I have found that the treble hook at times causes problems. As the sandies are surfacing the last thing anyone wants to deal with is taking 3 minutes to remove a hook. These treble hooks are constantly getting hooked twice, top of mouth, bottom, gills, all over, and it makes for a long time to remove the hooks.

Has anyone ever removed two of the hooks from the treble hook to only have one? Or even replaced the treble hook with a single?

Has this effected the amount of fish you bring in?

I think next time I go out I am going to try only one hook. It will allow me to get back on the fish faster.

Just clip one off. Leave 2 on there. Way better than dealing with the 3. Clipping two off seems overkill

I have done the following that helps to get the fish off faster. Push the barbs down, especillay if you are doing catch/release. Cut one hook of each treble, I don't know how they do it but the smaller the fish the more apt they are to get all three hooks in their mouth. Replace one or more trebles with single hook. I really don't think any of the above affects how many fish make it to the boat.

One hook seems to work just fine on a Pet Spoon. You might miss a few of the little ones with a single hook on a jig, but the bigger ones will often try to swallow the jig, so a single hook (short shank) should work OK.

clip on of the three hooks off.
these guys bite so voraciously that they will still get hooked up

When they're schooling like mad, I always cut one off and smash the other two barbs. If one or two get off it's no big deal, there's plenty more "fish in the sea lake".

I'm getting ready to carry Eagle Claw 254 size 3/0 for slabs and 6/0 for flutter spoons.

Fished cooper x 6 without any problems or missed fish on spoons or slabs

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/live-bait-hooks/820609.aspx

You can find them in all the box stores. I have also taken treble hooks off my super spooks. I use the EC 254 3/0 on the very back, leave the middle hook empty, and cut one of the trebles off the front. I will take some pics tomorrow on Twak.

Look at a treble hook and you'll see one piece is soldered to the bent wire that forms the other two prongs of the hook. I cut off the wire hook that's soldered on. Never had a problem missing fish. On a crank bait, cut the prong that goes against the bait body. The other two are pointing away from the body and will hook up just fine.

I prefer to smash the barbs... i don't keep fish so it is the most ethical decision IMO

Thats why i use road runners when fishing surfacing fish.

I agree with scott123456789 I use a 3/8 oz jighead and sassy shad or curly tail. I like the 3/8 oz so i can throw it a long way and stay away from the school. It also allows me to shake a fish off quick and go get another. Good Luck.

Me too. Another advantage is that the hook comes out easily if you get it in your hand (it happens).

+1

I cut one hook off and smash the barbs on the other two hooks when they are really biting.

I replace the treble hook with a single trotline style hook (they are sturdy and have a big eyelet so they can move freely on the split ring) on my slabs and spoons. still get good hookups, and makes the release a LOT easier.