Treble hook
Also called trebles, treble
Three hook points brazed onto one shank, hung from a lure by split rings. Standard on crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwaters.
Three points facing outward means a fish that swipes at a lure from any angle is likely to find steel. That is why hard baits use them, and why hard baits get short strikes converted so often.
They come with problems. Trebles pull free more easily than a single hook, because a fish thrashing against three small points can lever them out. That is the reason crankbait rods use a moderate action, which keeps steady pressure rather than sharp jerks. They also foul in cover, snag nets and clothing, and make unhooking a fish genuinely awkward.
Factory trebles on cheap lures are often the weakest part of the bait. Upgrading them is a common and cheap improvement, and changing size or weight also changes how a lure runs, so stay close to what came on it.
Sizes run on the same backwards scale as single hooks, so a size 6 treble is larger than a size 8. Feathered or dressed rear trebles add a little profile and slow the fall, which suits jerkbaits and topwaters.
Use a rubber or knotless net with treble-hook baits. Knotted nylon mesh grabs every point and turns landing a fish into a ten-minute job.
Related terms
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Treble hook is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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