One treble on a crankbait, front or rear? Or keep both?

[Michaelangelo]

To make releasing fish quicker and easier, I've thought about going to one treble. I'm sure that less hooks will catch less fish, but messing with hooks, especially when they get caught in the net, is less time on the water. I'm mainly wanting to try this for when I wiper fish, because getting them in and out quick as possible is essential. 

 

I can see points for front or back. If they come up on it, I think front would be best. If they chase it, back would be better. 

 

If I go to one hook, would using a small swivel on the hook help at all? Have seen some do that bc it gives the fish less leverage on the bait. 

[A-Jay]

Crushing down the barbs with a pair of pliers is an effective way to make hook removal easier.

Then you could still choose to leave both treble on the bait.

A-Jay

[WRB]

Changing the balance of the crankbait isn't a good idea.

I have modified crankbaits by removing the downward hook on the front treble hook and replacing the rear treble hook with a spinnerbait trailer hook about the same size so it was point up to help make the lure more weedless in the past.

Bending down the bards would help you. Give it a try, you can always replace the hooks.

Tom

PS, look at Owner 4101 hook.

 

[bigturtle]

Another option would be to switch to single inline hooks

[fishballer06]

Switch over to a rubber net, with thicker grommets. You'll spend less time digging tangled hooks out of the net. 

[Michaelangelo]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Changing the balance of the crankbait isn't a good idea.

I have modified crankbaits by removing the downward hook on the front treble hook and replacing the rear treble hook with a spinnerbait trailer hook about the same size so it was point up to help make the lure more weedless in the past.

Bending down the bards would help you. Give it a try, you can always replace the hooks.

Tom

PS, look at Owner 4101 hook.

 

Doesn't removing the front hook on the treble make the other two settle right along side the bait?  I would think that would make it almost ineffective, but I do see how it would help a lot with weeds.

 

I have some inline single hooks made just for crankbaits.  I tried removing all trebles and using just one of the inlines in back before on a Baby 1 Minus to help with weeds, but didn't try it a whole lot.

 

So what about swivels, useful or useless in a one hook situation?

7 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

Switch over to a rubber net, with thicker grommets. You'll spend less time digging tangled hooks out of the net. 

I have a Promar rubber net.  Spent 15 or 20 minutes trying to get a hook out.  Wound up having to rip the net the very first fish I caught in it.

[WRB]

Hooks on diving crankbaits are not stationary, they move a lot side to side and up and down do to the lures frantic action. Single #4101 Owner hooks are specifically design to replace treble hooks. The only way to know if they help solve your problem is trying them. I haven't caught wipers, but stripers are tough fish and hard on hooks in a net.

I don't like rubber nets, too heavy and slow underwater. A good knotless net is easier to untangle hooks, a Boga style lip gripper would eliminate the net.

Tom

[Oregon Native]

I have used a single treble on the front hooks on some small cranks and it works well...but like mentioned it doesn't work for all.  Barbless as mentioned is awesome for wipers if that's your target species.  I don't even like to bring into the boat unless they're going into friends livewell.  They tend to leave to many donations on the deck!!

Tight Lines

[Deleted account]

On 10/2/2017 at 1:50 PM, WRB said:

Changing the balance of the crankbait isn't a good idea.

I have modified crankbaits by removing the downward hook on the front treble hook and replacing the rear treble hook with a spinnerbait trailer hook about the same size so it was point up to help make the lure more weedless in the past.

Bending down the bards would help you. Give it a try, you can always replace the hooks.

Tom

PS, look at Owner 4101 hook.

 

I do something similar when fishing grass, I make sure one point is facing down on each, and clip them off. I do the same with blade baits when fishing sticky bottom

[Angry John]

I like the single hook on prop baits a lot less to tangle the blades up on.