http://utahcutthroat.blogspot.com/2008/12/another-southre-fork-afternoon.html
Well, it is easy enough to pass judgement on these two pics. Why in this day of C & R wouldn’t an angler have his hook barbed and make the process easier? Well of the two pics above, one is barbed and one is not. Either way, even a small, residual barb will cause problems, if not entirely flattened. Also, where that hook lands is of import. Did it land in soft flesh, hard cartilage or fabric? In the worst case scenario, I have seen an unbarbed Babine Special driven deep into the bone behind the ear with such force that a hospital visit was called for after stream side efforts to remove the hook induced too much pain and shock.
Flatten the barb, as it is much less difficult to remove the hook from clothing or ears. If you can, pay attention to the wind direction and what manner of casting stroke you are using with a two hander or one hander. And, if you drop your arm or a fishing companion nails you, consider the technique here to facilitate the hook’s removal. Spend some attention to keeping the point of entry clean after the hook’s removal. If the hook is not removable and you are not in some truly remote region (like most of us, most often) then careful with the in the field heroics…damage, trauma, shock and infection are concerns…go to the hospital or clinic.
http://www.bishfish.co.nz/webbooks/smttrout/ouch.htm
Truth me told: when tying, I am often lazy and do not barb all the hooks in advance of tying. ‘I’ll barb them as I remove them from the box.’ And, most often I do. But, sometimes I don’t or I don’t adequately squeeze the barb down. I don’t buy barbless hooks. Some psychological deal..I like that little bump where the barb is compressed downward but a residual nodule of steel remains. So, when I do forget to barb the hook, sometimes there I am sitting with hook buried in the back of my raincoat or pile directly where I cannot reach it, which results in some contorted effort to twist, rearrange, pull, reach and attempt to remove the hook….all made easier if I would simply barb the hook either at the tying station or as I tie the hook on. Now, if this is too much effort or one cannot stand the thought of losing the big one you are going to kill, then of course leave that upswing of sharp steel right where it is…
SwittersB & Exploring 