Fishing Tip: go barbless…for more reasons than one
Use a set of needle-nose pliers to crimp down the barb(s) on your jigs, plugs, flies, etc. completely flush (see pic at right). You’ll lose a fish occasionally, but not as many as you may think. Most fish throw the hook due to slack forming in the line, not the lack of a barb. There are two primary advantages of going barbless: 1) you won’t needlessly kill or maim fish while trying to wrestle out a stubborn or deep-set hook, and 2) you won’t have to worry about a trip to the emergency room if you hook yourself or a fishing partner. Just slip the hook out, curse as appropriate, and continue fishing.
