Single vs Treble Hooks

If you are catch & release fishing, what's more important to you, the caught fish surviving or more fish landed?  Is it really even a question?

For me, there is almost never a situation where a treble hook is a batter choice than a single hook, when catch & release fishing.

D-nymph
For me, there is almost never a situation where a treble hook is a batter choice than a single hook, when catch & release fishing.

Okay, what I'll probably do this weekend is keep half of the spoons in my spread with treble hooks and put single hooks on the other half, then see which ones I like better for hookups, fish retention, hook removal, damage to fish, etc.

Can anyone recommend a good brand and size of single hooks to try for 3.25-6.00" flutter spoons? I think a lot of people use size 1/0 to 3/0 barbed Siwash hooks for Great Lakes fish. Also, is there anything I'd need to modify or add on my spoons when replacing trebles with singles in order to make sure the action of the lure stays the same?

First off, fish don't feel "pain" like we do.
 
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130808123719.htm
 
Second, if your concern is with the fish's well being (ripped lips, damaged eyes, etc.) and you will C&R use the single hooks and smash the barbs but if you give em slack, bye bye fishy.
 

genieman77
Forgive me...but this just slays me  .....we're talking about tricking a live critter, torturing it making it fight for it's life to point of exhaustion and possible(probable?)  death for our  "enjoyment/pleasure " ....and we're concerned about a fish's pain sensory perceptions????? (think Shirley Temple) "oh my goo'ness" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW3vrbKZUUQ ..L.T.A.  

We have very different views on fishing, I see. Most of the following is just my personal ethics if you feel like reading them, if not then no skin off my bones. To me, if the fish is foolish enough that it will fall for your bait/lure, then it is on the fish for getting itself in to the dilemma of being on the end of my line. I didn't go down there, grab the fish, and jam the hook in its mouth. But rather it chose to attack the lure. Obviously fish aren't as intelligent as humans as far as distinguishing a real forage fish from a lure, but for every fish that falls for your lure, there's a dozen smart enough to recognize that it's fake, or that just plain aren't feeding. If I do hook a fish that I plan on releasing, I'll play it as quickly as possible and handle it as gently as possible. During the fight I won't take any more time than necessary to boat or land a fish and once it's netted I'll either unhook it in the net and take a quick picture out of water if I'm creek/river fishing, or if I'm boat fishing I'll very quickly unhook and measure the length and girth of the fish. If I do weigh the fish then I'll use a sling. As for taking a picture and holding fish (let's say Lake Trout for example), I'll first grab the fish by the caudal peduncle and then support the trout under the pectoral fins by its stomach with the second hand. After a couple pictures, if the fish is healthy then I'll torpedo it back in and they take off very quickly. If it's weak then we'll bring up the trolling spread, stop the boat, and I'll hold the trout in the water from the swim platform until it swims away.

.

See kids, this is why you should never, ever smoke, dope!!!! 
 
 
 
                                    or                                                                                     
 
 
 
eat strange looking mushrooms!

genieman77

Divemaster

genieman77
Forgive me...but this just slays me  .....we're talking about tricking a live critter, torturing it making it fight for it's life to point of exhaustion and possible(probable?)  death for our  "enjoyment/pleasure " ....and we're concerned about a fish's pain sensory perceptions????? (think Shirley Temple) "oh my goo'ness" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW3vrbKZUUQ ..L.T.A.  

We have very different views on fishing, I see. Most of the following is just my personal ethics if you feel like reading them, if not then no skin off my bones. To me, if the fish is foolish enough that it will fall for your bait/lure, then it is on the fish for getting itself in to the dilemma of being on the end of my line. I didn't go down there, grab the fish, and jam the hook in its mouth. But rather it chose to attack the lure. Obviously fish aren't as intelligent as humans as far as distinguishing a real forage fish from a lure, but for every fish that falls for your lure, there's a dozen smart enough to recognize that it's fake, or that just plain aren't feeding. If I do hook a fish that I plan on releasing, I'll play it as quickly as possible and handle it as gently as possible. During the fight I won't take any more time than necessary to boat or land a fish and once it's netted I'll either unhook it in the net and take a quick picture out of water if I'm creek/river fishing, or if I'm boat fishing I'll very quickly unhook and measure the length and girth of the fish. If I do weigh the fish then I'll use a sling. As for taking a picture and holding fish (let's say Lake Trout for example), I'll first grab the fish by the caudal peduncle and then support the trout under the pectoral fins by its stomach with the second hand. After a couple pictures, if the fish is healthy then I'll torpedo it back in and they take off very quickly. If it's weak then we'll bring up the trolling spread, stop the boat, and I'll hold the trout in the water from the swim platform until it swims away.

 I understand, Dive.as an old "peace, love and hippy beads" kind of guy, I've suffered the same moral dilemma  .How can I impale and torture a dumb animal for my sport/pleasure and be "nice" about ityou know what?? I've never been able to fully  reconcile it. so I figured, what the 'ell...I'll play 'em to death, poke their eyes out and toss on the bank for the  coons to eat                                   not really ...I fish   barbless unless I'm  chasing fish I intend to kill and eatBut I know deep down in my heart, I'm still just a boorish oaf that  enjoys tricking dumb animals and making them fight for their life ..because it's fUn ....  ..L.T.A.

I understand you. I've gone back and forth in my head about this all the time. There was one point a while back I even debated quitting the sport, but then I realized that it's part of me, like you said, no matter how barbaric it is, I still enjoy it because quite frankly I'm a human and I'm not perfect. Like I said above though, I do try to treat the fish as well as I can (and still land them) since they're providing me with great sport and fun.

genieman77
But I know deep down in my heart, I'm still just a boorish oaf that  enjoys tricking dumb animals and making them fight for their life ..because it's fUn ....  

That would make a great t-shirt. Can't wait to reference this when the next holier than thou C&R saves the world freak enters a conversation. Couldn't agree more. Although, I tend to agree with the studies (or at least want to), that they do not have the part of brain that we have that associates pain. I don't think twice about squashing bugs, except stink bugs. I still try to do my best on releasing fish that I am not eating, and don't want to torture them any more than pulling them around by their face already does. Now back to my magnifying glass and insect burning.

Porktown

genieman77
But I know deep down in my heart, I'm still just a boorish oaf that  enjoys tricking dumb animals and making them fight for their life ..because it's fUn ....  

That would make a great t-shirt. Can't wait to reference this when the next holier than thou C&R saves the world freak enters a conversation. Couldn't agree more. Although, I tend to agree with the studies (or at least want to), that they do not have the part of brain that we have that associates pain. I don't think twice about squashing bugs, except stink bugs. I still try to do my best on releasing fish that I am not eating, and don't want to torture them any more than pulling them around by their face already does. Now back to my magnifying glass and insect burning.

LMAO! See, I make useful threads from time to time XD

Go with the treble to catch more.  If you are worried about fish not surviving when released I would avoid things like using long lengths of leadcore or bringing them up from 100' down in the summer when the surface temp is 75 degrees.  I would think those things would have a much bigger impact than a single or treble hook.  Most of the ones we catch don't even get netted or brought in the boat anymore.  We bring them to the back, grab them with the boga grip, unhook them, then drag them behind the boat for a minute or two before pushing them straight down.  

BeenThereDoneThat.
See kids, this is why you should never, ever smoke, dope!!!! 
 
 
 
                                    or                                                                                     
 
 
 
eat strange looking mushrooms!

 
I've been mountain and back
never met a drug I wouldn't try in my knucklehead dayz (13 to 33)
But bourbon was my drug of choice
 
truth is, the powers that be  chose the wrong drug to legalize and promote
cause pot heads are more civilized than drinkers
 
 
..L.T.A.

Trebles..........pffft.........there is another option, quad hooks.  More points for max. blood and carnage .