At ICAST this year, I was searching for something new. Not the same old crankbait with just a “new” color pattern or a “new” size to a lure. I wanted to find something “new” at ICAST to write about and be the first to do a review on the product. Well, I succeeded. I found a “new” product at ICAST and I don’t think anyone has written a product review about it yet; though, I expect they will after they see this one. The “new” product is The Barb-It. Do you know what a Barb-It is and how to use it correctly? While a number of astute anglers know what The Barb-It is many anglers don’t. This often happens with terminal tackle especially at trade shows like ICAST. All the excitement is focused on $16 crankbaits, but anglers know it takes quality terminal tackle to catch a fish.

 

The Barb-It by Top Brass Tackle (www.topbrasstackle.com) is a small bat-winged shaped accessory that gets slid on the fishing line between the weight and hook. “We just released The Barb-It in May. So it’s really a new product to anglers,” said Eric Cosby, Vice President, of Outdoor Products. It’s available in either small or large. “The large Barb-It will fit on 10 to 20 pound test fishing line while the small will fit on 14 pound test fishing line or smaller diameter fishing line,” explained Cosby. The Barb-It can be used even when the angler is pegging their weight without affecting it noted Cosby. Each pack of Barb-It includes 20 Barb-It and a rigging tool.

One angler who did take note of the soft plastic barbing system was Bassmaster Elite Series Professional Angler Pete Ponds. “I saw them at ICAST and knew it was a great idea,” Ponds continued, “it’s simple and easy to use; you just thread them on and it doesn’t take any longer then sliding on a bead.” Ponds likes to use them on Texas rigs with 10-inch worms, pitching or flipping a Paca Crawl, wacky worming, casting a Sinko, or with any soft plastics  that would otherwise slide down the hook. “One thing The Barb-It has changed for me is the style of hook I now use when pitching and flipping. I used to use an offset hook, but now with the Barb-It to keep the soft plastic bait in place I use a straight shank hook,” explained Ponds.

Directions: Thread the Barb-It onto the line before attaching your hook. After rigging your soft plastic bait, use the rigging tool to force the Barb-It into the head of your bait. Now the bait won’t slide down and bunch up on your hook. When a fish strikes, you’re plastic bait is free to slide up the line away from the hook.

What a great “new” idea coming out of the ICAST show. A soft plastic barbing system that will extend the life of your soft plastic lures; in addition to increasing your hook up ratio.