Barbless?

Do any of you crush or grind off your barbs?  Am I nuts for thinking of doing so?

Do any of you crush or grind off your barbs?

Yes

Am I nuts for thinking of doing so?

No

They say some of the DFG do a cotton ball test.  Maybe, this is just a Urban Myth?  The test is that they run a cotton ball over the barb and if it hangs up.  Then they site you.  I only few times I have been check is on a party and they only look at your hooks.

Ken kickfish

Ken, that's bandied about quite a bit, and has proven to be an urban myth. No warden will go on record saying that they use cotton gloves or cotton balls to test barbs.

I have read of a flyfishing author getting busted for an incompletely crushed barb. But the judge in that case ruled that since the barb was only 10% present, the individual would only have to pay 10% of the standard fine. Nice to see a jurist that looks at the spirit of the law.

Regards,
Scott

But,  Scott,

I still remember a DGF hinding behind a fence and brushes waiting for Joel and I think John D at Linda Mar.  He also had his hand on his gun?  I pull up with my truck and Yak.  He saw me and then stood up and walked to the beach.I think I fished Half Moon Bay that day.  Joel and John said that guy check for everything.  Think in their bags and inside the Yaks.  Probably looking for over limits. And what is bit with a hand on a gun?

Also, I got a ticket for going 56 mph on hwy 237 after the 55 mph per hour law was passed.  I was taking my Dad to go fish Del Valle. So, I just think it depends on the Officer.  And you know it all about the money.

Ken kickfish

I'm not talking about just for salmon...  for everything!

Eric B,

Unless I am specifically looking to catch and keep as in bait or for food I generally crush the barbs. For catch and release there is nothing like it, just give the hook or lure a little shake and the fish is gone, often you can release (especially from a kayak) without ever bringing the fish out of the water. When I first started my hookup ratio did seem to go down a bit but now there is no difference. You just can't reef a fish in or allow it a lot of slack when you go barbless.

Jeff

Jeff,

I think Eric B is mainly talking about hooks for Salmon.  Trolling or mooching....they both need to be crushed or you will get that nice ticket.

Ken kickfish

No warden will go on record saying that they use cotton gloves or cotton balls to test barbs.

This has happened to me while steelhead fishing.  Thankfully the warden has moved on to Marysville so if thats your area keep an eye out!

I'm not talking about just for salmon...  for everything!

Jeff,

I think Eric B is mainly talking about hooks for Salmon.  Trolling or mooching....they both need to be crushed or you will get that nice ticket.

Ken kickfish

??????

I'm not talking about just for salmon...  for everything!

Jeff,

I think Eric B is mainly talking about hooks for Salmon.  Trolling or mooching....they both need to be crushed or you will get that nice ticket.

Ken kickfish

??????

"see what I mean"

I'm not talking about just for salmon...  for everything!

Jeff,

I think Eric B is mainly talking about hooks for Salmon.  Trolling or mooching....they both need to be crushed or you will get that nice ticket.

Ken kickfish

??????

"see what I mean"

No. What do you mean?

Sorry for the confusion.  I'm thinking of going barbless for largemouth, mostly to aid in release since I don't eat em. 

Was just wondering if it's a stupid idea to crush my bard for rockfish too...  I do eat those, but I don't mind missing a few hookups if it means I can release the undersized ones without tearing em up, (both the fish, and my hands).

Here this might help explain nseal67's "see what I mean" phrase.

I will continue to read and enjoy this forum just like many others do. I just hate reading a great thread and some num-nut starts posting nothing but crap. But every time this person posts something dumb or stupid, I will post this line "see what I mean". And I promise to leave it at that.

As for the barbless question.. if you're willing to possibly loose a few fish along the way and maybe want to practice better catch and release, barbless is the way to go.

If you have the inclination to do it I would say you should always do it.

you might lose a couple, but you migh also hook a few more:

on some fish the lack of a barb can help the hook penetrate better. those big barbs
on a 8/0 O'Shaunessey require some setting oompf to get them in there.
note the owner and gami hooks have much smaller barbs.

more sporting, safer for the fish and potentially more importantly:

barbless is also safer for the humans.

scwafish put a big jig hook deep in his palm while out at sea.

sixmhz kid riley got a gami baitholder in the ear perch fishing.

as a kid, I put a hook through my thumb pier fishing.

I have worried about that at times, being out there by myself. that would suck paddling
in with an 8oz jig stuck through your palm!

I don't crimp all my barbs, but I do it on a lot of them, and definitely crimp the barbs
when I'm around my kids or for their hooks.

I say crimp 'em all if you are inclined to do so

John