How to Make Fishing Hooks Barbless
Although you can purchase barbless fishing hooks, you may have already purchased several that do have barbs. So you can still use them, you may wish to remove the barbs. Barbless hooks are easier to remove from the fish and are less hazardous to you and to other fishermen.
- Clamp the fish hook into a vice on a work bench; this keeps the hook steady and allows you to use as much pressure as you need to remove the barb. You can skip using the vice, but if you have to use both hands on the flush cut pliers, the hook can get away from you.
- Put on a pair of work gloves to protect your hands from metal pieces. Also put on a set of safety goggles to protect your eyes.
- Use a set of flush cut pliers to trim the barb as close to the hook as possible. If necessary, snip two or three times to remove as much of the barb as you can.
- Use a metal file to smooth any of the rough metal away and make the hook as smooth as you can. If the metal file does not remove all of the roughness left from the barb, use the finest grade of sandpaper that you have to sand down the last of the barb.
- Repeat the process on any remaining hooks that you want to make barbless.
- Sweep or vacuum the removed barbs from the floor or work bench. The barbs are extremely sharp and can still do damage.