To barb or not to barb?

[xfishcop]

A debarbed hook pulls much easier from my hide. So I debarb.
Dick xfishcop

[Eric-WD]

YEP I debarb all hooks, with my casting skills I need all the safety I can get.

Eric

[PRM]

Me too....what Eric said. I tie my own flies, so de-barb before mounting the hook in the vise. More of my inventory is now barbless hooks, too.

[Longs for Cutts]

Squeezing barbs, yes. Using pre-made barbless hooks, no. That little bump left after flattening a barb provides enough resistance when a fish jumps, etc., to keep it hooked up, but doesn't make it any harder to pull out of the fish or yourself.

[fritz]

de-barb yes. If the barb snaps when bending, I'm reasonable sure the carbon content is higher than when the barb only bends. Generally, the higher carbon content hook is a stronger one.

[jjtroutbum]

I believe that a de-barbed or barbless hook also aids in more hook ups. Less resistance going in or out.

[redietz]

Advantages to going barbless:

1) Safer
2) Easier to remove from fish
3) More hookups
4) Legal in all streams I fish

Disadvantages:

1) Lose the occasional fish that I wouln't have hooked in the first place with a barbed hook.

It's a pretty easy choice.

[ohiotuber]

I debarb as well.
Mike

[J Castwell]

I thought the barb was to help keep my 'bit of worm' from sliding off? Like on nymphs and things?

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I try to buy barbless hooks when I can, only because I hate taking up the second or two per hook to smash the barb. All my hooks are debarbed or barbless by design.