barbless hooks

[Bucho]

Hi!

through my local fly fishing shop, I have just come across a slovakian hook manufacturer that specialises in barbless fly hooks.
http://dohiku.eu/dohiku-hds-streamers-hooks,73.html
I got a pack of #6 black nickel streamer hooks and find them very appealing. I also know the shop owner long enough to know that he is 100% about quality and wouldn´t list anything that isn´t tested over a few month of harsh salt water fly fishing.

When it comes to jig hooks, however, they offer only smaller sizes for nymphing. I asked them wether they would diversify into "real" jig hooks, pointing at the american jig crafting market.

Personly, I love the idea of a european supply source of quality barbless jig hooks. They make C&R much easier, which also fosters the durability of the jigs (less fumbling around in toothy mouths), they penetrate much better on light tackle, and accept small beads for boolies etc. Crushing barbs however always damages the hook to a certain extend, often leading to corrosion or even breakage.

How Do you guys think about that - and have I maybe overseen a barbless, salt water siutable hook that already exists?

 

[Fatman]

If you can find them you can always bend the barb down, lots of fly tyers do that as barbless usually run more.

 

[Hawnjigs]

Since the website lists many brands of Japanese hooks and Dohiku sounds like a Japanese name, I'd guess your hook source is a distributor/dealer rather than a mfg. Nice variety to choose from.

In the USA, I like this guy. And yes, barbless jig hooks have very limited availability, are expensive, and not configured to fit standard jig head molds.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/hardydeluxe...h=item43bae9e11f&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Forgot, I don't use barbless because for whatever reason I don't hook too many fish and therefore hate to lose em. Trout in particular seem very adept at throwing even barbed hooks. True, some waters have a barbless hook only rule, but there are usually ample non-restricted choices available.

 

[jig-guy]

My youngest son lives and is in management in the Tacoma area of Washington at a container ship company. The salmon come right up the channel to where he works. He wanted some jigs to catch Pinky salmon and the jigs had to be barbless. Before I made the jigs I filed the barbs off the hooks. I used 4/0 Gamakatsu hooks and they worked great. The mold I used was a Do-It Walleye jig WHB-7-A. The jigs were poured with lead in 5/8 oz. Powder painted Hot pink heads, red 3d eyes, glow red jig thread & hot pink buck tail. The jigs worked great and my son and his friends have caught a bunch of fish on my jigs. My sons largest pinky was 8 pounds. These guys catch so much fish most of them release the fish. My son is a bunny hugger and lets every fish go to fight another day. Those Gamakatsu hooks held the fish and the hooks slid out without very much damage to the fish's mouth. I will look for the samples that I made & post a picture of it.

 

[Hawnjigs]

Yup, something about bright pinks for certain species. Was the 4/0 Gami 5/8 walleye head a stock fit?

Great example of tuning a jig for a specific application. Sounds like a private fishing "club". Our Hilo Harbor docks have been closed to the public since 9/11.

 

[jig-guy]

Yup, something about bright pinks for certain species. Was the 4/0 Gami 5/8 walleye head a stock fit?

Great example of tuning a jig for a specific application. Sounds like a private fishing "club". Our Hilo Harbor docks have been closed to the public since 9/11.

Keith,
The jig hooks were Gamakatsu 111 style in 3/0 4/0 & 5/0. I did not modify the mold but the hook did not fit very good. I got the hooks in the mold and held the handles tight and was able to get the job done. The jigs came out OK but not perfect with those hooks. I cut off the lead barb and then added the bucktail. I found the original sample jigs and I did add pearlescent FL. Pink chenille over the thread. I do know that the fish were not worried about any of my imperfections. The fish attacked the jigs anyway.