeds and I let them swim out of it then take up any slack immediately.  I don’t do this often with the barb, but have a few times just to try it.  Getting the barb out without hurting the fish is usually not a problem if you know the techniques.

No difference at all, you keep the line taught, barb or no barb.  Its the pressure that keeps the hook pinned.  A barb is like a secondary safety measure, it will help in a certain situation, but its not something you should depend on to make a difference.  Say you get a new car that has airbags where you're old one didn't.  That added safety feature shouldn't change the way you drive.