Switching to barbless hooks protects fish and makes you a sharper angler. Here’s how to do it

GEAR CHOICES

When switching to barbless fishing, your line choice is crucial. I like braided line for its low stretch and consistent performance. Plus, it always behaves the same in any conditions, so I’m able to choose the rest of my set-up to work with the line’s characteristics.

I compensate for braid’s low stretch by using longer-than-average, fast-action rods to maintain sensitivity and power, as well as to cushion headshakes. From there, the specifics depend on the species. For walleye fishing, switching from a six-foot rod to a six-foot eight-inch model, for example, makes a world of difference with barbless hooks. On the other hand, I would never go shorter than a nine-foot rod when targeting trophy brook trout.

A high-quality reel with a smooth drag is also essential for maintaining pressure on the fish. I’ve switched to mainly inshore saltwater reels to accommodate the workload and screaming drag runs from the big brookies, lake trout and pike I regularly target.

With its specialized gear, meanwhile, fly fishing is an excellent choice for fishing barbless. The long rods, combined with the weight and stretch of the fly line, apply consistent pressure on the fish. This helps keep smaller barbless hooks in place. And when targeting big toothy critters on the fly, the fibres on large streamer flies can become entangled in the fish’s teeth, helping keep the fly in place. Over the years, I’ve had many pike hit the net without the hook even penetrating their mouths.