| This is a subject which has been debated for | | | | If like me, you have some respect for the carp |
| many years and both barbed and barbless hooks | | | | that you fish for, the least that you can do is to |
| certainly have their place in modern carp fishing. I | | | | think beyond your own desire to catch carp and |
| believe that on the majority of waters and in the | | | | consider these facts before deciding on what |
| majority of angling situations, barbless hooks are | | | | type of hook you use. For fishery managers the |
| better for the carp. Most fisheries these days | | | | same applies when deciding on the rules of the |
| have a rule governing the type of hooks that are | | | | fishery. Many fisheries seem to have decided one |
| allowed, I would say that the majority of waters | | | | way or the other on an arbitrary basis "because |
| have a barbless only rule, but some still rule in | | | | so and so says barbed hooks are safer" or |
| favour of barbed hooks - which is correct? | | | | because "that lake down the road has a barbless |
| There are several factors involved in why these | | | | rule". |
| rules are made, some of which are fact and | | | | The argument in favour of barbed hooks as far |
| some of which are speculative. | | | | as I am aware is that they are safer because |
| There is little doubt that more fish will be lost | | | | they "don't move" or "don't tear" during the fight. |
| during the fight when a barbless hook is used. | | | | Where this originally came from I don't know but |
| With a barbless hook there is nothing to prevent | | | | as far as I am concerned it is absolute nonsense |
| the hook "falling out" of a carps mouth, in fact the | | | | and has no basis in fact. |
| only thing keeping the hook in, is the pressure on | | | | Most damage to a carp's mouth in my opinion |
| the hook via the tension on it through the line. | | | | occurs not during the fight, but when the hook is |
| Carp can very quickly "learn" that by twisting | | | | removed by the angler. This is the single most |
| around during the fight and thus making as many | | | | important fact in this debate. There are times |
| different angles between itself and the line in its | | | | when even a barbless hook can be difficult to |
| mouth they can often shed the hook. Be in no | | | | remove and I am sure most carpers will have |
| doubt that from the moment the hook catches in | | | | experienced this. The hook has a hold in a |
| the carps mouth, its sole objective is to get rid of | | | | particularly hard or grisly part of the mouth and |
| it! This has been shown on the Korda DVD's with | | | | takes a lot of force to remove. If this were a |
| very pressured fish even trying to get rid of the | | | | barbed hook, then a significant difference in the |
| hook before running off, which is their primary | | | | amount of damage caused would occur. With |
| instinct.When a carp reaches a weedbed it can | | | | barbless hooks the hook often falls out "in the |
| shed a barbless hook in seconds because it has | | | | net" and again I'm sure everyone has experienced |
| something to use to create an angle and a slack | | | | this, I have heard people say "oh I nearly lost that |
| line. I have experienced this many times myself | | | | one" or similar, but the fact is that the pressure |
| and watched it happen countless times. I'm not | | | | on the line has kept the hook in the carps mouth, |
| saying it happens every time because sometimes | | | | and when that pressure is released the hook falls |
| the hook has such a good hold in the mouth "that | | | | out, often aided by the different angle on the |
| was never going to come off"! | | | | hook in the net. |
| With a barbed hook the barb keeps the hook in | | | | On French Holiday lakes such as ours here at Les |
| the flesh of the mouth and even a slack line will | | | | Croix the level of ability of the visiting anglers |
| not cause the hook to fall out. Although from the | | | | varies from novice to very experienced in my |
| catch point of view this is good for the angler, it | | | | mind when you have such a variation in ability, a |
| has consequences for the carp in situations where | | | | barbless rule is the only way to ensure that the |
| the carp is not landed. In weedy waters where | | | | carps mouths stay in as good a condition as |
| the fish lodges itself in a thick weedbed the fish | | | | possible.I'm sure that most experienced carp |
| will remain hooked and this results in a situation | | | | anglers hate to see carp with badly damaged |
| where the angler, in trying to pull the carp out | | | | mouths, I know I do. |
| from the weed, puts tremendous amount of | | | | Unfortunately there are those who do not care at |
| pressure on the fishes mouth with consequent | | | | all about the welfare of the carp but hopefully |
| damage.If a fish is lost due to line breakage and | | | | they are in the minority. In summary, I can't see |
| especially where something other than a safe rig | | | | much if anything in favour of barbed hooks apart |
| is being used, the fish will have great difficulty in | | | | from the fact that less fish will be lost when using |
| shedding a barbed hook, if it is towing a lead | | | | them. On waters where the damage has already |
| around as well it will be almost impossible. | | | | been done and there are numbers of carp with |
| The same can be said when a carp with a barbed | | | | no sides or corners of their mouths left due to |
| hook, line and possibly a lead, tries to find | | | | hook damage, carp will be lost on barbless or |
| sanctuary in submerged snags. I remember many | | | | barbed hooks because there is nothing for the |
| years ago Brian Sefton who was manager at the | | | | hook to catch on! |
| Carp Societies' Horseshoe Lake telling me that | | | | The only situation where I could see the |
| when the snags were removed from the corner | | | | argument in favour of barbed hooks would be on |
| of the lake known as "snags bay" several carp | | | | a syndicate water with experienced carp anglers |
| skeletons were found, fish that had become | | | | only, fishing a snag and weed free lake. |
| tethered and died a slow death. | | | | |