More and more pros and writers (think "InFisherman") are gravitating towards single hooks as replacements for trebles. For canoe country fishermen I think this makes lots of sense.

At the top of the list for me is the safety aspect. As I get older and have worn a few hooks in my day the thought of a hook in a digit, hand or wrist and a thrashing fish on the other end is an intolerable concept. Sure even now I go the extra mile with 9" needle nose and a boga grip but life would be so much easier with just one hook in a fishes mouth to deal with......ez as pie.

Secondly it is lots better for the fish. No torn skin or eyes put out via a second set of dangling treble hooks.

Thirdly a single hook is easier to set as opposed to a treble.

Fourth > a single hook, with its deeper bite, is less likely to be shaken free or tossed on a jump.

Fifth > much more snag proof particularly on timber. Lots of pros are easing crank baits through timber via using a single hook.

Yesterday I placed an order with Tackle Wharehouse for Owner replacement single hooks. The eyes on these hooks are in-line and will ride upward when attached to the split ring. I have several long body baits like X-Raps which I intend to remove all the trebles and just use a single rear hook.

You can also use the Siwash type salmon style hooks. These have been standard on spoons for many years. Gamakatsu has a unique style of Siwash hook (including a barbless option) which caught me eye (and a chunk of change from my wallet). All of my lake trout flutter trolling spoons will be changed out to the single hook. In addition I will add some strands of flashabou or Mylar to the hook via threading it through the eye and securing via a tiny electricians cable tie on the shank just below the hook eye, preferably red. Trim the excess Mylar to length and let her back.

My advice if you decide to give it a go is not to skimp on the replacement hook. Eagle Claw makes the top of the line Trokar brand and of course there is the Japanese companies of Owner and Gamakatsu.

I suspect this could be a bit of a trend. I will ease into it.........I will be mostly curious to see how typical walleye crank baits such as Tail dancers hook fish with just a single hook.

All the aforementioned tackle is also available at MT Enterprises.........please note the No-Returns / No Exchanges policy before placing your order.

I've started to do this with spoons and inline spinners, with generally good results. I think if you fish cover and weeds (where the fish are) you will find more fish, and I also believe there is an offset between some hook-ups I missed vs a treble and putting bait where the fish are more frequently. I am using a VMC hook with a weedless spring over the barb, which I also like.

I'm on the same page. Thanks for posting this. I have to order some hooks.

I am contemplating what to do with my large three treble hook baits (Supernatural Mattlock). Single at the back end is no brainer. I may go with a single on both front and middle hooks facing down because I will be trolling open water. Or do I leave one treble.

I will probably start with three singles and have treble backups to swap. I agree with the safety aspect. Don't want to get tore up days from help.

I liked your boga grip reccomendation. I bought a WhiskerSeeker brand. Very nice.

K

Just use soft plastic jerk baits and tube baits :)

I like the idea. No one likes a flailing Rapala on a flailing fish...I am curious though if there is any data on hookup difference? We may say " I haven't noticed a difference- but realistically how would we know?"

There's got to be some data somewhere on this right?

i really like the idea of this and can see it with in-line spinners, spoons and some plugs. What about lightweight plugs with 3 trebles? An original floating rapala for instance. it's a pretty lightweight and balanced tool. would the single hooks throw off the fine tuning of a lure like that? i would hope not. 3 trebles is a lot of hooking ability and more than needed in my opinion.

Not necessarily a single vs. treble choice but: whatever hook, I flatten all barbs on every lure, spoon, spinner in my box. One could wonder if I lose more fish that way. I don't wonder that. Every time I release a fish, or slip a hook out of my thumb after a pike thrashes around, I am glad I did it.

I typically take the middle treble off of original floating rapalas. I have looked at the action and compared them side by side (2 treble front and back vs. three treble) and have not noticed a difference. What I don't know is if that small amount of weight affects diving depth. It probably does, even if only by inches (OCD anyone?). I also typically remove the front treble on F3s and F5s that I like to troll for trout. Still catch lots of trout with them and three hooks better than 6 in that species for sure. I would bet that weight would be important on those light lures and imagine a pretty stout single hook to replace a treble. Would it matter on the F-18? Probably not.

Kawanipi I would look at saltwater double hooks for your Matlock. Lots of large saltwater cranks and vibrating lures are equipped thusly.

I have toyed with the gamakatsu frog double hooks as treble replacements as well. This style hook works exceptionally well when used with toad type lures and I suspect hook up % would be good with larger deep diving cranks. Just slide on independent of split ring.

I don't know about you guys but while fishing the Quetico with round bend cranks and the barbs mashed I lose plenty of fish especially right at the boat. Just received the Gamakatsu Siwash style hook but their modification seems superb. The hook is also available barbless.

Here's another thought........one could add some heat shrink tubing to the single hook (sliding it onto the lure eye) and make a "stiff rig" of sorts. The hook riding in a more or less fixed position. This would also alter the way the Mylar interacts with the lure having a bit more of a swishing motion. This "stiff rig" is quite common amongst salt water dolphin / Kingfish trollers while using strip style baits and many trollers believe it improves hook ups.

Good advice MT. Over the last couple of years I've replaced all the trebles on my spoons with Trokar Siwash hooks and for all the reasons you've stated I'm better off for it. The Trokar Revolve hooks are also terrific replacement hooks for Walleye crawler rigs. And for anyone who hasn't used them, Trokar are SHARPPPP.