igloo lake wrote:
I have always pinched the barbs on my hooks and considered that OK. But after reading different statements here and elsewhere I guess that is illegal. I use 8x streamers often and to my knowledge they don't make that hook barbless. I know they make rules because people take things to the limit, but this is an extreme rule in my opinion.
Bill........
I pinch every barb on every fly I’ve tied since 1983, and I’ve never heard that that would be illegal anywhere. I’ve been checked countless times, and no warden has ever told me that I was fishing illegally with a fly with a pinched barb in “ barbless hook only” waters. I’m fairly certain someone is giving you poor information.
Dave M
PS: I sometimes now use the newer hooks that come barbless ( Firehole Outdoors, out of Bozeman, Mt.....I think?) Which are good, but I feel are very oversized. What they call a #14 has a gap if perhaps a #10? That seems weird to me. To my knowledge, however, I don’t think they make an 8X streamer hook. I’d have to check their website to be certain.