I have had to use barbless hooks from time to time for different waters. I wouldn't say that you loose a lot more fish, but you do loose more than maybe normal. As far as going cheaper, I would just use the hooks that you would normally use and snip off the barb or file it down.

Hangman, Hangman, Hold It A Little While = )

I hear alot of stories of barbless hooks and alot of people swear by them but personally i use barbed hooks exspecially for them northern they are very finicky and flop and roll alot but i geuss trial and error will tell the tale i wish the fishing was better in michigan i would put em to the test but i've been skunked the last five days i've went out so i'll take all the barbs i can get lol

hookedInDamouth

Take a regular hook and pinch down the barb with a pair of pliers, or file it off with a diamond file. Works just fine, and much cheaper

You can get barbed hooks and cut the barbs off yourself, with a pair of diagonal cutters (dikes).

Smash down the barb on some of the hooks you've got already.The actual barbless hooks sometimes have a bump where the barb would be,but I've never used em.I've fished barbless hooks before,and unless the stream or lake you're fishing requires them,they're garbage.You'll lose a lot more fish with the damn things.

When matchfishing, barbless hooks can really make a positive difference - no bard to interfere with penetration, quicker unhooking and far fewer incidental mortalities for deep hooked fish. A good compromise for those who don't want to go fully barbless is choosing hooks with a micro-barb.
cheer s,
LK

Walleye Editor, Ontario Out of Doors Magazine - Contributor, In-Fisherman Magazine

I mash the barbs on mine when fishing for speckled trout in salt water. Make it easier to use the dehooker so you dont have to touch them.

www.myspace.com/teamflatsandfurious

I have fished barbless for 10 years now and I can tell you it is better for the fish and the fisherman, there is nor comparison, barbless is the way to go, especially for Northerns and Musky. I think if you fish barbed hooks for fear of loosing fish you may be fishing for the wrong reasons.

Wayne Papp Jr-atthelake http://www.sww-lodge.com/

Hannibal used the word "humaneness" to describe the barbless hook earlier in this thread and that is one word I can not stand. Talk about an oxymoron! The word "humane" is used to describe a kinder, gentler way of doing things yet the root of the word is human. There is no more violent species on the planet. When is the last time you heard about a dog walking into a mall and shooting people? Anyone ever heard of a horse putting on a vest full of explosives and walking into a crowd and blowing itself up? How about a tuna loading itself with C4 and running into a US war ship? The word "humane" is a joke. Animals kill and injure only in self defense and for food. Humans physically, verbally, and mentally abuse others of their own species as well as other for absolutely no reason yet we use the word humane to describe kindness. Does anyone else see a problem with this? Maybe a more correct word would be "animane". Animals don't go around preforming acts of senseless violence.

Don't get me wrong, I am no tree hugger or peacenik, I was a sniper in the 2nd Ranger Batt, fought in Panama and Desert Storm and I was very good at my job. I was a member of a Special Op unit and I never missed a target. If I was not crippled from my previous combat experience, I would have re-upped and gone back into the fight after 9/11. Please don't think I am one of those peace sign carrying wackos, I just wanted to point out the humor or lack of humor involved in the word "humane".

Trace