Treble + Single combination

[Ray Stevens]

Hey Guys,
I was looking at using a treble and single Hook combination on some of my poppers.
I was looking at Owner ST-66 treble with Owner Jobo 8/0 tail hook on a Yozuri surface bull as example...beefed up of course with 300 lb split rings and swivels. (all barbs crushed goes with out saying)

I noticed in some of Brandons photos from his trip to Shoal Bay that same hook configuration although they may have been different sizes.

I was wondering at why Brandon was using that combination so I thought I would ask...is the theory behind it...a fish caught by the mid lure treble (that might have been missed by a single midlure hook) will most likely be hooked by the single tail hook as well, before it gets a chance to work the treble out of itself ?

It does seem like a deadly combination....

Cheers

[Brandon Khoo]

I think it is more a case of I hesitate to run a treble off the tail rather than I prefer the single. For pure fishing purposes, I like the treble off the back. The reason I don't use it is because of the damage I've seen a trailing treble do to the fish. That said, I've also seen the trailing single hook do a bit of damage as well but I've seen more damage done by the trailing treble over time.

I find this combination gives me what I am looking for. Singles hold fish better once hooked than trebles in my opinion but trebles hook more fish. To me the ideal way to attach hooks is via assist cord as it makes it harder for the hook to twist out but it is such a pain. I quite like using two split rings on the single hook on the tail.

You'll find different people have very polarised views. The guides on Nomad are completely anti-treble and anytime you drop a fish if you have a treble hook on your lure, it will be because you're using a treble hook. That said, noone seems to say anything when I drop a fish using a single off the tail and a baker off the belly! On the other hand, the boys at Le Poisson Banane are absolute treble hook users. I think it really is a case of using what you are used to and trust.

I had a guide recently basically tell me that my experience over what is approaching nearly a decade of GT fishing with trebles counted for nothing because he did it for a living so he knew better. I treated that comment as it deserved - I think I might have been on the end of enough GTs to know what works for me. The big issue with trebles is that you really need to ensure you work hard to keep the tension on.

Ray, I don't usually use ST-66s because they're too easily compromised by decent sized fish and I don't like Jobu's because they're too long in the shank. I tend to use ST-76s and Decoys. For my singles, my preferred hook are the Fisherman Shiden 13/0, the Owner SJ-51 11/0 and the Shout Kudako 7/0. These are all jigging hooks with shorter shanks. I appreciate that sometimes, ST-66s are ideal because of the size of the poppers but if this case, I'd suggest you think about a baker rig. The baker rig is a very good rig for the belly.

While there is no doubt great benefit in looking at how different people rig, I'd encourage you to experiment till you're comfortable you've found what works for you.

[Ray Stevens]

Thanks Brandon...
Your the man, when it comes to experience.
I always study your fish capture photos up close, and I did notice that Owner SJ-51 11/0 (very strong)

Cheers

[Greg Burt]

Getting away from the hookup scenario another reason is that trebles on a popper will hold the lure in the water with more resistance, and a belly treble on a stickbait gives a pivotal point which IMO gives a bit more wag in the tail, at the expense of a little sideways movement, if you get my drift

Hey Brandon, who is the guides guide

[Brandon Khoo]

that is also a very good point - some poppers have been designed with trebles in mind. Having seen Kenji Konishi testing his lures, I can assure you that single are not in the equation! I've also asked Eric le Guyader of Orion lures the same question. He does use singles, albeit rarely.

Greg, re your description of the stickbait - are you talking about a sitckbait or what?!

Getting away from the hookup scenario another reason is that trebles on a popper will hold the lure in the water with more resistance, and a belly treble on a stick bait gives a pivotal point which IMO gives a bit more wag in the tail, at the expense of a little sideways movement, if you get my drift

Hey Brandon, who is the guides guide

[Bwanna Surya]

Brandon...you mentioned the crew on Nomad are against treble hooks....does it means you can't use them at all or they still permit you to use them only on the belly?

Cheers

[David Sharples]

I had a guide recently basically tell me that my experience over what is approaching nearly a decade of GT fishing with trebles counted for nothing because he did it for a living so he knew better. I treated that comment as it deserved - I think I might have been on the end of enough GTs to know what works for me. The big issue with trebles is that you really need to ensure you work hard to keep the tension on.



Brandon was this from a recently arrived guide at Nomad? If so I think I know who! haha

[Peter Morris]

I think it is more a case of I hesitate to run a treble off the tail rather than I prefer the single. For pure fishing purposes, I like the treble off the back. The reason I don't use it is because of the damage I've seen a trailing treble do to the fish. That said, I've also seen the trailing single hook do a bit of damage as well but I've seen more damage done by the trailing treble over time.

I find this combination gives me what I am looking for. Singles hold fish better once hooked than trebles in my opinion but trebles hook more fish. To me the ideal way to attach hooks is via assist cord as it makes it harder for the hook to twist out but it is such a pain. I quite like using two split rings on the single hook on the tail.

You'll find different people have very polarised views. The guides on Nomad are completely anti-treble and anytime you drop a fish if you have a treble hook on your lure, it will be because you're using a treble hook. That said, noone seems to say anything when I drop a fish using a single off the tail and a baker off the belly! On the other hand, the boys at Le Poisson Banane are absolute treble hook users. I think it really is a case of using what you are used to and trust.

I had a guide recently basically tell me that my experience over what is approaching nearly a decade of GT fishing with trebles counted for nothing because he did it for a living so he knew better. I treated that comment as it deserved - I think I might have been on the end of enough GTs to know what works for me. The big issue with trebles is that you really need to ensure you work hard to keep the tension on.

Ray, I don't usually use ST-66s because they're too easily compromised by decent sized fish and I don't like Jobu's because they're too long in the shank. I tend to use ST-76s and Decoys. For my singles, my preferred hook are the Fisherman Shiden 13/0, the Owner SJ-51 11/0 and the Shout Kudako 7/0. These are all jigging hooks with shorter shanks. I appreciate that sometimes, ST-66s are ideal because of the size of the poppers but if this case, I'd suggest you think about a baker rig. The baker rig is a very good rig for the belly.

While there is no doubt great benefit in looking at how different people rig, I'd encourage you to experiment till you're comfortable you've found what works for you.

Brandon....I thought trebles were a 'No No' on Nomad...but I see many a photo with Trebles in fish...

Pete

[Brandon Khoo]

for all intensive purposes, please assume that they are banned