I think I am going to start removing the barbs from most of my hooks. Still haven't decided if I am going to do it on my cranks and other swimming baits but all of my worm/jig set ups I think I would like to do it. Would like to know if anyone else is doing it and what they have found to be the easiest way to remove the barbs. I know you can crimp them, file (by hand or with dremel) etc but just thought I would see what most have found to be the easiest.

 

Thanks

I wouldn't have the patience to grind them down. I'd just crimp them closed with pliers. But grinding would probably be the best way, imo.

Crunch with pliers. A little twist, if needed, will usually clear the barb. Maybe not the prettiest, but pretty quick and painless.

Pliers.

I fished a private lake some years back where the owner required barbless hooks.

I made pretty quick work using a vice and flat file.

I go barbless most of the time now by crimping the barb down with pliers.  I don't worry about gut or eye hooked fish anymore.

I flatten down the barbs on all my worm hooks. Makes getting them out easy peasy. Just use plyers. No need to grind down, which might compromise the area causing breakage. 

We need a good hook company to make barbless trebles.   Unhooking a jetkbait from a fish with a mouthful of #6 or #8 trebles is nerve racking.

Ok so I know I'm not the sharpest tool but when folks say pliers are most using needle nose pliers?

3 hours ago, KP Duty said:

We need a good hook company to make barbless trebles.   Unhooking a jetkbait from a fish with a mouthful of #6 or #8 trebles is nerve racking.

I honestly dont understand how this isnt an option already....

 

These companies act like everyone that buys there lures is a competition bass fisherman, and theres money on the line. But most of their sales are just to regular people who dont like gut hooking bass, or going to the ER to get a hook out.

 

There was a time where i debarbed all my hooks, for bass, panfish, and trout.

I just took pliers and flattened it, some broke off some had a smooth finish, the problem is its time consuming. It takes awhile, and has to be redone with each new tackle purchase.

 

Any brand that makes this an option i will support.

3 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I honestly dont understand how this isnt an option already....

 

These companies act like everyone that buys there lures is a competition bass fisherman, and theres money on the line. But most of their sales are just to regular people who dont like gut hooking bass, or going to the ER to get a hook out.

 

There was a time where i debarbed all my hooks, for bass, panfish, and trout.

I just took pliers and flattened it, some broke off some had a smooth finish, the problem is its time consuming. It takes awhile, and has to be redone with each new tackle purchase.

 

Any brand that makes this an option i will support.

Yeah I agree I wish I had the option when purchasing to have a choice since I would go for the ones without a barb but maybe we are few in numbers, just wish I had the option. I will start pinching mine down.

VMC 9648BZ Barbless Treble Hooks Sizes 12 - 2 - Barlow's Tackle (barlowstackle.com)

 

Tom

You can also just pinch them down partially, then if you ever want to, you can stick something like an X-acto knife blade behind the barb and raise it back up. You can only do it like once before the barb breaks off.

 

I went through a barb-less phase, then started losing too many fish and went back. I'm not saying barb-less is bad, but it may not be for you. I like something in between.

 

1 hour ago, bishoptf said:

Ok so I know I'm not the sharpest tool but when folks say pliers are most using needle nose pliers?

 

Yes, the inner part of the pliers that are flat.

I only fish barbless.

 

I crimp with needle nose pliers.  For flies, that's as much as I do.  For hooks used with plastics, I also use a Dremel with a bit used to sharpen a chainsaw.  

 

I also always wear eye protection and a mask.  I don't want a metal sliver in my eye or inhaled.

 

I also wish there were better options for thin wire barbless hooks.  Also I would love to see more options for hard baits with thin wire barbless single hooks vs. trebles (vs. me having to change my own).