Are treble hooks necessary?

[JoeW]

Personally, I never use a lure with more than two trebles. If it comes with three (like a long Rapala) I'll cut or remove the middle one entirely. AND, I will often cut off one of the points on each of the remaining two! Spinners, spoons, or smaller baits with just one treble- once again, I whack one point off it. It's amazing how much easier it is to unhook a fish with much less damage done to it by the hooks, and Ive never seen a decrease in hooking percentage, in fact I think it might be improved! One thought is that if a fish takes all three points of a treble into it's mouth, when you set the hook, you are trying to drive THREE hooks into it's mouth. Harder to do than just trying to set two points! AND, if one of the three on a treble hits bone, it will keep both of the other two from penetrating! Think about it!
AND- have you ever hooked a fish on a treble with one point in it's lower jaw and one in the upper? Poor fish can't open and close it's mouth to breathe and usually come in like an old shoe! What a waste. Doesn't happen very often with hooks made doubles-- more fight per fish!
Just my thoughts, like to see your opinions? Best---- JoeW

[fatworm]

Well, it depends. I don't see many guys around here using more than two eithier. The most common hooks that I use are glow hooks and mini red hooks. Both of these type only have one treble. It also depends on if you keep most of your fish. Unless I'm breaking the rules or regs., the fish I catch are keepers. With one treble, it's also much easier to remove it from the fish's mouth. I also don't see any difference in my hooking percentage. Besides, if you hook it deep in the throat, you shouldn't have any problems with getting that one out of the water.

Two trebles alone could permanently damage the mouth of a fish. More than two means you better keep that fish!

[RAK]

Certain places have different rules...

For Example,

We can have a maximum of 2 treble hooks... If you add one more, then you are breaking the rules! :(

[Razor]

Treble hooks help you hook on a fish more securely so it won't get away rather than a single hook... Rapala lures always use treble hooks because the fish goes after it with speed and if it were to be a single hook, it would be very difficult to catch a fish... but if it has a treble hook, it would get hooked on when it grabbed the lure because there are hooks on every side

[JoeW]

Don't get me wrong here-- I'm not against treble hooks and I'm not advocating the use of single hooks on lures. All my thoughts are is that:

1. any more than two treble hooks on a lure is unnecessary
2. cutting off one point on those trebles will make it easier to unhook the fish (whether you're keeping it or releasing it) and is much less damaging to fish that you do release
3. I've used trebles with one point cut-off for many years with no loss of the lures hooking ability or ability to hold a fish, and probably have seen an improvement! Actually, when fishing for thin mouthed fish like walleyes and Crappie, there's less tearing in the lip membranes when the hook usually catches and fewer lost fish!

I realize that regulations, your own style of fishing, where and when you're fishing, and the fish you're after makes a big difference and I'm not trying to impose my thoughts on anyone! For me, I fish a lot of Steelhead, stream trout, Bass, Walleyes, and Pike where a lot of fish are undersized or that I don't use for the table. I just never liked reeling in a small Northern that had inhaled a three treble lure so that only the leader was showing out it's mouth. Or watching an undersized stream trout floating down the creek with half it's mouth and gills gone from a guy upstream using a treble hooked spinning lure. Hey, fish and have fun! Best--- JoeW

[fatworm]

Don't get me wrong here-- I'm not against treble hooks and I'm not advocating the use of single hooks on lures. All my thoughts are is that:

1. any more than two treble hooks on a lure is unnecessary
2. cutting off one point on those trebles will make it easier to unhook the fish (whether you're keeping it or releasing it) and is much less damaging to fish that you do release
3. I've used trebles with one point cut-off for many years with no loss of the lures hooking ability or ability to hold a fish, and probably have seen an improvement! Actually, when fishing for thin mouthed fish like walleyes and Crappie, there's less tearing in the lip membranes when the hook usually catches and fewer lost fish!

I realize that regulations, your own style of fishing, where and when you're fishing, and the fish you're after makes a big difference and I'm not trying to impose my thoughts on anyone! For me, I fish a lot of Steelhead, stream trout, Bass, Walleyes, and Pike where a lot of fish are undersized or that I don't use for the table. I just never liked reeling in a small Northern that had inhaled a three treble lure so that only the leader was showing out it's mouth. Or watching an undersized stream trout floating down the creek with half it's mouth and gills gone from a guy upstream using a treble hooked spinning lure. Hey, fish and have fun! Best--- JoeW


Most of the lures I use only have one treble. No problems with losing fish and it does make it easier to slip the hook from out of its mouth. I see what you're saying about treble hooks and I agree with you completely. There are people that just don't seem to care about how they treat their fish. I've caught fish numerous times with lures and hooks poking out of the head. And, most of these hooks are with multiple trebles which forces the hooks deep inside the fish. :(

[greatdane]

Here we are only allowed to use a single barbless hook for fresh water fishing. But after getting used to the idea, I like it. As long as the hook is the right size and sharp I don't loose that many fish that I might of landed with a treble hook. Other than salmon I release nearly all the fish I catch. So the ease and speed of release is great.
I don't think my catch numbers are all that different with a single hook and wonder how many fish I lost with a treble hook because the hook would not twist and catch the mouth.
This year has been great for me in the local lakes and the Campbell River had a great salmon run this summer. Using a drift float and wool tie-ups I landed around 300, which for me was VERY unusual but just a bit of fun to say the least.
These are Pink salmon and are great to smoke.
Alan.

[RAK]

Man! my mouth is watering.

It has been a while since I had a good salmon season. I tried going for Landlocked Sockeye salmon this summer and I caught about ten!! I will have to go down to Portland next year for salmon. I think they only open the Columbia Four days a week down there.

By the way, welcome to this forum greatdane! Those are some nice Pinks and in my opinion they taste best when smoked.

[cyclops]

Personally, I never use a lure with more than two trebles. If it comes with three (like a long Rapala) I'll cut or remove the middle one entirely. AND, I will often cut off one of the points on each of the remaining two! Spinners, spoons, or smaller baits with just one treble- once again, I whack one point off it. It's amazing how much easier it is to unhook a fish with much less damage done to it by the hooks, and Ive never seen a decrease in hooking percentage, in fact I think it might be improved! One thought is that if a fish takes all three points of a treble into it's mouth, when you set the hook, you are trying to drive THREE hooks into it's mouth. Harder to do than just trying to set two points! AND, if one of the three on a treble hits bone, it will keep both of the other two from penetrating! Think about it!
AND- have you ever hooked a fish on a treble with one point in it's lower jaw and one in the upper? Poor fish can't open and close it's mouth to breathe and usually come in like an old shoe! What a waste. Doesn't happen very often with hooks made doubles-- more fight per fish!
Just my thoughts, like to see your opinions? Best---- JoeW
Joe, i think you and i are alike on this, i think everthing should have a sporting chance. those mepp loures i use have a single trible on them and i cut 2 of the hooks off .

[bui boater]

when i perchase a new lure and it has 3 trebles on it i cut one hook off the first and last treble making them a double hook, then take the middle one off and put a circle hook in the middle.i cant tell you how many times the fish is hooked by the middle circle hook.if the lure has 2 trebles i still make em into doubles,simply because i relaese all fish but walleyes.it lowers mt kill ratio

[JoeW]

Glad you made the post, bui. Three trebles on any lure is redundant and overkill. I do the same as you do- clip the front and rear trebs back to doubles, then I just remove the middle on entirely- never tried a circle hook! Just as many hits, just as many hook-ups, and just as many fish brought to the boat. Like you, I release everything but walleye, and a few Steelhead each year for the smoker. Easier on you and the fish to unhook them that way! Have a good one, we'll be talkin'! Best--- JoeW

[lip ripper]

Yea I have to agree with Joe and cyclops any more than 3 treble hooks is way unnecessary. Lets just throw TNT into the water and then pick up the fish. It is like using a 12 ga shotgun to hunt quail or dove just unnecessary.

[PoppaBear]

When I was younger I didn't know better and always used treble hooks. It took a class given by the Arizona Game and Fish Department to learn more is not always better. I felt dumb asking that game warden if treble hooks were better than a single hook, but he took the time to explain to me why it is better to only use a single hook.

[Razor]

[QUOTE=RAK;943]Man! my mouth is watering. QUOTE]

Go eat a fish!

hehe;)

[dugger]

three trebles you might as well use dynamite same effect killing fish, where as slot limits go we catch too big or to little, ya got to release those using trebles really will disfigure and kill alot of
these fish I use alot of japanese circle hooks you got to get use to letting the fish set the hook instead of yanking the rod ,great hooks for catfishing and trolling for anything my hook up ratio has
gone up fish are not ripped up I use a piece of broom handle and a bent nail for a hook remover.

[cyclops]

Yea I have to agree with Joe and cyclops any more than 3 treble hooks is way unnecessary. Lets just throw TNT into the water and then pick up the fish. It is like using a 12 ga shotgun to hunt quail or dove just unnecessary.
do you hunt dove and quail? Just wondering how you do it. The shot gun is all that i know and am willing to learn something new

[dugger]

I think he means using a 16 gauge 410 or a 20 gauge

[cyclops]

good, I think my juvember days are over,I used to be able to hit them with it.

[mr bill]

reading this thread this morning and i have to agree with what you guys have been saying....
just would like to add when you cut off the hook that hangs down ward on a rapala well make it almost weedless too.

when i target fish for catch and release i take most trebles off and add single er doubles from the lure. i have seen to many fish that have hit as joew said the middle hook on a rapala and the head hook or the rear hooks are stuck deep in the gills er in an eye

[slipperybob]

I'm indifferent as to the matter of discussion as I don't have much experience with lures with three trebles. However I do also feel that snipping a treble hook into a double hook has lots of merits as well. On some of my inline spinners, it actually increases hookups as well as improves hook point penetration. When it comes to cranking lures and bumping them into structures, it also helps reduce snagging into those structures.

[creektroll3]

On alot of the spoons I use for steelhead I remove the trebles and use single hooks. I get alot more hook ups. On all my spinners I'll smash down all three barbs,again I get better hook ups and rarely lose a fish.