The Case for Fishing Without a Barb

We did not add barbless hooks to the line. We built the company around them. Every Firehole hook is manufactured barbless. This page is why.

What is a barbless hook?

A barb is the small backward-facing spur just behind a hook's point. It resists the hook backing out once it has gone in.

There are two ways to fish without one. You can pinch the barb down with pliers at the vise, which anglers have done for generations, and it works. Or you can start with a hook manufactured barbless. Every Firehole hook is the second kind.

That matters because a hook built barbless from the first step can be designed around that choice. On most of our models the gape runs wide and the point turns up toward the eye, closer to the line of pull, which helps the point seat on the hookset and stay seated under tension.

The case for the fish

Faster releases. A barbless hook comes out quicker, usually without tools. Less time unhooking means less handling and less time out of the water, and time out of the water is one of the biggest factors in how well a released fish recovers.
Less damage on the way out. With no barb to pull back through tissue, removal is easier on the fish.

If a fish takes a fly deep, cut the tippet close rather than digging for the hook. That holds whatever hook you fish.

The case for the angler

Penetration. Without a barb, there is one less projection to push through on the hookset, which can reduce resistance. It only pays off if the point is sharp, which is why every Firehole hook is chemically sharpened.
Your hands. Anyone who has had a barbed hook buried in a finger knows the difference.
Regulations. Many catch-and-release waters require barbless hooks. A Firehole hook is legal on those waters as it comes out of the pack. Check local regulations for everything else.
Competition. Competitive fly fishing requires barbless hooks. Every Firehole hook qualifies without a trip to the pliers.

The trade

You may lose the occasional fish on slack line. A barb resists the hook backing out, and without one, line control matters more. Keep tension on and the hook stays seated. What you get back is a faster, cleaner release. We think that trade is worth it.

Firehole's commitment

We make one kind of hook: barbless. Not because regulations require it, and not as a marketing angle, but because we believe it is the right way to fish. Every Firehole Stick is manufactured barbless: jig, nymph, dry fly, streamer, and continuous curve. That is the only kind of hook we will ever make.

Stupid Sharp. Always Barbless.

Want the design side of it? Read What Makes a Good Barbless Hook. Ready to fish barbless? Browse the full Firehole Sticks lineup or find a dealer near you.