Can you crimp down the barb on a hook for salmon?

Hi all,

Recently went fishing and crimped down the barb on my hook to go Salmon fishing. Does that count as barbless? I was a bit stressed thinking that it may still be considered a barb. Any advice appreciated!

-R

Hi all,

Recently went fishing and crimped down the barb on my hook to go Salmon fishing. Does that count as barbless? I was a bit stressed thinking that it may still be considered a barb. Any advice appreciated!

-R

Run your thumb along the barb.  If it catches, it's not enough.  I typically bend and file them until it doesn't catch the skin of my thumb at all.

Maybe bring a cotton ball and run it past....

It should, but I've been warned that it better be able to pass a cotton ball test by a warden.  I've not seem them actually do this personally, not that I fish a lot for salmon, but have heard it from several sources.  However I've been pretty successful at crimping the barb by first crimping, then taking my pliers and doing a rotation around the barb to further get rid of it.  But barbless is probably best, but hard to find at times.

Hi all,

Recently went fishing and crimped down the barb on my hook to go Salmon fishing. Does that count as barbless? I was a bit stressed thinking that it may still be considered a barb. Any advice appreciated!

-R

Run your thumb along the barb.  If it catches, it's not enough.  I typically bend and file them until it doesn't catch the skin of my thumb at all.

The skin on the thumb is a bit too thick... I received advice several years ago from a seasoned veteran that scrotum skin is best.   

The skin on the thumb is a bit too thick... I received advice several years ago from a seasoned veteran that scrotum skin is best.   

The training was "foreskin", bro.   

keep a small pair of vice grips and a rattail file in your tackle box.  It only takes a minute to completely remove a barb with those tools.

From Stuart's Salmon sticky....

"Try to buy the barbed hooks and crimp them as opposed to barbless. You're still legal, but the little nub from the crimped barb holds the bait better and may possibly help keep a fish on too."

From Stuart's Salmon sticky....

"Try to buy the barbed hooks and crimp them as opposed to barbless. You're still legal, but the little nub from the crimped barb holds the bait better and may possibly help keep a fish on too."

+1

The skin on the thumb is a bit too thick... I received advice several years ago from a seasoned veteran that scrotum skin is best.   

The training was "foreskin", bro.   

I don't think the hospital kept it... so gotta go with scrotum

Use bait buttons for keeping the bait on your barbless hooks. I use them for sturgeon fishing and they work great!

I'm a little anal about things so I did mine with a dremmel and tiny grinding wheel. I also have a hook vise from some long ago fly tying days. 

I use an old points file to remove the barb.

For you young whippersnappers, you had to change the points in your distributor as well as set the Tach & Dwell. You could extend the period between these changes by using a point file to clean the contact points.

If you have no idea what a Distributor is....Well, just forget it.

Kevin

I use an old points file to remove the barb.

For you young whippersnappers, you had to change the points in your distributor as well as set the Tach & Dwell. You could extend the period between these changes by using a point file to clean the contact points.

If you have no idea what a Distributor is....Well, just forget it.

Kevin

You're making me feel old...

I use an old points file to remove the barb.

For you young whippersnappers, you had to change the points in your distributor as well as set the Tach & Dwell. You could extend the period between these changes by using a point file to clean the contact points.

If you have no idea what a Distributor is....Well, just forget it.

Kevin

You're making me feel old...

Your not old bud, I got 10 years on you!