Barbs are Barbaric

[LakeConjolaFish]

Hi All,

How do you get rid of your barbs?

1. Crush them with pliers.

2. File them off.

3. Crush them and file them off.

I just crush them.
When doing so, the barb sometimes breaks off anyway.

Dave

[Craig_S]

I just crush them too.

[LakeConjolaFish]

I find that my pair of needle nose pliers dont have enough grunt to do the job satisfactory, so I need to use a bigger pair of pliers that sometimes is hard to get just the barb and not the point of the hook.
And I like to get that "bump" out of the way with a small needle nose diamond file.

Maybe I just have way tooooooooo much time on my hands

I haven't had any problems with crushing my barbs with my small needle nose pliers.
Mate if you've got the time, and if the filing gives you a bit more piece of mind, its worth it. Fishing is a confidence thing, so anything that adds to your confidence is worth doing!!!


Dave

[LakeConjolaFish]

I couldn't agree with you more

Maybe I should invest in a quality pair of needle nose pliers and leave my made in China specials in the tool shed

But then again everything is "Made in PRC"

How I hate "stainless steel" that isn't........It's more like "stainless steeling"

The split ring pliers that Warren has in the online store have been great so far with no rust!!!

I wish I could get a pair of long nose fishing pliers with a spring action of the same quality.

[Ravin]

Your right Jim "Quality" pliers are the go. I just crush them myself & have no problems releasing fish.

[beefaman]

i just crush mine too ! It is fairly easy with a good set of pliers!

[mike_mad_fisho]

gday
i have got these awesome pliers the have got some eye openers for ganging hooks and they r great for crushing barbs.
michael

[Dave W]

I crush them with the Leatherman

Don't forget that if you file them off/down, it removes any protective coating the hook may have had - give the spot a touch up with a black marker, or (as sort of suggested in another thread) nail polish.