What’s the trick to bending rather than snapping (grrr) barbs?

[Kms]

I would guess I’m maybe 3 for 4 when crushing barbs, which sucks. Also brands vary widely: Mustads will usually cooperate, but Daiichis do not.

I’ve tried different pliers, my vise, differing angles, and speeds from moderate to slow to really friggin slow. What’s the trick that I’m missing?
——
My point here is that I don’t like the little pieces of metal shrapnel. And before captain obvious says “use barbless,” yeah, I will, after I work through my inventory of barbed hooks.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Are you saying that you don't want them to snap off? I am happy when that happens.

I used to tie with Dai-riki and they snapped often. I switched to Tiemco after dai-riki went out of business and they rarely if ever break

 

[dryflyguy]

I dont think it really matters if the barb bends or snaps off - the idea is to just get rid of it
However, its a good idea to do it before you tie the fly
Occasionally, the whole hook point will break off

Another option is to file it off

 

[Kms]

Are you saying that you don't want them to snap off? I am happy when that happens.

I used to tie with Dai-riki and they snapped often. I switched to Tiemco after dai-riki went out of business and they rarely if ever break

No I don’t want sharp little pieces of shrapnel.

 

[Kms]

I dont think it really matters if the barb bends or snaps off - the idea is to just get rid of it
However, its a good idea to do it before you tie the fly
Occasionally, the whole hook point will break off

Another option is to file it off

I always do it before tying, and I don’t like the sharp little pieces.

 

[dryflyguy]

I always do it before tying, and I don’t like the sharp little pieces.

Barbs are smaller now on most hooks, which causes them to break off more often when pinching IMO
But I've never worried about where they go

 

[Nocktavius]

Depending on how many you’ve got, I’d consider buying some actual barbless hooks. The comp style points and gap width on those are designed to keep fish pinned better than just mashing the barb on a hook that was designed to use the barb. You’ll definitely weaken the finer wire of dry fly hooks especially by mashing the barb.

 

[wildtrout2]

Depending on how many you’ve got, I’d consider buying some actual barbless hooks.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Dr.J 1952]

Get a pair of small needle nose pliers. The ones I have are smooth but I also have serrated ones that work. Been tying flies 33 years using just about every brand of tying hook out there and have never had an issue. Flatten the barbs by coming in from the side.

 

[Solitariolupo]

I’d just buy barbless they cost just as much and I don’t pinch or break nothing.

 

[SBecker]

Depending on how many you’ve got, I’d consider buying some actual barbless hooks. The comp style points and gap width on those are designed to keep fish pinned better than just mashing the barb on a hook that was designed to use the barb. You’ll definitely weaken the finer wire of dry fly hooks especially by mashing the barb.

Nah, don't do that. They were created for competition fishing. You don't want to promote that aspect of FF.

 

[Cznymph]

Nah, don't do that. They were created for competition fishing. You don't want to promote that aspect of FF.

The first barbless hook was patented in 1877, I’m afraid that competition fly fishing is a much newer concept than that.

 

[Dr.J 1952]

There is a much larger selection of barbless hooks today than there were thirty plus years ago. It takes a few seconds to place a barbed hook upside down in the vice and flatten down the barb.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I always do it before tying, and I don’t like the sharp little pieces.

Our local M&T Bank has an excessive amount of giveaway car magnets. (Too many Redskins fans around southern MD and hardly anyone wants Ravens stuff.) I lay them all over the table magnet-side up (along with some sticky-side-up painter tape) when I file ramps onto guides when I'm putting a rod together. This does a great job catching the metal dust and would probably catch most of your barb shards when de-barbing your hooks.

 

[troutbert]

Protect your eyes when bending down barbs.

It seems like I have better luck by applying the pressure to the area where the barb splits off from the hook, rather than applying pressure further out closer to the point.

 

[jifigz]

I just crush the barb with my hemostats.....a slight bump remains, but I'm satisfied with the results.

 

[jifigz]

The first barbless hook was patented in 1877, I’m afraid that competition fly fishing is a much newer concept than that.

I think he meant hooks that state they are competition hooks, like these.

 

[Kms]

Our local M&T Bank has an excessive amount of giveaway car magnets. (Too many Redskins fans around southern MD and hardly anyone wants Ravens stuff.) I lay them all over the table magnet-side up (along with some sticky-side-up painter tape) when I file ramps onto guides when I'm putting a rod together. This does a great job catching the metal dust and would probably catch most of your barb shards when de-barbing your hooks.

I’ve ringed my vise base with magnets so I can drop hooks or tools, and that catches the little pieces, but I’d rather not have the pieces.

 

[Kms]

I just crush the barb with my hemostats.....a slight bump remains, but I'm satisfied with the results.

When I’m successful, that’s what happens.

 

[troutbert]

Flyfishers Paradise used to sell Xuron pliers (and maybe still do) that were ideal for pinching down barbs. I just keep them with my fly tying gear, and pinch down every barb before putting the hook in the vise.

I think these Xuron pliers are from the electronics industry. They are perfect for small to medium sized flies.

For big hooks, I use heavier duty needle nose pliers.