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Posts: 64
| Hey all - I'd like some opinions on this. I've experimented with taking the top treble hooks off my 10's and 13's. It seemed that each fish was grabbing the bait from behind and getting hooked on the bottom trebles, and the top treble would just end up getting tangled in the net. I found that if the fish ever was hooked with the top trebles, the bottom ones were buried down deep enough in the mouth that the top ones really wouldn't matter.
Does anyone else do this? I haven't lost any fish doing this yet, and it makes unhooking and safely releasing the fish faster and easier.
I'm still fairly new to musky fishing so if you guys think I'm making a mistake let me know. Do musky usually grab the bait from behind? I've fished for pike a lot and found they usually grab the bait from the side, making the top trebles necessary.
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Posts: 1209
| I wouldn't do this on a bait that was made with it, it comes into play in the figure 8 when they teebone it. I do make my own 10's with out it but there a bit shorter than a made bait. I know I have been tee boned and got them by the front hook with out doubt. |
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Posts: 81
Location: Toronto, Ontario | When they're t-boning baits, you WANT that middle or top hook, don't remove it especially on bigger tails. Don't give a musky a chance to get away. A hook tangled in the net is a first world problem....  |
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Posts: 386
| I've caught more fish in the 8 than not. when you have them in an 8, you want them to t-bone it so you can get a good hook set. That top hook is key in that situation. That being said, do what works for you. If your catching enough fish that that hook in the net is a problem... Need a good net man? |
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Posts: 392
| I have taken the top treble on 10s to make them more effective in shallow heavy weeds. It has worked just fine especially if you don't want to burn them. I have not missed or failed to make a hookset.
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Posts: 208
Location: Downers Grove, IL | I had a bait made by Esox Assault that was getting a lot of attention last month on Eagle. Two offset blades (prob #9 and #10), but only one treble. Problem was, fish kept hitting the blades on the ones that ate out, evidenced by the scratch marks on the blades. In hindsight, I should have ADDED a treble but was too dumb/lazy. |
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Posts: 59
| DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!! I catch more muskies on those top hooks than I do on the trailer hook hands down. I catch so many fish on those top hooks, that when I buy a bucktail I shy away from bucktails with only one set of trailing hooks unless it's a really small bucktail. |
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Posts: 88
| I take the top hook off of all my bucktails, i haven't had any issues with hooking percentage and most of my action comes boat side |
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Posts: 99
| IMO - Yes... I have been taking off the front treble hooks from my 8's & 10's for years now and it's been much safer for me and the muskies. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | I wouldn't for the same reasons posted above. If it is a smaller bucktail then I wouldn't worry about having one hook. |
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Posts: 167
Location: Tomahawk, WI | I take off usually leave it on, but a few of my lures just run better with the top hook off. Those seem to be my best producing lures. No issues with hook ups on the 8 when the top hook is gone. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Really bad idea in my opinion. I used to throw Shumway Flashers a lot and noticed a clear difference in better hooks when I added a middle treble. I remember catching one at 48" minutes after I made the modification with only that hook in its mouth. The more hooks the merrier in my opinion.
....and I wouldn't consider for a second taking it off bigger blades. |
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Posts: 37
| I started to remove the top treble when I had 2 muskies loose their eye to the top treble. I can't think of any I've lost due to the removed treble but I'm sure it will happen and am willing to live with it. There are several bucktails that do not have the top treble. The Llungen DC10 comes to mind. |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | I would MUCH rather take the time to untangle a hook rather than miss a musky because he messed the hook that shoulda been there!!! |
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | Appreciate this thread. Thanks guys. Going to take some off of the finer tinsel 10s I have and leave them on the heavier tinsel models. |
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Posts: 20212
Location: oswego, il | So we have people saying don't do it but if you do, you have a 100% hookup rate in the 8. I have caught fish on the front hook. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | We fish bucktails down deep and not as fast, i have noticed many large fish that get the front hook. I personally want the front hook. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I'm one to keep the top hook on as well. I would say I have not had many that get that front hook on the inside of the mouth, but it does get the fish in other areas which can be a benefit if the back hook is not in a very good spot.
I carry lots of extra hooks so if a fish tangles one of the trebles badly in the net, I just cut them... Saves time, gets the fish back down in the water at times due to rolling up, and I feel safer after having a lone single hook that I did not cut get me in the finger while working with the hook in the fish's mouth a few years ago...
Steve |
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | Most of my buck fish are caught on front hook. No way I'd remove. I add a front hook on any long tails that dont come with a front hook. |
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Posts: 64
| Since I started this thread last year, I still never have caught a fish on the front treble of a bucktail when casting. Where I fish, the bite comes right when the lure hits the water, or in the first 10' of the retrieve. I fish highly pressured waters, and the fish seem to be boat shy. Almost every follow that I got, they turn around once they see the boat. Long casts are key. I still find they are biting the back of the bait, but I have some bucktails with no front hook, and some with. So far, haven't lost any without the front hook.
Leaving Monday morning for a week of musky fishing, we'll see if my view on this changes or not |
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Taking top treble hooks off of bucktails??