I. Hate. Treble Hooks.

[ruchjw]

So, I am very new to fishing (three weeks or so). I must say that since I've invested time in the evenings watching videos and reading articles, I've really started to catch more bass. It's been a lot of fun and I look forward to learning more and improving. 

That said, I really have a disdain for treble hooks. The problem is, all my favorite lures that have proven to be successful (crank baits and poppers) have them. Whenever I land a bass, the hooks end up setting in different parts of the fish, which makes de-hooking pretty frustrating at times. Have you ever had two sets of treble hooks hook together? As if that isn't frustrating enough, it happened to me today at the same time that I hooked a LMB. Every time I tried to take one hook out, it pulled on the other hook and lodged it deeper into the lip. The two sets of treble hooks were literally hooked together with different parts of the hooks in the fish's lip. I eventually freed it, but it was horrible. 

Is there a way to avoid this kind of thing? Can one modify those lures with treble hooks to make it a little easier? Any help and advice would be much appreciated. 

 

[J Francho]

 

 

[A-Jay]

With a pair of pliers - Mash down the barbs Jeremy.

Then the treble hooks will back right out very easily.

A-Jay

[HunkerDown]

If your treble hooks are getting tangled together, they're too large. I like to change out the treble hooks on any bait right after I buy it because most manufacturers' hooks aren't as sharp as I like. I like to buy as large of treble hooks as I can get away with without them being able to tangle each other. This is simply tested by putting the bait on its back and trying to manually tangle the hooks. If you can, you need smaller hooks. If you can't, you're set. 

 

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

I guess I buy different brands than you. I NEVER change out hooks unless they become dull or break.

 

[scaleface]

LOL , you sound like my cousin . He hates trebel hooks too . You just have to live with it

 

 . A lot of older crankbaits had hook hangers to close together and they constantly tangled , the Rebel Deep Wee R for example  . I figured all manufacturers would have solved that problem by  now  . What lure was it ? 

[ruchjw]

Creme shallow crank bait and a popper (only .75 cents!). I know, they're cheap...but the bass have been hitting them hard. They do tangle though, which just doesn't seem like good manufacturing to me. I might use pliers to bend the hooks slightly, unless someone tells me that that isn't a good idea. 

[S. Sass]

I have the best success removing them with a good average size set of needle nose pliers. 

The next best advise I can say is experience removing them makes it easier. It's like practice over and over eventually you get better at the process. 

[hawgenvy]

I had trouble at first, too. Gets easier after a while with practice, if you have a good tool (not fingers). And at least trebles are less likely to be gut hooked.

[Fishin' Fool]

It's all about perspective, your problem could be worse my friend. You could be not catching fish to figure out how to best remove the treble hooks. I think many newbies would be thrilled to have your problems

[buzzed bait]

yeah it's part of the game!  they stick to everything except the fish sometimes.  and sometimes they won't come out of the fish!  

 

[ruchjw]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Seems like I'll just get more proficient at removing those suckers as I gain more experience. 

[Choporoz]

I highly recommend that you consider @J Francho's advice and get yourself a pair of fishgrips.  I cannot tell you how much easier they will make your treble hook experience.    And safer.  I have not buried a treble barb in myself since I started using them.

[bigbill]

My only problem a few years back was a pickerel he had the whole CRANKBAIT in his mouth. Every time I tried to remove the trebled he snapped his mouth shut. He tried to bite me. I finally got it out and released him. I carry a mini carpenters wooden box I made that holds my scents and surgical long needle nose pliers.

[Glenn]

Here ya go!

 

[ruchjw]

Thanks, Glenn! I've definitely watched that video and it was really helpful. I was just so frustrated when those two trebles hooked together with themselves, while hooking the fish at the same time. I couldn't release one hook without pulling the other further in. All this with pliers mind you. I just need to make sure those two trebles can't hook together anymore! 

[HunkerDown]

@RW, it's probably in my head. It's a piece of advice I got when I first started learning, but stopping would save some money!