Barbless and single hooks: thoughts?

[Buzzbaiter]

What do you guys think about switching trebles to single hooks and going barbless on bass? It seems to be pretty popular among wild trout anglers, but I never see it in bass fishing. Do you think there’s merit to the idea?

 

I am of the opinion that I (personally) can unhook trebles and barbed hooks easily enough that I wouldn’t take the trouble to switch.  Still, I’d like to hear your thoughts

[KP Duty]

I have thought about going barbless on my trebles.  I lost a good portion of my eyesight in an auto accident about a decade ago, and deep throated hooks make me nervous.  

[islandbass]

For me, it depends on the lure. For example for me, in-line spinners and spoons, 100% prefer single hook. Crankbaits and jerkbaits? I prefer trebles. 
 

barbless or not? Barbless is far easier to release them. So I prefer them. If you are afraid to lose your fish, then I suggest you hone your skills such that you don’t need to use a barb as a crutch. True “fish on” skills need no barb. Period. I learned this as some rivers and bodies of water are barbless in my state and from it I realized I was hooking and landing large salmon without a barb. If barbless can handle salmon, then it can handle bass. 
 

now I’m definitely not some barbless fiend. If the regs allow them, use them by all means. 
 

if you are catch and release, I’m telling you it’s way easier to release. The one scenario I dislike is releasing fish with barbed trebles and there are two or three barbed tines to release the fish from. 

[Will Ketchum]

If you're fishing catch and release it's probably a good idea to go barbless. I know I wouldn't want all that ripping and tearing in my mouth.

[Cbump]

Never thought about It and won’t after this reply lol

[OkobojiEagle]

small plastics such as tubes, hair jigs and 3" grubs are sometimes swallowed deeply, these I often fish barbless.  On 3 hook suspending jerkbaits I'll file the barbs from the middle treble (the treble most often sticking around the eyes).  The rest of my bait selection I haven't had a problem fishing with barbs intact.

 

oe

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Barbs are over rated.  Ive been smashing barbs for years without my landing % suffering.  

I have gone almost completely to single replacement hooks on my SW gear.  Ive actually seen my landing % increase significantly since.  I didnt take into account before swapping most of my trebles out, but replacing 2 3/0 2x VMCs on a swimming plug like an SP drastically changes the action.  The loss of drag and resistance causes the bait to run tighter.  While the baits still produce its something to keep in mind. 

I have done a little bit of experimenting with single replacements on FW JBs and so far results have been promising.  So far the trebles I've been replacing are #8 or smaller and I havent noticed much if any detrimental change in action.  It something you just need to try on a small scale at first to see how it works out.  Just replacing tail trebles with singles should dramatically decrease eye pokes.

[Aaron_H]

I can't speak to barbless, but I have played a bit with single hook replacements for trebles on a couple of baits (lipless and jerkbaits). The Owner 1x Single Replacement Hook is solid and the way to go IMO (pinch or file off the barb for the barbless guys), follow the sizing guide on TW and you'll be good to go.

 

The hookup ratio does seem decreased. I have had some bites that I did not connect with that I feel I would have with trebles, but it's not dramatically less. And that larger gap hook really does hold them well. Lost a few fish here and there but I would say less often than with trebles.

 

I'm not a hardcore believer in them for bass at this time, but they work and are a worthwhile experiment IMO.

[Jrob78]

I've never had any issues with trebles but I've had enough fish take Fat Ikas deep that I've started trying to use shorter hooks and smashing the barbs on them. I fish a variety of plastics a ton without issue but for some reason that bait in particular gives me trouble.

[padlin]

Last year I changed a bunch of trebles to singles, other then a hard time finsding the right hooks and small enough spilt rings, it wasn’t a big deal. I do notice more fish just bumping the lures but once they bite they stay on okay. I did not smash the barbs on those. Most of the rest of my smaller spinners with trebles I’ve mashed the barb on.

 

It amounts to all the small lures have either singles, of neutered trebles.

[garroyo130]

12 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

The Owner 1x Single Replacement Hook is solid and the way to go IMO (pinch or file off the barb for the barbless guys), follow the sizing guide on TW and you'll be good to go.

 

Used these as well. Being shore bound and not wanting to miss out on all that sweet sweet crankbait action, I switched up my deep divers to single hooks on the tail only. Can't say for sure if hookups have decreased since I haven't fished them very long but I can say lost lures have greatly decreased. 

[Deleted account]

Barbless yes, single hooks on baits designed for trebles, no.

[Jaderose]

I crush barbs.  I don't think I've lost fish because of it.

[BustedSwimbait]

I've thought about swapping trebles out to singles, just haven't yet. One thing I do is crush the barbs down, either treble or EWG hooks. Makes releasing fish much easier on both you and the fish. Can't think of anytime I've lost of fish because of the barbs, just me being dumb and excited I have a fish on the other end of the line.