HArveyM.

I am sure that anyone who calls themself a carp angler will not use tether rigs anyway. I see you point though with snags and a Microbarb hook will fallout with only a little more resistance than a barbless one. The best pattern of barbless hook I have seen is the Preston Innovations Pinch Barb which has a flattened section instead of a barb. This actually stops the hook from rotating within the hookhold and reduces tearing. I have started to use these more on teh venues I fish that ban barbed hooks and have not come across any of the problems mentioned with normal barbless hooks.

BTW they are not expensive either at around £1.50 a pack of 10!!!!

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Darren Wilson

Any hook is only as safe as the angler who is using it - or rather the angler who is trying to take it out of a fish they have caught.

I am a fishery manager and insist on barbless hooks where I am likely to have inexperienced anglers i.e. on busy day ticket waters.

Generally speaking, I believe barbless hooks cause MORE fish mouth damage than barbed when playing a fish and that barbed hooks cause more damage than barbless during unhooking by an inexperienced angler.

I watch the evidence very closely and have for a number of years and am now seriously contemplating banning BARBLESS hooks on RMC's big carp waters such as Horton, Nutrabaits Yateley, Sutton, Wraysbury, Abbotts etc.

Personally, I will not use a barbless hook in any circumstance other than when pike fishing.

Just because the lead pops off, doesn't mean that the rig is anti tether, I know, I've seen it happen.