I was wondering if many of ya'll change the treble hooks off your slabs and change them to a single hook due to some of the fish nearly swallowing them. It just seems like every other catch is hell to unhook them when it's not around there mouth but down in their throat... I'm sure the hook up ratio would decrease. Would love your guys feedback on your experience if its worth changing some of the hooks.

I clip off one of the hooks and pinch down the remaining two barbs on all of my slabs. Sometimes I'll even clip off a second hook, depending on how the fish are biting. With the reduced amount of hooks and pinched barbs, I can remove the hooks from a fish, even if they swallow it, with ease. Sure you will miss a few hook ups here and there, but you won't be fighting a fish trying to get three hooks out of their gills for five minutes. I went fishing with my father in law the other day and while he was trying to get a treble hook out of a single fish, I had caught and released three fish. Needless to say, he doesn't pinch barbs

I have often thought about doing that to my slabs as well. Just havent ever gotten around to it. I wouldnt think it would hurt hook ups too much. I think that when sand bass are feeding it doesnt matter, they will hit it until you get them. If it was a more subtle bite I might stick to the trebles.

very good question..i have made a few slabs with a short shank live bait hook and it seems to work pretty good..i started doing it because when your on top of the feeding frenzy it's faster to get the single hook out than the treble.. good luck

This is exactly what is happening to me. My fishing partner and I will be on a feeding frenzy and there I am stuck fighting to get the hooks out for 5 minutes and by the time I get that out she has caught a few and is having trouble getting her hooks out...so I do if for her since she has a shorter temper them me. I will definately be cutting something off, and use those slabs during feeding frenzy's. Thanks again guys!

if a fish swallows a treble hook.. just accept that the fish is gonna die.. no matter how long you try to get the hook out..reach in grab the treble and twist git r done and go back to fishing

yep will do... I hate to get out fished, even on a school.

simple solutions =
1)switch to bigger treble hooks
2)switch to single hook
3)in a hurry cut the other two hooks or just one
hope this helps

When we started Dakota Tackle Company we sold our slabs with double, barbless hooks. Then we went to VMC barbless trebles. We thought it was really going to be the cats meow. We used them on all the guide trips, and it was much easier on us and the customer. However, we had several complaints of lost fish from our online customers. As a result folks really liked the slabs but would ask if we would place barbed hooks on their orders. VMC was the only company making a quality barbless hook at the time, them they just stopped making them. We ordered the last 500 they had still use them if a customer ask for them.

We sure hate to release under size fish that are severely wounded by the dreaded three barb hook-up. You know you have to use barbless while trout fishing up north. Who knows that may just spread south someday?

Happy Fishing!

I usually change the trebles for a single hook for the very reasons you asked.