Fishing Forum

Do any of you switch your treble hooks out for singles on your hard baits? And if so what do you use in there place?

Thanks
Majja
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[cool][#0000ff]I use single hooks on most of my spinners and some of my crankbaits. There are many suitable "ring-eye" hooks, but some of them have small eyes that do not take a large split ring. Look for spinner bait trailer hooks...or use smaller split rings. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I also like to use red hooks for the tail hook on some colors of lures. For those, I often use the inexpensive Eagle Claw #84 plain shank hook. [url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20291_TGP&id=0030278112919a&navCount=2&podId=0030278&parentId=cat20291&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20291&hasJS=true"]LINK TO CABELAS[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For Gammy lovers, there is an open eye Siwash hook that has a lot of different applications. You just squeeze the eye closed on the screw eye or a split ring. [url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20291_TGP&id=0030848118655a&navCount=8&podId=0030848&parentId=cat20291&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=8IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20291&hasJS=true"]LINK TO CABELAS[/url][/#0000ff]
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what's the rationale for switching out trebles for singles? I sense I'm gonna learn a new trick...
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[cool][#0000ff]There is no good reason for changing, unless you are trying to avoid snags or have better holding power on bigger fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In most cases it makes sense to keep a good set of SHARP trebles on your hardbaits. When fish are short striking or not aggressively munching the lures, a good treble will "reach out and touch" them better. In fact, it is not unusual to bring in a few fish with the trebles hooked outside the mouth on the side of the head...or elsewhere.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]However, if you are trying to snake a crankbait through some timber (brave but foolish), you can reduce the amount of lumber you hook by going to single hooks. You will also reduce the hookup ratio by a certain percentage. You weigh the trade off and make the decision.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Another reason for losing the trebles is fish damage. Trout are especially prone to getting ripped up when hooked on trebles. If you plan to release fish, a single barbless hook will inflict far less damage on both the fish and yourself, if you hook yourself or your clothing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The flip side is that a wider gap single hook often gets a better hold and keeps it longer during a sustained battle with a large fish. Wimpy wire trebles will bend or rip out on some big fish, especially if you use stout tackle and try to horse the fish in too soon. A large gap stout single hook will let you bring a fish in faster, resulting in less stress, so that the fish will have a better chance of survival.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When you change a treble for a single, you need to decide which direction you want the hook to point. If it points down, you will hook more fish but fewer snags.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, like many things, you can overthink it and outsmart yourself. Better to have both options. Bring some extra split rings, split ring pliers and extra hooks of different types. Then, when the fish are biting well, you can experiment without wasting a day on the water.[/#0000ff]
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Well done, TD. Thx.

You wrote:

Quote:In fact, it is not unusual to bring in a few fish with the trebles hooked outside the mouth on the side of the head...or elsewhere.

One day at S-berry l/y, the only fish I caught d-rigging using a wacky dodger were hooked outside the mouth. A testament to trebles.

I'm getting ready for a SW gear-run (as soft water approaches); I'll add split rings and wide-gapped singles to the list.

Good post.
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If you're fishing in Oregon or Washington for salmon (not sure of Idaho) any lure that sinks (Mepps, BlueFox Spins, Jigs, etc) all are required to have a single hook - no trebles allowed.

That's why you see some of the lures that come equipped with a treble but have a single also in the package.

Just another reason to read the fishing regs when you go to another state - sometime the ole standby lure might be illegal.
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I switch to a single hook when I know I'm going to be culling fish, like at Yuba this year, or Utah Lake fishing white bass. A single hook is much easier to remove. I also like the way a single hook holds a piece of minnow or crawler.
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If it is snags your worried about up size the hook by one size and switch to a Mustad triple grip short shank treble. The triple grip hooks point inward and will hold the fish better. Put this on a squared billed crankbait and you can snake it through timber fairly well. The triple grips will hold fish better on a lipless bait too.

Now if your talking open water jerkbaits or topwater, where the fish are just slashing at it, then Owner trebles are my choice. They are so sticky the fish just look at it and they are hooked....lol

A lure retriever will pay for itself in one trip.
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