Reef Hawg mods
Beaver
Posted 7/1/2004 12:35 PM (#110975)
Subject: Reef Hawg mods





Posts: 4266


I've read and re-read posts about Reef Hawg mods and have made several.
One thing seems to be constant....don't cut the hooks and hang them on splitrings.
So, after I painted some and used one 5/0 hook in the front and eliminated the middle hooks on my other remaining ones, I went one step further and squeezed the barbs shut on all of the other ones. I figure that way I won't have to cut the hooks and worry about ruining the action.
Anybody worried about "barblessness"?
Beav
jeffyd
Posted 7/1/2004 1:32 PM (#110985 - in reply to #110975)
Subject: RE: Reef Hawg mods





Posts: 32


Location: Sherry, WI		I don't worry about the "barblessness". With exception of single-hook lures on rigid frames (spinnerbaits, buzzbaits), all my lures are barbless.
I've lost fish on barbless hooks, and I've lost fish on barbed hooks. While I never tracked numbers, it's my opinion that my land to strike ratio is better with barbless.
The main reason I fish barbless is to A) facilitate release, as I usually fish alone; and B) to allow removal of all hook parts from fish. I've twice left barbed points/bends in eyesockets, and I didn't think that was fair to the fish. Now, I can remove all parts of a hook, and I'm happier for it.
Now, if a wild fish goes airborne, swinging her head from side-to-side, and the only hook in the fish is the barbless tail hook on a 4 oz. jerkbait, well, you may rethink the barbless issue...