Pinched barbs

[jimcnj]

This morning fished a local Union county park pond (Fast Eddie said there are big bass in there). Caught the fish in the pic. Two casts later, the Senko landed smack in the middle of an algae float right on the sun/shade line I figured I was gonna have to drag the mat in (about 25 yards out). Fish explodes out of the water.I'm thinking, holy crap a carp on a Senko - to big to be a bass in this pond. I 'm using a my daughters 4' Walmart special rod. Fighting this thing for a minutes or two, and getting closer, I notice it is a beautiful LMB. Certainly bigger than the fish I just landed. Now I have to puled through the shore scum, thick, fibrous algae. Two feet from shore, it open its mouth all the way and wiggles free. I'm heartbroken.

No way of knowing, but If I didn't pinch the barb, might I have landed it?

How many of you go barbless?

[Eskimo]

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I never pinch down barbs. As far as bass are concerned, I am a strict catch-and-release angler. I understand it makes the hook-wound less damaging and enables a faster release - but I don't do it.

I have watched way too many bass launch straight up out of the water , shake their head and spit the lure out. I'm not making it any easier for the to do that by pinching down the barb.


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[buzzbaiter]

Unless your keeping your catch, I see no reason not to pinch them down. No photo is worth a fish dying for.

[liveitup1.75liter]

Im not pinchin down.. I still loose em' as it is.. Unless were talking some small wild trout.. I don't feel there doin bigger fish that much more damage.. I hate loosein fish!!!!!!!!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Keep at it Jim. There's some serious toads in UC. My biggest is 7 lbs and I've heard of and seen bigger. The 7 lber is not my PB. There around, just gott know where to look. Nice fish man!!!

[jimcnj]

Thanks Eddie. I'm going back at em. Trail and error and a lot of casts!

[kcritch]

I always pinch the barbs on all my hooks....especially worm hooks when texas rigging. I have had many deeply hooked fish that would have been impossible to get the hook out without a pinched barb...at least not without seriously injuring the fish. Not worth it to me. i don't believe you lose many fish to a pinched barb. I think you would have lost that fish anyway...other factors play a much larger part in losing the fish in my opinion.

"Now I have to puled through the shore scum, thick, fibrous algae." That probably caused the loss not the barb.