Flattening the barb, without snapping the Hook off?

[Thudpucker]

[unsure] In lot's of waters you must flatten the barb.

I had trouble breaking the little pointy end of the hook off when I tried to flatten the barbs.
I used two different types of Pliars, and the smash flat with the blade of a pocket knife method as well.
Both would occasionally snap the end of the Hook off.

How do you guys flatten the barb after the fly is tied?[crazy]
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[DKSRenegade]

I just use my forceps amd smash the barb down. I don't even get close to the tip od the hook.
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[Dryrod]

[cool][font "Poor Richard"][green][size 3]I debarb all of my hooks prior to tying the fly. For store bought flies likewise I debarb them at home with a fine needle nose pliers. Forceps work well too. C&R is the only way that I will fly fish and most of the time I can release the fish without having to remove them from the water no less touch them. As DSKR said there is no need to get close to the point of the hook.[/size][/green][/font]
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[flygoddess]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]No this doesn't help, but I flatten mine with needle-nose pliers before I tie them into a fly, that way if it does break, no big deal.[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I try to de-barb all my hooks, but forget occassionally. Got to cause I double rig 90% of the time and never know where that second hook is going to end up.[/size][/font]
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[Scruffy_Fly]

Don't have much of a problem with hook sizes used for fly fishing.

But I can see where it might be more of a problem with larger hooks for samon and steel head.

According to a Dave Whitlock book I read recently:
If you put the pliers parallel to the hook shank, instead of 90 degrees to the hook shank, while debarbing you will not have a problem with breaking the point off.

I find it ackward doing it that way. I did break off a the point doing it that way. But I have broken points doing it at 90 degrees also though. I don't think I did it long enough to for the motion to become comfortable and that may have been the reason I broke a point off.

I agree with the others that bending the barb over before hand is the best thing to do. But I only remember to do that about 60% of the time. then on occasion I forget to bend the barb down after I tie the hook. Fished for a half day with a hook in my hand because I for got one time.
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[Thudpucker]

Well, I've used all the methods mentioned above, plus using the inside of my nail clippers as a pliar.

I dont tie, so that's out, but if I did tie, I'd be buying barbless hooks.
Like DryRod and probably most other Fly Fishermen, I quit keeping them a long time ago. When I get him up close, I loosen the line and usually he'll shake himself off in a flash.

In Canada, and most all the Fly Fishing only streams, a barbless hook is required.
Some of the Fish n' Game cop's will go out of thier way to see if a nail file will catch the edge of a flattned barb. I've seen it happen.

I just hate to lose a fly, sometimes the last of a lot, while I'm out fishing.
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[davetclown]

[size 1]I have a hook sharpening stone that works. I normaly use it to sharpen the hook, I have sharpened and re-sharpened a number of hooks well past the barb especialy during ice fishing season when I have a hot jig or fly and I want to get the maximum life out of it.

I have a small mill bastard file that does the job in just a couple passes.

It is called a knife mill file. I also have a file that has teeth on one side that I can hit any fly that needs to have the barb removed but that is 50 years old, dont know where you could find it.

here is a couple file kits you may want to look in to. both have the file you need. for the price you cant hardly go wrong with either one.

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[/size][url "http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328615_200328615"][#333366][size 1]Olympia Tools Riffler File Set — 8-Pc.[/size][/#333366][/url][size 1]
Item# 2530577
Only $11.99

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[/size][url "http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328621_200328621"][#333366][size 1]Northern Industrial File Set — 17-Pc.[/size][/#333366][/url][size 1]
Item# 25154317
Was $15.00
Sale $12.00

or go to an industrial tool shop. ask for riffliers

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[url "http://fedfile.stage.thomasnet.com/product/jewelry-locksmith/die-maker-silversmiths-rifflers?"][blue][size 3]Die Maker Silversmiths' Rifflers[/size][/blue][/url] [cool]
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Use:
Precision files removing material and smoothing in tight places. Also used by die makers, artists, sculptures and hobbyists for making shapes or designs.


dremals work well, but hard to take out in the feild. just a second or two and the barb is gone, but be carefull, in another second or two you will have eaten all the way though the hook. takes pratice. but you can do 25-30 hooks per hour in your fly tie vice. clamp down you hook, pick out a fine stone bit, if you are using magnifying glasses or lense you can improve your grinds. the finish will be smoothe. [/size]
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