Originally Posted by
Viejo
Another way to not damage the fish so much would be to cut two of the treble hooks off and make the third barbless by crimping it down. Now that being said, I fly fish with single barbless hooks and have caught and released a whole lot of fish with nothing more then hole in their lip. I don't lose them because I keep slight tension on the line as I strip it in. I do it because I don't meat fish but enjoy the grab and take. I seldom have long distance releases with the barbless hooks. Normally, I don't even touch the fish. I net them and use my Ketchum release tool to take the hook out of the fishes mouth...ooh and ahh over the fish and send him on his way without touching him with my hands. When you catch one you'd like to keep, well you know what to do.