Barbless Tournaments?

[OkobojiEagle]

What's your opinion... If bass tournaments were to become barbless, would the techniques used and/or the tournament results change?  Would the same anglers that are winning today still come out on top?  Any difference in outcomes when considering local club tournaments or BASS elite events?  I'm talking barbless, not forcing anyone into finesse techniques.  No hidden motives here, just looking for opinions from guys who actually fish bass tournaments.

 

 

oe

[J Francho]

The guys that are exclusively barbless contend that there's no drawbacks to this.  If that's true, then I'd expect no change in technique and tactics.  I'll just say this, banning barbs would have a greater impact on my fishing than a rule against something like umbrella rigs or "strolling."  I'm not convinced that the barb serves no other purpose than to hold the bait to the hook.  I'm also not convinced the nominal tissue damage caused by the barb has a greater long term effect on mortality than does barbless.  Lastly, I DO think barbless are easier to remove.  In certain situations, I've pinched the barbs down.  Don't tell Paul Roberts though, he'll bring crow wings next time he's in town, lol.

[Scott F]

I think the long term effects of barbless hooks is not from the size of the hole the hook makes, but by making it easier to remove the hook, there is less chance of hurting the fish permanently.

[RSM789]

I think the long term effects of barbless hooks is not from the size of the hole the hook makes, but by making it easier to remove the hook *, there is less chance of hurting the fish permanently.

 

I would agree with that if you added "by beginning to moderately experienced anglers" at the red asterisk.

 

Most experienced fisherman can remove hooks pretty quickly, even on gut hooked fish.  It is ironic that those who would lose the most fish with barbless hooks (less experienced anglers) are the ones who should be using them to help lower the fish mortality rate.

[OkobojiEagle]

My question didn't ask about mortality, I wanted to know if tournament anglers... the guys who fish for dollars and prizes... would fish differently if they had to fish barbless.  If so, in what way would they fish differently?

 

 

oe

[OkobojiEagle]

The guys that are exclusively barbless contend that there's no drawbacks to this.  If that's true, then I'd expect no change in technique and tactics.  I'll just say this, banning barbs would have a greater impact on my fishing than a rule against something like umbrella rigs or "strolling."  I'm not convinced that the barb serves no other purpose than to hold the bait to the hook.  I'm also not convinced the nominal tissue damage caused by the barb has a greater long term effect on mortality than does barbless.  Lastly, I DO think barbless are easier to remove.  In certain situations, I've pinched the barbs down.  Don't tell Paul Roberts though, he'll bring crow wings next time he's in town, lol.

 

What impact would banning barbs have on your fishing???  Isn't the obvious purpose of a barb on a fish hook to pin the fish to the hook?  I find I have to play LARGER bass more "gingerly" with barbless hooks than smaller bass and more attention has to be paid to keeping modest pressure on the line with the rod.  Ultimately I lose a few larger bass each year fishing barbless.

 

 

oe

[J Francho]

Many barbless proponents say the barb doesn't matter and they don't lose any more or less. Your being honest, and I appreciate that.

Those big ones always find a way, don't they? I guess that's part of the fun.

[Justin Mott]

I don't think it would make much of a difference. In my opinion, baits with longer hooks will still do the job nicely. Jigs, spinnerbaits, plastics, etc. Where I would be concerned would be topwater and crankbaits. They typically have smaller hooks which means that it would take less movement for the hook to come loose.

 

Does anyone have experience with barbless treble hooked baits?

 

Justin Mott

[aavery2]

It is a requirement in KS when spoonbill fishing to use barbless hooks.  The only real difference that I have noticed is that it becomes even more important to keep pressure on the fish, something that good fisherman are already very skilled at.

[Catch 22]

I used to be a strong advocate of barbless hooks [and still am],but I got lambasted on a few  sites and that still puzzles me.

I find little to no difference from one to the other. Any difference I would mention would be to keep more pressure  on a fish til landed. Also if one is fishing C & R what difference does it make if one escapes because of no barbs?

C22

[Chris S]

What's your opinion... If bass tournaments were to become barbless, would the techniques used and/or the tournament results change?  Would the same anglers that are winning today still come out on top?  Any difference in outcomes when considering local club tournaments or BASS elite events?  I'm talking barbless, not forcing anyone into finesse techniques.  No hidden motives here, just looking for opinions from guys who actually fish bass tournaments.

 

 

oe

I heard a few years ago about a possible Tourny on Ray Scotts Dream Lake, using barbless hooks and only 4 pound line. That would be fun to watch!!

[OkobojiEagle]

I heard a few years ago about a possible Tourny on Ray Scotts Dream Lake, using barbless hooks and only 4 pound line. That would be fun to watch!!

 

That was several years ago and remembering that is exactly what re-kindled the question in my mind...

 

 

oe