according to to rule book you can only fish with one "single" hook (not treble) do you guys run a single hook on your plugs?

If it floats, such as plugs and even corkies, then you can use trebles. If it sinks, such as spinners and spoons, then you must have a single. I have had wardens give me a hard time during salmon season on the Sky for having a treble on a plug but if it says "non bouyant lure restriction" in the regs and there are no special or emergency regs in effect, then it would never hold up in court if you got ticketed. I run single siwash for the most part anyways.

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

You hit it right on the head SAUK! That is the way the rules read and a plug IS buoyant.
Also,that single hook can be no larger than 3/4" from the point to the shank
Good luck,

Doubletake

[This message has been edited by Doubletake (edited 10-31-2000).]

Thanks, Doubletake. Forgot about the hook gap restriction. Better leave the 8/0 hooks at home*JK*.

Justin

Selective fishery always requires single barbless, so when the nates come in keep your trebles at home.

There is a "non-bouyant" lure restriction on the Sky. The Sky will not be under selective fishery regulations until March 1 and it runs through April 30. My favorite time of year; big, mean natives in the Sky but not quite as big and mean as the Sauk!

I agree about leaving the trebs at home when the nates come in. I run singles for steelhead on all my plugs all year long.


Justin



[This message has been edited by SAUKit2em (edited 10-31-2000).]

Funny, these rules.

I've seen more fatally hooked fish on barbless singles than I have barbless trebbles.

Think about it. If a big fish swallows your single plug, odds are that single hook will be very deep and will probably cause a fatal hook up. It's very easy to drive a single hook in the gill, throat, eye, or tongue.

Since the trebble is big and bulky, odds are the hook won't be in nearly as deep and will only do superficial wounds to the fishes face, not eye, throat, gills or tongue.

Personally, if Ihad my choice, I'd run barbless trebbles on plugs. Single barbless on plugs kills fish. No debate on the rules here, as I know that not all fisherman are using plugs.

I don't have enough evidence to talk about spoons. I've never seen a fatally hooked fish on a single barbless spoon.

Parker

[This message has been edited by parker (edited 11-01-2000).]

Parker,

First you have to start hooking fish on spoons before you can make that assessment.

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

Friends don't let friends commercial fish!

I believe the purpose of implementing a non-bouyant lure restriction is to reduce the incidence of snagging. It may not have much to do with the debate on whether treble hooks or single hooks result in greater or lesser hooking mortality. Few anglers would argue with the fact that it's much easier to snag with a big treble hook than a single hook that's less than 3/4". Or that it's sorta tough to snag with a floating lure.

Regarding the treble/single hook debate, I've always believed that handling mortality almost always exceeds hooking mortality, regardless of the type of hook being used. That is, the reason that some fish die after being released has more to do with how it's played, handled, unhooked, and revived than the type of hook used by the angler.

I would agree that a single hook makes it easier to unhook a fish (thereby reducing handling injury), and a barbless one, even easier still. That's why I'll switch to single siwash hooks when targeting steelhead. Or whenever the regs say so.......



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MSB

The word I got on the non-bouyant lure restriction was to limit snaggers. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's tougher to snag a fish on a single hook or a set of floating trebles.

Saukit2em I have yet to find a single hook with a 3/4 or less gap in sizes above 1/0, VMC, Gammy, Mustad, Eagle Claw, Pierce, etc. I think your advice about forgeting the size of the hook is sad. Either you abide by the regulations, or you are cheating, there is no middle ground.

DanO, reread Saukit2em's post. It says he "forgot" not "forget" the gap restriction. Also if you try again you will see that you can use up to a 4/0 eagle claw salmon/steelhead hook and come in right at the 3/4" gap rule. Not that you need to use that big a hook, even for puppies. But it is there for those that feel the need.

Tight lines.

I've never tried an octopus style hook on a plug before, always siwash. Know of any straight-eyed octopus hooks?