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I have received a few emails asking why my pics never show the barb flattened. “Aren’t you sending the wrong message about the imperative need for releasing one’s catch?” Well, my response  is two fold: I have never been dutiful in opening a box or bag of hooks and barbing them all at once before commencing to tie.

I frankly rarely tie more than a dozen to two dozen of anything anymore. But, if I had a suggestion for someone planning on tying in quantity then barb all your hooks in advance or buy the barbless hooks.

Also, it is important to do this for practical reasons…removing the errant fly from clothing, skin or gear.

Lastly, I admittedly barb on the water. So, no fret….excepting Salmon in Alaska or Oregon, I haven’t killed a fish in years (exception: the damn, evil Loons stalking me in B.C. and laying in wait for trout I released).