Barbless hooks for river chub

[alsur]

I use Kamasan Animal barbless for most of my river float fishing now only going to a lighter hook if bites are hard to come by.

 

[Browner]

Either Drennan Silverfish pellet or Drennan Wide gape pellet, all pre tied hooks to nylon. Don’t own a barbed hook and haven’t for over 20 years.

 

[Silverfisher]

Always barbless hooks for all coarse fishing for me which is mostly on rivers. Mostly drennan silverfish but kamasan b911, b611 and b510 all get outings as well at times.

 

[NoCarpPlease]

Thanks guys put my mind at rest. Got a load of barbless drennan superspecialists and kammy animals from sz 6 down to 14 which will be great.

So at that size I’d imagine you’ll be legering rather than float fishing?

certainly, even micro barbs will be correspondingly larger on hooks of that size, compared to size 18 and 20:hooks that I’d normally be using.

Personally I use both micro barbed and barbless patterns ... generally Drennan carbon feeder when targeting chub specifically. simply because I have confidence in them, which is 95% of the recipe for success

 

[bluemack]

Animal barbless for my very rare commie trip(about twice a year) and Animal barbed for all my river fishing.

 

[Cobweb]

I haven’t used barbed hooks in donkeys years for any species & can’t say it’s led to any loss of fish tbh. Bumped a few Dace off when trotting but that’s probably just my rubbish technique.

I've always believed that barbless hooks promote angling skills

 

[PearTree]

I've always believed that barbless hooks promote angling skills

I'll bear that in mind next time I'm on a fast shallow peg fishing for stamp dace or grayling

 

[Cobweb]

I'll bear that in mind next time I'm on a fast shallow peg fishing for stamp dace or grayling

Only too glad to help

 

[Dropon]

Drennan margin carp would fit the bill.

 

[JayD]

I tried barbless about 40 years ago, lost two fish in 2 casts and vowed I would never use them again. However, when I moved to Lincs in 2002 and started fishing my local commercial I had to follow the rules and use barbless. 20 years on and I would never use barbed hooks again. Easier unhooking, less holes in jumpers and no hook lengths hanging in keepnets. Fish lost due to the hook slipping is so close to zero as to be negligible.

I had a similar thing happen back in the 70s. Barbless hooks weren't as popular then, but I'd tried them and bought into the 'more humane' message that was going round. I swore by them, and in an attempt to persuade my mates, I would hook a fish, put my rod in the rest while I lit a cig, and show that the fish was still hooked when I picked up the rod. Then during an Embassy/Woodbine Challenge qualifier on the Wharfe at Ulleskelf, I drew a decent dace peg. I kept losing fish after fish, as they shook the hook. I was using the same tackle that I'd used dozens of times before, and tried a change of hook size, and pattern, as well as the usual shotting, and float changes, altering angle and force of strike, but still lost fish. I didn't have any barbed hooks of a suitable size, and weighed in just under 4lb, having lost at least 2 to 3 times that weight, and missed qualifying by a few ounces. That shook my confidence in them, and to this day I use either whisker/micro barbed, or squashed barb for all my fishing.

John.

 

[Coz123]

I use whisker barbs for my river fishing and slightly crimp the barb down with my stott pliers

 

[ravey]

As above, I will often crimp the barb down with pliers or style pincers. Some of the hooks I like, such as the B511 and Carbon Chub only come/came in a barbed version, and the barn crimp is a quick job which works for me. Other times, I’ll use a proper barbless hook, such as B510s and the old Mustad 90340.

 

[Truly]

I am a real convert to and fan of barbless hooks. Particularly so when I stick one in my hand.
Just not the same experience as with barbed. Comes out easily, very little blood, almost no pain, no embarrassing trip to A&E etc. etc.
Just a small plaster that is easily concealable from my missus and family.... result !