[girlangler]

Here's a good example of how messed up government beaurecrats (sp) can screw up a good thing.

Now, you can't actually hook and bring in a fish in Yellowstone. Not because it is biologically unsound -- but because some people think it is more friendly to tourism.Ever caught a big fish on a barbless hook? Of course not -- and you WON'T.

New rule means Yellowstone anglers must go barbless

LIVINGSTON, Mont. (AP) -- Anglers in Yellowstone National Park must use barbless hooks when catching fish starting later this month, in part to reduce injury to native species like the Yellowstone cutthroat and arctic grayling.

The new rule takes effect May 27 after years of fish sampling by Yellowstone biologists and a yearlong public comment period. More than 90 percent of public comment respondents supported the change, said Todd Koel, the park's supervisory fisheries biologist.

Biologically, there aren't any studies proving that barbless hooks affect fish mortality rates, but that's not the reason behind the change.

"From a mortality standpoint, we can't justify the change," Koel said. "But from an aesthetic and visitors point of view, barbless hooks do help."

People come from all over the world to fish in a protected ecosystem like Yellowstone, and deformed-looking fish caused by overfishing can negatively affect that experience, he said.

"And we just don't like to see injured fish," Koel said. "Barbless hooks, of course, will help that. There's less handling time and they are easier to remove. All we're asking is to bend or crimp your barbs."

Penalties for breaking the new rule can include fines and loss of fishing rods.

Rick Halloran, who works in Dan Bailey's Fly Shop in Livingston, said it's easy to go barbless with a barbed hook.

He suggested using an unserrated set of pliers to clamp down on the hook while holding the pliers perpendicular to the barb.

"Make sure you crimp your barb first, before you tie your fly," said Dean Reimer of Hatch Finders Fly Shop in Livingston. "Because if you break the hook, then there goes all your work."

[george76]

The politically correct crowd is killing us.

Their moral relativism makes your head spin.

The rich, successful, PETA lawyers can find weak, emotional city Judges to make scientific decisions.

We should return to scientists, biologists, and foresters making scientific decisions based upon educational training and years of practical scientific experience.

[GladesGuru]

Perhaps a better way is to place a small piece of wire in the root of the barb and then crimp the barb down so that the jaw of the plier causes the barb tip to bend down to touch the hook. The small bump of metal formed by the re-contoured barb is still quite effective at keeping the hook in place while playing the fish.

I have been fly fishing the flats in Florida for many years and always do this to my hooks. Why? Consider what it would feel like if a large salt water fly is solidly buried in one's tender skin? Driven in by a 12 wt. line, the hook will usually stop at the bend.

With my barb modification, one can simply pull the hook back out and not bring any extra tissue with the hook. Do it quietly (no nasty Anglo-Saxon interjections) and one's fishing buddies might just not notice you made the heaviest "catch of the day".

And, don't forget that emergency rooms will relieve you of hundreds of dollars to remove a hook. After all, when the hospital has you on the hook, they can partially make up for the losses thanks from all those illegal immigrants.

;-)

[SW6906]

"Ever caught a big fish on a barbless hook? Of course not -- and you WON'T."

ALL salmon fishing in Puget Sound (Seattle) is with barbless hooks. The minimum keep size is 22 inches. I have caught dozens of 5 to 15 LB salmon on barbless hooks. My fishing buddy has landed a 28 LB King salmon on a barbless hook.