I mash down all of my barbs. On the British coarse fishing forum I frequent, the general consensus is barbs and micro-barbs are the only way to go, and they are as passionated about barbs as some of us are about barbless. They cite studies that show barbless hooks move around during the fight and cause multiple wounds in a fish's a mouth. Bear in mind that the techniques and equipment are different for these guys, as well as the atmosphere (pay-to-play fisheries where carp are precious and the fines for killing a fish are stiff and by the pound). In my carp fishing experience, using the tactics I use, in many cases I can see where my hook is in the fish's mouth when I set it; and when I bring the fish to hand my hook is always right there where it started. So, the hook movement arguement doesn't apply to me and the way I fish. I'll continue using barbless, it's easier on me, the fish, yadda yadda yadda, we've all heard this stuff before