Fish handling and mortality. A review of the studies. Wet hands myth-busting.

[TCWNY]

I can't think of a single downside to barbless hooks

 

[wildtrout2]

I can't think of a single downside to barbless hooks

You can expect to lose a few more trout using them, but it's worth the sacrifice. Keeping a tight line keeps that to a minimum.

 

[afishinado]

You can expect to lose a few more trout using them, but it's worth the sacrifice. Keeping a tight line keeps that to a minimum.

While I'm sure that may be true at times, I use barbless hooks and purposely strip out line to give it slack when the trout gets close to try to release it without having to net it, and it almost never works. The fish stays hooked up. So don't be hesitant to fish barbless out of fear of losing fish. It's a lot more rare than many FFers believe.

 

[Yoder]

Most of the fish I catch come from a truck and die anyway when it gets hot.

 

[greywolf]

fishing below 32 degrees in winter is killing a lot of fish. gill filliments freeze and fish swim away only to suffacate after people move on. have seen this on some of the local creeks.

You have to kerp thr fish in the water when releasing in cold weather. I net them and keep net in water and release fish without exposing to air. No way to take a decent picture of the fish, but it keeps them alive.

 

[springer1]

Study makes my heart happy, maybe Just MAYBE the Fish Commission will mandate barbless hooks like so MANY other States have. For years I've been urging this on this forum, and well-meaning or credentialed people have been telling me I was wrong. To which I assumed that fish in PA must be more hardy than those in other states.

For goodness sakes, will the PA State PLEASE look past the tackle manufacturers lobbying and enact this? If the fish don't thank you, some littke kid with a hook in their hand past the barb will - or YOU will.

Do what's RIGHT !

 

[kbobb]

You can expect to lose a few more trout using them, but it's worth the sacrifice. Keeping a tight line keeps that to a minimum.

While I'm sure that may be true at times, I use barbless hooks and purposely strip out line to give it slack when the trout gets close to try to release it without having to net it, and it almost never works. The fish stays hooked up. So don't be hesitant to fish barbless out of fear of losing fish. It's a lot more rare than many FFers believe.

Agreed.

We're gonna let the fish go (most of the time) so what's the difference if they get off or not?
To me once the fish takes the fly and I feel the tug then I know I've fooled the fish, which is my main intent.
After that it doesn't matter if I touch it or not.

 

[Encoded]

Study makes my heart happy, maybe Just MAYBE the Fish Commission will mandate barbless hooks like so MANY other States have. For years I've been urging this on this forum, and well-meaning or credentialed people have been telling me I was wrong. To which I assumed that fish in PA must be more hardy than those in other states.

For goodness sakes, will the PA State PLEASE look past the tackle manufacturers lobbying and enact this? If the fish don't thank you, some littke kid with a hook in their hand past the barb will - or YOU will.

Do what's RIGHT !

If they cared that much they would close trout season in the warmer water months before dealing with barbless hooks