Can you have barbed hooks in your tackle box in Quetico or do all hooks need to be barbless regardless of fished or not.

From a while ago but I found the answer.
Quetico Provincial Park – Fishing Regulations
The new fishing regulations came into effect on 1 January 2008. These regulations state that only barbless hooks and artificial bait are permitted in the Park. “This means that no live or dead organic bait can be used in the park, including but not limited to leeches, worms, and salted minnows.”[5] Barbed hooks may be in a tackle box but must not be on the fishing line. Barbed hooks must be pinched before being attached to a fishing line.[5] It is recommended that park users only use lead-free tackle when fishing within the park.

Barbless Hook – A barbless hook means a hook without barbs or one that has barbs that are compressed so as to be completely in contact with the shaft of the hook.

Only the hooks on your line or lure tied to your line need to be barbless. You can crimp them down with a pliers as you use them. I just do it ahead of time as I know I will forget as the action get hot.

They won’t give ya a fine though for having barbed hooks in your tackle box.

T

When barbless first started in Quetico I was skeptical. Now I think it is one of the best rules ever.

I’ve definitely lost some fish due to the barbless hooks but choose to only bring barbless hooks on canoe trips. I pinch and even do some lite filing on any lure I put in my canoe trip tackle box. I don’t want to be out on trip with a hook stuck deep in somebody! Could ruin a trip!

Ryan

Gaidin53: "I’ve definitely lost some fish due to the barbless hooks but choose to only bring barbless hooks on canoe trips. I pinch and even do some lite filing on any lure I put in my canoe trip tackle box. I don’t want to be out on trip with a hook stuck deep in somebody! Could ruin a trip!
Ryan"

True. Had that happen.

Gaidin53: "I’ve definitely lost some fish due to the barbless hooks but choose to only bring barbless hooks on canoe trips. I pinch and even do some lite filing on any lure I put in my canoe trip tackle box. I don’t want to be out on trip with a hook stuck deep in somebody! Could ruin a trip!


Ryan"

For the record that’s why Quetico went to barbless. More for the people than the fish. According to Robin Reilly the superintendent at the time of the Barbless change…it reduced wilderness emergency extractions due to hooks and reduced costs to operate the park.

I think I catch more fish due to barbless. Seems like right in the heat of a hot bite I’d waste 10 minutes unhooking a barbed hook one of my kids or my wife hooked into a life vest or pack :)

T

Pinetree: "When barbless first started in Quetico I was skeptical. Now I think it is one of the best rules ever."

Totally agree. While I think barbless regulations are often used as a social "feel good" reg, I have grown to appreciate them for Quetico.

Interesting that Quetico park did it more to stop emergency rescues than to save more fish. I wonder what the numbers were on average per year of emergency extractions from hooks?

Ryan

I think eliminating nets would save more fish.

timatkn: "

Gaidin53: "I’ve definitely lost some fish due to the barbless hooks but choose to only bring barbless hooks on canoe trips. I pinch and even do some lite filing on any lure I put in my canoe trip tackle box. I don’t want to be out on trip with a hook stuck deep in somebody! Could ruin a trip!

Ryan"

For the record that’s why Quetico went to barbless.

T"

I've often tried to reckon exactly how far barbless hook angling moves the needle on preserving the fish population as it seems so statistically insignificant in a place like Quetico. Alas, the objective of the rule is completely unrelated.

A guy on our trip put 4 barbed hooks in the back of his head on Cutty Lake.
One, I might have dealt with, but not four.
We broke camp at 12:15 PM.
We ran into a Scout Troup on North Bay, who radioed for a Tow Boat to Prairie Portage. This was pre cell phones.
We made Prairie Portage in 9 hours & 45 minutes (that's 16 portages and 33 miles.. full gear and aluminum canoe)
About midnight we had him in the Ely hospital.
My nephew and I left him, and made last call, at Dee's Bar.

Gaidin53: "Interesting that Quetico park did it more to stop emergency rescues than to save more fish. I wonder what the numbers were on average per year of emergency extractions from hooks?


Ryan"

They never commented on the details. It was in the BWJ. Stu interviewed Robin to bring awareness of the new Regs (bait ban and barbless) and when Stu cited the research that in most cases barbless didn’t significantly change hooking mortality Robin made the comment he was aware and that it was more for people than the fish.

The MN DNR was going to do barbless on Mille Lacs but their preliminary study actually showed a higher rate of mortality in walleyes for barbless vs. Barbed. I’d call it statistically insignificant. The DNR biologist comment was that if the fish is hooked in the mouth Barbless were better—easier release but those fish normally are fine either way. But if the hook is near the gills barbless penetrates deeper and causes more damage.

T

timatkn: "

They never commented on the details. It was in the BWJ. Stu interviewed Robin to bring awareness of the new Regs (bait ban and barbless) and when Stu cited the research that in most cases barbless didn’t significantly change hooking mortality Robin made the comment he was aware and that it was more for people than the fish.


The MN DNR was going to do barbless on Mille Lacs but their preliminary study actually showed a higher rate of mortality in walleyes for barbless vs. Barbed. I’d call it statistically insignificant. The DNR biologist comment was that if the fish is hooked in the mouth Barbless were better—easier release but those fish normally are fine either way. But if the hook is near the gills barbless penetrates deeper and causes more damage.


T"

That is quite interesting information. I don't really mind the barbless requirement but it does take a bit more attention/skill to prevent losing fish at the boat, then again most of the time I want to release them anyway.

Another thing I have done is, I have eliminated almost all of the treble hooks from from my tackle box and replaced them with appropriately sized in-line hooks. I might have a few missed hookups from fish, but the ones I hook are solid hooksets and the fish can't get leverage like they can with a treble and twist loose. It also makes landing big northerns and lake trout easier as you are less likely to get those extra hooks in your hand as the fish thrashes about. It takes a bit of time with a split ring pliers to get them swapped out, but it is worth it to me.

I’m a barbless tackle fisherman, primarily since I mostly fish in Quetico.
Regardless of what study I hear or read about with fish mortality, I know that mortality is much lower with barbless hooks.

I know this because I have observed this with the ease of removing hooks from fish and the ability to quickly return them to the water. Barbed hooks are indeed awful for people who are a victim of an accidental jab with one. Worse than that might be a net with a rapala hopelessly entwined with one and a northern tossed in to make it worse.

I will not go back to barbed hooks no matter what side of the border I’m on. I love to catch fish but not bad enough to try and pull a barbed treble hook out from the throat of a fish.
Tom

tumblehome: "I’m a barbless tackle fisherman, primarily since I mostly fish in Quetico. Regardless of what study I hear or read about with fish mortality, I know that mortality is much lower with barbless hooks.

I know this because I have observed this with the ease of removing hooks from fish and the ability to quickly return them to the water. Barbed hooks are indeed awful for people who are a victim of an accidental jab with one. Worse than that might be a net with a Rapala hopelessly entwined with one and a northern tossed in to make it worse.

I will not go back to barbed hooks no matter what side of the border I’m on. I love to catch fish but not bad enough to try and pull a barbed treble hook out from the throat of a fish.

Tom "

Agree with everything here. I won’t ever used barbed hooks no matter where I fish.

I won’t name names to protect the guilty, but here’s a story. I took a father and young son to Quetico. They were newbies and came for the fishing. I mentioned the no barbed hooks rule and was brushed off. The father thought it was silly and wouldn’t do it. Ok, he’s a grown man, whatever.

So I’m out in one canoe fishing with his young son when you guessed it - barb impaled under the skin on the boys thumb. (Not to mention I escaped losing an eye on back casts more than once).

So now I’m kinda pissed. The father was across the lake with the older son. I beach our canoe and wave paddles yelling across the lake. Luckily they paddled over. The father proceeded to dig out the hook while the boy writhed in pain. Luckily with good bandaging everything was fine. But lesson learned, I hope.

Very interesting thread, glad everyone chimed in on it.

I've had to push a barbed hook out of my own hand once.

Once.

I will never fish with barbed hooks again.

So many great story's here.
If that rule existed 20 years ago. My brothers buddy would not have needed to push that hook through the meaty pad of his thumb and cut it off and pull it back through. He is one tough dude. But he was turning white and shaking badly.

Before we went out to go topwater fishing. I pinched down all the barbs on my floating Rapala.
It wasn't long before i did one of my massive hook sets on a fish that wasn't there. Next thing in knew. the rapala was stuck to my knee. Easy catch and release.

We also started using the orange fish gripper about ten years ago. Just about all we do is topwater fishing . Poppers and crank baits and mepps.
On the first trip with the gripper. I quickly caught a 9 inch bass. I swung it in and attempted to thumb it. and was rewarded with a jabbed finger. No barbs so no problem. Except that it hurt the rest of the trip.

Grinding off the barb does a significantly better job then pinching the barbs.
Bring a long needle nose pliers. and the fish never deed to leave the water.

With those big walleyes that are too big too just reach down and grab from the top. Just slide our hand under their belly and pick them up. They remain surprisingly calm