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fisher8
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Location: Adelaide, South Australia
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Barb or barbless hooks
I thought I might toss in a question to get some debate happening on fishing equipment. I do not yet own a fishing kayak, but the couple of times I have hired a swing I've felt a tad uneasy about using hooks with barbs. For one, a couple of times hooks have become caught on anchor ropes and are difficult to remove, but more importantly if you happen to lodge a barbed hook into flesh while at sea it could become a very difficult situation - particularly if a set of front trebles on a lure become attached to flesh whilst the rear trebles have several pounds of angry fish flapping around! Therefore, when I do get a kayak, I think I will make the effort to go barbless. I'm interested in your views, especially you seasoned kayak fishers!
---
A wannabe kayak fisher
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13/Jan/2005, 2:09 pm
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The Mariner
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
Hi,
I know first hand about the 'snagging on anchor rope problem'  but I don't have any regular problems with it. I think once you get our own kayak & fit it up neatly, rather than use a hired boat with impromptu rod leashes, paddle leashes etc. these incidences will diminish
In my opinion jamming a hook into your flesh is no more likely to happen in a kayak than it is a boat. The only difference is any disablement it creates may affect a paddler more (due to the physical activity reqd.) than a boater.
It's just not possible to use trebles without geting caught yourself... trebles seem to get caught in my fingers when I'm just playing with my lures at the kitchen table !
From what I have heard & read, barbless hooks don't reduce the chance of landing the fish so I too should make the effort to change over.
--- Regards,
Phil.
Forum Administrator.
Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories. |
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13/Jan/2005, 2:48 pm
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Dave Chucky
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
Just to throw my two bobs worth in,, I use a flyrod and after having a hook or two stick in my back and ear respectively I now use barbless hooks on all my flies.
Trolling with trebles I have only just started to crush the barbs ,, makes it easy to remove from your arm or leg but usually hand or fingers...usually happens when the fish gets off near the boat with rod loaded and acting like a spring it bullets back to you... glasses are a must
I feel I do lose more fish with the barb crushed but it just adds another element of skill to be learned, fighting the fish with no barb, constant pressure and smooth tactics.. oh yeh my hook up rate increased with crushed barbs,,so I guess overall catch rate evens out....It also allows release more efficiently,, specially with a decent size fish thrashing near ya yak,,(well works like that in me tinny,,one day will catch big fish from yak... 
Last edited by Dave Chucky, 13/Jan/2005, 2:58 pm
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Dave_Chucky
Geraldton WA
------------------
FINN Kayak "Gizmo"
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13/Jan/2005, 2:55 pm
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Meoldchina
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
All my HB lures have been de-barbed and I'm now starting to do the same on my jigs.
Sure, barbless hooks make it easier to remove them from fingers, hats, decklines, lifejackets, ears, landing nets, and flapping fish, but the most important thing is to be able to quickly remove your trebles from the expensive fabric lounge suite before the missus notices (I assume the rest of you also rig up your gear on Saturday arvo in the lounge room whilst watching fishing shows or the footy on TV).
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13/Jan/2005, 8:17 pm
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The Mariner
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
--- Regards,
Phil.
Forum Administrator.
Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories. |
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14/Jan/2005, 6:59 am
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billbob
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
Below is a short article I wrote on the KFS website which I think relates to this thread:
Every so often something happens to remind me that this sport has a certain element of risk. Not such a bad thing, I think, as it stops me from being too complacent, at least for a while.
Last January I had a little wake up call that I hope will serve me well for a few seasons. The weather at the time was almost as good as it gets, nominal swell, top of the tide about 7.30am. I was on the water at 5.15am and out in my troll zone (a bit over three km's off the beach) before 6am. Half an hour later I got a solid strike on a trolled Pilchard and after about a good five minutes got the fish close enough to the yak to confirm it was a small Cobia (Black Kingfish)... about 5kg.
As it didn't show any signs of tiring, and being impatient to get back on the troll, I brought it to the side, lip gripped it and attempted to remove the three ganged 5/0 hooks and release it. The fish was still pretty green and the angle difficult so I hauled it on board and went to work with the long nose pliers. I got the bottom hook out from under the fish's chin and was working on the next one when it gave an almighty heave and threw itself sideways and down.
Funny, all I felt was a slight tug on my lower right leg but when I looked down I saw that the free 5/0 hook had gone right through a good inch of flesh about 4 inches above the ankle (only about an 1/8th inch deep, fortunately) and back out. So now I'm thinking... bugger! The fish, of course, is still shaking its head (although I'm naturally doing my best to limit its movements), only now my leg is firmly attached to it. Fortunately my small, very sharp diver's knife is always in easy reach in my vest pocket. In a few seconds I had the knife out, laid the cutting edge on the stretched skin just under the curve of the hook, and sliced firmly. Got it first time and didn't feel a thing for about 3 or 4 minutes, but by then I'd gaffed the now to be terminated Cobia, removed the other hooks and stowed the soon to be filleted fish in the rear tank well. The cut in my leg was just above the top of my rubber diving boot so what blood there was was contained in the boot.
Lesson?
1) Never bring a strong, still green fish like a Cobia, Tuna or Mackerel on board your kayak... always play a fish like that (if you intend to keep it) until it's just about on its last legs.
2) Always use a gaff (through the gill and out the mouth like a lifting hook) to lift that sort of fish on board. A lip gripper does not give you the same sort of control over a strong pelagic.
3) Always have a quality diver's knife close at hand, for a variety of reasons.
Anyway, once I got the Cobia stowed in the front hatch (rolled up in two wet towels and inside a plastic bin liner) I was able to inspect my impromtu surgical wound.. not too bad, stung just a little when I washed it with sea water but otherwise ok.
The flap of flesh probably could have done with a few stitches but it sat fairly flush under a band aid when I got home so I didn't worry about.
I've still got a half inch by quarter inch purple scar just above my right ankle as a reminder.
Now, after all that, did I go barbless? No. I'm just a lot more wary of 'green' fish on the deck these days.
The species I like to target throughout summer is the Spanish Mackerel and one of their favourite tricks is to rush your yak, create slack line and head-shake free (when they go aerial it's pretty spectacular). Reality is, after (in some cases) two or three hours of paddle trolling to perhaps secure one major hook-up, I feel I can do without the added degree of difficulty that comes with barbless hooks.
I might (this time around) de-barb the trebles on my smaller lures for winter when we're chasing tailor, snapper, dart, kingies etc. Hey... at least it's a start.
---
Perception Swing Angler
Perception Synchro Angler
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www.fishingnoosa.com.au
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14/Jan/2005, 7:40 am
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fisher8
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
Thanks for the replies all. I am aware of a tragic event where a surf fisherman drowned due to the fact that whilst wading and casting lures in the surf zone he put one hook through a toe, and whilst trying to release that got another hook through a thumb, which prevented him from swimming and saving himself. Albeit a rarish event, a similar circumstance on a kayak could be tragic - I'm fairly well convinced that barbless is the way to go.
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A wannabe kayak fisher
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14/Jan/2005, 8:07 am
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Yak Man
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
As a rule most of the guys in the club carry pliers that are capable of cutting through a hook. It is alot easier to push a hook through than it is to pull it back out.
To cop a hook in the leg or torso is on most occasions not an issue as it usually only results in a superficial wound.To get one in your hand or even your arm is a different story as it could hinder your ability to paddle.
Whilst on the topic of hooks..... when paddling out through the surf it is a good idea to put your lures on your line once you are clear of the impact zone and to also remove them on the way back in.
We have had two incidents of people sustaining hook injuries through failing to take note of the above advice.
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Regards, Phil (O.K. Prowler).
**************************
Dawn Prawn Kayak Fishing Club.
Mona Vale Beach.
**************************
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14/Jan/2005, 10:11 am
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The Mariner
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
Excellent posts Bill & Phil.
I believe there are 2 pieces of good safety advice for the kayak fisherman in these guys posts...
1).. Bill's comment "Fortunately my small, very sharp diver's knife is always in easy reach in my vest pocket."
I believe carrying a knife on your PFD is ESSENTIAL. Bill used it to advantage in his situation and imagine if that surf fisheman was a kayaker, hooked himself up & fell overboard. If he had a knife he could cut the line & swim. Without it, well....
2).. Phil's comment "put your lures on your line once you are clear of the impact zone and to also remove them on the way back in."
Good advice that will certainly prevent injury.
--- Regards,
Phil.
Forum Administrator.
Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories. |
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14/Jan/2005, 11:26 am
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keljad
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Re: Barb or barbless hooks
Just a quick one, crushing your barbs increases your hook up rate as there is less resistance on penetration, and so long as you keep tension on the line, there isnt a problem. How many times has anyone caught a fish and the comment "he's only just hooked" been made? This is commonly from the barb restricting penetration. After wearing a CD5 Rapala through the bridge of my nose, having no-one with me at the time and not being able to see to operate on myself, I always crush my barbs now and advise everybody to do the same. Its kinder on the fish, and to us aswell.
Cheers all,
James
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James
(with the "little minnow")
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3/Apr/2005, 9:40 am
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