Trebles vs Single Hooks

[whichway]

Hi All

I just got a gold H**co laser pro and if ever this wind stops I will go out and troll for Macks etc. Thing is that the treble hooks on it have the same gape as a 4/0 while the skirted lures that I usually use are all minimum 6/0 and upwards. I wouldn't use a 4/0 single hook for these fish because I don't think the gape is the best width to get around the bony bits of the fish's mouth. I also think that the trebles are harder for the fish to get into its mouth.

In a similar vein, when I look at the trebles on some of my hard bodied bass lures, the size of the hooks is very small for the size of the fish's mouth.

Questions -

Shouldn't we decide whether single hooks or treble hooks are better and then use only one or the other? i.e. If single hooks are better, then should I rerig my favourite lures with singles.

Is one factor in soft plastics being better lures because they actually hook more fish with their single hooks rather than trebles? I just don't get why we use single hooks for almost everything (bait, skirted lures, SPs, flies) except hard bodied lures.

For the same hook weight, you could use a larger and stronger single hook compared to a treble.

Is the best option they way they used to rig tailor spinners - with two singles at the back facing opposite directions.

As always, I look forward to your collective thoughts on this matter

Regards

Whichway

[billfisher]

Trebles are less likely to upset the balance and action of smaller minnow lures. Also multi sets of trebles are better at pinning fish and can be handy on headshakers like flathead and barra. On the other hand single hooks are far stronger and have better holding power on large fish.
With this in mind I would be leaving trebles on your smaller minnows. It would not be a bad idea to put singles on your Lazer Pro for mackeral. I woudn't put them back to back, just one hook on each eyelet.

[Tony_N]

I'll be interested to see how this thread develops. A lot of people use triples as stingers on the end of various rigs for mackerel (spanish !) and that seems to work well 1/0, 3x seems plenty strong enough.

Tony

[ba229]

For tailor (I know we are talking mack's) I always replace the trebles with 2 singles side by side. 4/0's do the trick.

Fish retention is much better and easier to unhook.

[billfisher]

I know a lot of guys who spin from the rocks for mackeral in northern NSW with metal jigs replace their trebles with one single hook and land a lot more fish. The single hook penetrates and holds better. On treble a lot are lost due to the counterweight effect of the heavy jig.

[whichway]

I didn't necessarily want to limit the discussion to macks.

Whichway

[billfisher]

I mentioned mackeral because they are suited to single hooks, being a large fish and having mouths that are a bit bony. Another fish that demontrates my point is the marlin, it is almost impossible to land one on a treble hook.

[wessel]

I just realised something, and I dont mean this in a bad way.....

Women / ladies / wife / handbreak, whatever you would like to call the fairer of the species, have wardrobes full of clothes and can never find something to wear and it is always a discussion on whether it was the right choise they made for the party.

Men have a tacklebox full of goodies and they can never stop talking on which bit is best for whatever occasion.Trebles or singles, rod and reel combos, which line is better.....???

I am off to the shed for a beer. Bought two lazer line lures yesterday and I will rerig one with singles. If the weather holds I will be on the water tomorrow, busy with a scientific experiment and I will report back on Saturday what the outcome was.

Now, never mind the single or treble issue..... What colour hat goes better with my hawain shirt I will be wearing

[spinner]

I sometimes hang a single longshank hook from the front eyelet of a laser slug and leave the treble at the back.
Surprising how many fish come in on the front hook.
Just put a no4 on a split ring on say, a 25gm slug.

Reggy

[damons33]

in oman? definately green...
#lures are the jewellry of men!
#damon

[wheezer]

What about big double hooks? I haven't seen them aroiund for a while but some of my older big minnows for trolling had them on.

[wessel]

Experiment was inconclusive regarding the H*lco's. A Spanish Mac on each one running wide and back on the "outriggers". One lure rigged with trebles and one with singles. On both lures the fish was hooked on the forward hooks. Both lures had four or five missed strikes on them.

The St*rm Deep Thunders with trebles though did better with more strikes and landings running short on the two inner lines. Three and two landings of Spanish Macs.

A suspected pufferfish did run off with a mates rod and reel whilst bottomfishing. His grandfather gave him the outfit 20 years ago. One of those little red levelwind Abu Garcia's (spelling?) on a Silstar flickstick. It was emotional.......


Regards

Wes

[davo]

As far a slug lures goes I'm a fan for single hooks and even two split rings with them too.

I used the Mustad chemically sharpened 7766 Tarpon's and my hook up rate is 100% better.

[damons33]

so wessel you got more hits on the halco laser pro's??
and you ran them at different latitudes? storm vs halco's that is!- have you tried the halco spoon wessel?
i hate to throw a spanner into the discussion... but has anybody tried the double pointed hooks ?? the ones used on halco spoons?

they work well on laser pro's or any diver lure and in stainless they are very strong. wessel maybe you could try the double pointed hooks in your skirted lures, i think they won't spin and be a quick and easy way to rig a skirted lure(it's an idea i haven't experimented with).

i tend to pull the hooks on mackerel because they are soft mouthed....unless i get them in the jaw hinge- the mouth tears and the hook falls out on a change of direction. i think it pays to have a longer rod on mackerel with a slower action so its doesn't rip its mouth flanks up. a quality drag is needed on such fish with an electric acceleration like macks and wahoo or drag inertia can cause pulled hooks or smokings.

i think on diver lures trebles hang the best and have less impediment on the hook action because of the shortness of shank in relation to the hook gape of the hook. to that effect i think the doubles are a good compromise between the two or using singles on diver lures you need 2 split rings for them to sit point down instead of sideway/horizontally. on crome slices they have no issues of demerit.
damon