While standing on a bridge that runs over a PA Spring creek, I witnessed an angler attempt to carefully remove a trebble hook from a wild browns mouth. The only problems were that he had the fish up to his nose while standing on the bank and he took much too long. I watched this guy for about 10 minutes try to get his trebble hook out of the fish's mouth. Once removed, he gently placed the fish back into the water and tried reviving him.

I'll have to admit that I don't always debarb my hooks while fly fishing however, I can't remember the last time I hooked a fish which couldn't be released by simply jiggling the hook out of its lip. I very rarely have to hold a trout for more than a few seconds. Either way, you should debarb your hooks.

I know some will disagree that barbed trebble hooks cause more damage to trout, but let's try a little test. Get an old sweater. Stick 1 hook into the sweater and try to remove it. Now take a lure with a trebble hook and hook all three hooks into the sweater and try to remove them. Which took longer to remove? Now remove the barbs from the hooks and repeat the test. Please post your conclusions here.

I'm wondering how often some of you hook a fish on a fly and the fish swallow's the fly?