Debarb safely

If you are going to fish a hook barbless, you might as well pinch the barb before you tie the fly. By doing this you save yourself the agony of a hook that breaks or bends, when you do it at waterside. At the same time you have a suitable tool at hand - your vice. By putting the hook sideways in the vice and squeezing it, you can bend down the barb of most hooks in an easy and controlled manner. For larger hooks you might want to use a tool such as a pair of semi-heavy pliers.