Per the new Quetico fishing regs, barbless hooks are required now.

Does that mean you cannot possess barbed hooks?
Can you just squish the barbs down as you use the lures?

I don't want to have to de-barb all my lures unless I have to.

(And I'm glad they don't allow live bait anymore).

Pondo wrote on May 29^th, 2012 at 9:33pm:

Does that mean you cannot possess barbed hooks? Can you just squish the barbs down as you use the lures?

No.
Yes.

Honestly though barbless was a great idea unless you mind jumping bass shaking the hook. I really like barbless hooks and haven't lost anything besides a few jumping bass. If I need food I just don't encourage them to jump is all.

Thanks Dave.
I don't mind the barbless either, but I'd rather not do it to all my tackle.

I use barbless trebles even when I fish the BWCA...so much easier to remove from fish/net/fingers...haven't lost too many big jumping smallies either....they'd probably throw out a barbed hook too.... 

I'm pretty smug about using barbless.  I crimp all my barbs down as I use the new lure, or maybe I'll do it while being lazy in camp.

It doesn't result in a lot more fish lost.  Keep the pressure on.

Totally worth the conservation effort as well as easy release once you've boated the fish.

I like barbless, a lot. The pros far outweigh any cons.
Not smug about it though, no way, not me.

I love barbs on hooks unless I'm wearing it and I love fishing live bait.............but I'm adaptable and will make the best of it.

I like barbless, even not in the Q most of the time.  If the fishing is hot, barbless saves lots of unhooking time & you catch lots more fish.

I became an even bigger fan in 2010 when a smallie put all 3 hooks of one treble thru my left thumb (this was a very skilled fish). I was in the Q & I'd just gotten that lure out & forgot to crimp -- I sure remembered trying to get it out!  >:(
-Tom

i crimp the barbs on all my lures the instant i get them. the only exception is a couple jigs i only use in america for live bait. its super hard to keep live bait on barbless hooks unless you cut up a rubber worm. its also easier to untangle the mess of lures i have crammed into the plastic tray i bring to the Q when they are all barbless. i dont lose many fish and barbless really only matters if they jump. stick your rod deep into the water and dont pull them "up" and they wont jump. topwater lures are the hardest obviously.

zski wrote on May 30^th, 2012 at 3:54pm:

I like barbless, a lot. The pros far outweigh any cons. Not smug about it though, no way, not me.

Stick close, maybe some of it will rub off.

Try this:
Barbs are a crutch.  Any true angler fishes with skill & lure, not barbs & bait.  May as well use dynamite.  That's the difference between a fisherman & an angler.

:D


The last time I hooked myself I was happy to be barbless.  It went deep, to the bend, into my knuckle cartilege.  Was harder than expected to remove.  Buddy wouldn't pull hard enough for fear of hurting me. 

Barbs and bait and im smug about it to boot!

I likes me barbs, matey.

I likes me fish meat too.  Arrgh.

prouboy