Single Hook On Crankbaits.

[Basspro3106]

Anyone have success using single hooks on their crank baits? I'm sick of little pike being badly hooked by treble hooks. I've pinched down the barbs and that helps a bit. but the problem is trying to grab the pike with out worrying about five other hooks. 

[bigbill]

I understand your consern. Have you had one mad enough to snap his jaws at you let?

I was thinking about removing a tremble??

I had a decent size pickerel inhale my CRANKBAIT to the point he could close his mouth. As I opened his mouth with large surgical long nose pliers he would slam his mouth shut trying to bite me. Luckily I got out one treble and the other one came free in the process. He kept on slamming his mouth shut. I never seen a fish so feisty.

[Senko lover]

I heard a circle hook on the front can give you a decent hookup ratio....take it with a grain of salt, because I've only heard it not tried it. 

[hatrix]

Well they have been fishing single hook baits in salt water since the beginning of time. They still fish them that way. I hear you don't even really need treble hooks and you will be fine. I have never tried it myself. Well except putting weedless wacky rig hooks on a popmax so I could fish it anywhere. I still caught a bunch of fish with only single hooks on it though.

[poisonokie]

I was thinking about trying this the other day. Not because of pike, we don't have those, but just because it seems like having two circle hooks might actually improve hookups. The only problem I see is the eye size of single hooks is smaller than a treble. Maybe using snaps instead of split rings might solve that. I don't know. I'll give it a shot next time I get out there.

[Mr_Poche']

. Well except putting weedless wacky rig hooks on a popmax so I could fish it anywhere. I still caught a bunch of fish with only single hooks on it though.

You've got my attention. More details please. Band and size. Hook up ratio. Exactly how weedless is it. Overall experience.

[Big Bait Fishing]

Owner sells single hook treble replacement hooks .

[poisonokie]

I've never seen those in a store, so I haven't used them. Plus I think circles make more sense.

[Bluebasser86]

I would think hookup ratio would be terrible with circle hooks on a crankbait. The way they're designed to hook fish just doesn't seem like it would work well for them. Single hooks will work on a crank. You can also use a long shank, single hook ran through the back split ring but actually attached to the front split ring so it's not hanging down a long ways and isn't swinging around as much. 

[MidwestF1sh]

Some really cool ideas from all of you guys on here! I will say though a $5 pair of jaw spreaders makes dealing with pike a lot easier.

[Logan S]

I wouldn't change your treble hooks out for pike/pickerel, even though they can be a nuisance...I wouldn't have any confidence with single hooks, you'd never hook up with those fish that just swipe at the bait instead of actually eating/inhaling it.  

 

For dealing with pike/pickerel, I just use extra long needle-nose and shake them off without ever taking them out of the water, works probably 90% of the time and doesn't let them mangle your hooks as much...If they are hooked in a way where I can't do that I'll bring them in the boat and pin them down with my foot while working on them so I can use both hands while keeping them from thrashing.  I don't stomp them or try to hurt them, just enough pressure to keep them in place. 

[Dwight Hottle]

Owner sells single hook treble replacement hooks .

 

I have used these on jerkbaits & they work just fine. They are not circle hooks. Available thru TW. 

[Sam]

Maybe a "Grip Master" would work for you.

[Sam]

Make that the Bass Pro Shops Grip Master.

[hatrix]

You've got my attention. More details please. Band and size. Hook up ratio. Exactly how weedless is it. Overall experience.

I don't really know what else there is to explain. I used gammy hooks and the weed guard on them are pretty crappy really and easily trigger. I wasn't throwing it like on top of matts or anything. I was fishing like sparse weeds to randomly hit the surface or just below it but enough that without the hooks it would foul pretty quickly. I think maybe I missed 2 fish that went after it. It might be the hooks or they just missed it. I haven't really fished it that much honestly. I have a way to actually make a treble weedless but de have what I needed at the time so I used what I had.

This is what I used. As for hat size I really have no idea. I don't even always knot what size hook I use. I just know by looking at hooks what size I need or want.

[georgeyew]

I switched out the trebles on my lipless cranks to circle hooks. Last week I caught some nice sized fish on those lipless cranks and did not lose many fish. I just have to remember to lean back and keep the line tight instead of setting the hook. I like that once the circle hooks are hooked up, there is very little chance that the fish can throw the hook no matter how much it jumps and shakes.

[F14A-B]

I saw Hank Parker using the large Manns shallow crank bait with a single 3/0 or 4/0 size hook on the rear.. ( fishing bull reds in the Gulf ) he was hooking up fine, no bent hooks, just solid hooksets.. I would give it a whirl & see..

[poisonokie]

I would think hookup ratio would be terrible with circle hooks on a crankbait. The way they're designed to hook fish just doesn't seem like it would work well for them. Single hooks will work on a crank. You can also use a long shank, single hook ran through the back split ring but actually attached to the front split ring so it's not hanging down a long ways and isn't swinging around as much. 

 

I don't know, that's why I want to test it. If they hit it and turn, you'd think it'd be game over...

[Ginosocalbass]

I don't think there is going to be a difference between the single hooks and treble hooks as far as the fish being able to inhale your bait. Within reason.

I highly recommend using the single hooks on you crank baits. You can even try smaller frog style double hooks as well. Owner and gamagatsu both make them small enough but they are hard to find. They work exceptionally well on a blade bait like a binsky or silver buddy... And save you money in the long run with less snags.

[SNK]

I've always wanted to change out trebles with single hooks, but my fear is that it would change the action of the crankbait or trap. Is my fear unfounded?

[hatrix]

I don't think there is going to be a difference between the single hooks and treble hooks as far as the fish being able to inhale your bait. Within reason.

I highly recommend using the single hooks on you crank baits. You can even try smaller frog style double hooks as well. Owner and gamagatsu both make them small enough but they are hard to find. They work exceptionally well on a blade bait like a binsky or silver buddy... And save you money in the long run with less snags.

I have put frog hooks / double hooks on glide baits with great success. I let me fish the baits through weeds so much easier as it makes them basically weedless.