Is the barbless/crushed barb hook rule just for the Quetico, or does it apply to all Ontario parks? What about other Ontario lakes that are not in parks?

While the barbless hook rule applies to Quetico, it does not universally apply to other Ontario parks. Quetico and waters to the west are generally in Zone 5. Only a few other areas in Zone 5 have a restriction and some of those are limited to Jan 1 to the 3rd Saturday in May.

Woodland Caribou Provincial Park is in Zone 2 and has no barbless hook requirements. All of Zone 1 (far northwestern Ontario) is barbless.

So to make a long story short, you should download (PDF) the regulations for the particular zone in which you will fish and check for barbless requirements for the particular body(ies) of water you plan to fish. Also keep in mind that daily limits and size restrictions are also stated for each zone. I will generally take a printed copy of these regulations for each trip rather than commit them to memory. (I frequently stuff the details in my map case so they are handy when fishing. I often laminate to help waterproof them.)

dd

Or, you can do what I did last year in Quetico: bring only one rod to reduce weight on a solo and snap it half on day 2 due to carelessness removing a pack. Problem solved!

I fish zone 4 in Ontario and there are no barbless hook rules.

I’ll tell ya, if you’re a long way from anywhere, regardless of whether or not barbless hooks are required, I think it’s a good idea to pinch the barb(s) down on whatever you have tied on. I’m not convinced you will lose a lot more fish because of barbless hooks, especially with lures that have treble hooks, but you are at much less risk for an ugly situation if you end up with a hook in your hand if there’s no barbs on it.

thinblueline: "I’ll tell ya, if you’re a long way from anywhere, regardless of whether or not barbless hooks are required, I think it’s a good idea to pinch the barb(s) down on whatever you have tied on. I’m not convinced you will lose a lot more fish because of barbless hooks, especially with lures that have treble hooks, but you are at much less risk for an ugly situation if you end up with a hook in your hand if there’s no barbs on it. "

I agree with this. If you lose a fish or two it's no big deal. There are plenty of fish in the sea.

Much depends on the style of hook wether or not you lose many. Typical black nickel round bend trebles found on most high end crank baits will lose plenty of fish. Most walleye are lost at boat side while you are trying to land them........a good case for a partner and a net.

Smaller trebles without a round bend (such as you would find on an original rapala for example) do a much better job staying glued. Or you can get barbless trebles which are specially made but they are expensive.

Lastly, you can replace trebles with barbless single in line hooks. Common is salt water circles and you get a much bigger bite on the fish.

VMC in line

UTube In line demo

Agreed MT. However, many factors involved. If I wanted to LAND more fish with barbless hooks I would upsize hooks and use mono line exclusively. The stretch in the line works in your favor once a fish is hooked. FWIW, I still prefer braid for a wide variety of reasons and accept the barbless loss rate.

My experience, a significantly higher % of fish come un-buttoned with barbless hooks vs. barbed and canoe fishing increases the loss rate due to angles and stationary angler position. Your results may vary.

I also lose more fish, mostly on topwaters when smallies jump and throw them.

I don't mind paying that price, though, as the ease of hook removal (especially with big pike or lakers) more than makes up for a few lost fish. Now, if you ask me right after I'd lost a tanker, I might say something different. :)

Yea I would hate to have a walleye over 10lbs on with light line while I tried to get a Boga on her. I would say your chances solo without a net is 50/50.

I don't buy into the folks who state emphatically that few, if any, fish are lost. You can land 10 in a row without losing any and the next 10 all get off. I hate netting fish I don't intend to keep because it knocks the slime off them exposing them to disease which may take a week or two to become apparent.

Fresh or salt, I rarely put hands on a fish. Boga and pliers.......in the salt I use a flipping stick and never handle fish I don't intend to keep. Better for you, better for the fish.