Quote:
Originally Posted by chris wood
I've been reading this and I cannot believe what some fishermen or fishing people are saying!!! If I put a barbed hook through my lip and then pull it out what do you think my chances of dying are??
|
That is one of the more clueless and ridiculous things posted on this board in the past week...
It is all about the damage done to a
fish when removing a barbed vs. barbless hook (this includes longer handling time, time out of water, excess stress, etc), and later damage (infection, feeding issues, etc). There may be some argument over the actual mortality percentages (there are so many variables in this, that it is a difficult experiment to get clear, conclusive results from), but it cannot be denied that barbed hooks are more difficult and time-consuming to remove.
To each their own opinion, but it is the law here, and the trend towards single, barbless hooks is spreading quickly across North America, so get used to pinching your barbs.