Barbless hooks are a popular tactic for trout fisherman  but, have you ever tried them for bass? If so, did it noticeably increase your hook ups on either green or brown bass? Also, do you think this tactic would increase the odds of less damage to a bass during hook removal in the event of a bass swallowing a bait down to its gullet?

I have never tried barbless hooks before but I know in some states its a law that you have to use barbless hooks on some fish if there not in season.

I put them on some of my floating jerkbaits that I smallie fish with in the streams. I found that if I could keep them down they did fine but if they took to the sky they were throwing the lure with ease. This was a few years ago so I am sure that they are making better barbless hooks now.

I have crimped down the barb on several of my lures to get the hook out easier. On subsequent fish i didnt really notice a better hookup ratio, but one thing its good for is practice in not losing fish after a hookup. After fishing a few outings with barbless hooks I think I lose a lot less fish from not playing them right and in landing the fish. Both with hooks with barbs and without.

I pinch the barbs down on every thing from crank baits, to jigs, soft plastic, literally everything. I don't notice either an increase in hook ups or lost fish. Pinching the bards certainly lessenes the damage done unhooking a fish either deep, lip hooked or as is so ofter externally hooked on cranks and surface baits.

A pinched down barb is much easier to get out of you and your clothes. In a hot biteI think I catch more fish because I get the fish unhooked quicker and the lure back in the water sooner.

I haven't ever tried them either.

I've pinched the barb down too.  It comes out a bit easier.  You still have to work it out, but its just easier.

Al

When I stripper fishing I pinched down the barbs.  No problem with then throwing the hook.

I use the barbless hooks when fishing a carolina rig deep for smallies. Most of the time by the time you feel a hit in 25+ feet of water the fish has swallowed the bait. It is so much easier to remove the hook and not damage the fish. Only lost 2 fish using them in the last couple of years. But this is the only time I use them.

Barbless fishing is the way to go - aside from the angler's own personal safety, it's just better for the fish.  I think that it should be advocated as much as catch and release.  And I always thought that if ya keep your rod tip up, and have a strong hookset a lack of a barb means little if anything.

Daryl

What companies make barbless hooks ?

barbless hooks? this is a bass fishing forum.  are you trout fishing?

I personally fish for all species with barbless hooks.  A rare exception is when I'm crappie fishing and eating them, but that's only once or twice a year, and even then I'll still catch myself smashing it out of habit.

Daryl

I know this is a bass fishing forum hookum12, I was asking if anyone ever tried barbless for bass, read my initial thread. I am going to try it for deep water smallies this year. Just experimenting, thats all.

I smash barbs on pretty much every hook I own unless its a topwater bait.  

I don't recall losing any fish because of the barbs being gone..only because I set a hook too early or because I didn't have them hooked good to begin with.

         barbless hooks? this is a bass fishing forum.      

You don't have to have a barb to catch a bass

I do it flyfishing or if the fish are really swallowing the bait. Otherwise I leave them alone....If money is on the line I dont suggest it, Ease of release isnt a good thing then

justfishin, to answer your original question, yes, it is easier to remove a hook from the gut if the barb is mashed down. The In-Fisherman method, which Avid posted a link to, is by far the best way to deal with a guthooked fish. I've done it with both barbed and barless hooks. Barbless is better. There is one place I fish regularly, where the fish are so aggressive that, at times,  they swallow Senkos and Ikas before you can set the hook. I started flattening the barbs down when fishing there. I do it now anytime I'm using scented or salted plastics. For me, these are the baits that get swallowed.

Cheers,

GK

BPS had a series of hooks called the conservationist series that were barbless worm,offset and trebles made for bass fishing.  They no longer carry them, lack of demand!  They were made for them by Eagle Claw.  I checked with them when I was looking for them for inshore fishing.  They said they no longer make them but would make a small lot of ten thousand if I was interested.  Ive never seen any other bass oriented barbless hooks.

I unknowingly bought a barbless chatterbait last summer.  The first time it was used was by one of the partners at my firm.  My career was beginning to hang in the balance when I caught number 18 and he hadn't landed a single bass.  Fortunately, I finally realized there was no barb and gave him a new lure.

I take an extra peek at the hook when I buy lures now.

I crush barbs on everything, salt water & fresh. Love the super easy removal, especially on bigger pickeral and blues.