What is better a 2 hook snell or one hook?

[Harv]

Like a crawler harness rig?

[RANGER]

I start out with a single hook harness, my preference. If I'm getting "bit-off" I'll go to a double or attach a stinger to the single. I think the single does the best job - clean and simple!

[Olyolson]

I agree with Ranger. I always start with a single Gamagatsu 1/0 straight fine wire bass worm hook. Thread the worm on the hook head first. They are awesome hooks hold extremely well and don't bend easily. If they are short biting, go to a 2 hook rig or even a 3.

[Ristorapper]

I had great sucess with a single hook this summer so far. Remember that for each hook you add you are adding weight to the rig AND taking away natural movement of the crawler. I too thread my nightcrawler onto the hook head first and try to do so up to the band on the crawler. I then pull the crawler nose up past the eye in the hook (helps hold crawler in place) and up the line until the crawler is straight so that it does not spin/twist up the line. If you are getting short bit pinch off some of the crawler OR go to a two hook set-up. I never use a three hook crawler harness anymore.

bw

[Schnauzer]

Do you guys use the one hook approach with crawlers when you are pulling spinners? I usually use a two hook harness if I am pulling spinners with crawlers but will try the methods you mention here next time.

[Olyolson]

YES

[Vitreum]

i like to use three hook harnesses, two at a minimum. but, i always use octapus hooks. cannot tell you how many times i've been bitten off right behind the second hook of a two hook harness. i'm not claiming to be any kind of expert, but i do put up some serious numbers of walleye on lac seul when i go. i'm willing to learn and will make up some single hook rigs this winter and try them out next year. and i would guess that three small octapus hooks would not be any heavier than a 1/0 hook. i almost always catch the fish in the side of the mouth with the third hook, but i seldom let the walleye run. guess everyone has their own methods and opinions.

[BabeLinder]

I`m surprised to see folks using a whole crawler with a single hook. Dont you get bit off a million times? I fish lakes with tremendous perch populations and we have troubles using 3 hook rigs. If I use a single hook I switch to just a little more than the head of the crawler. Especially in late summer. This catches fish like mad. I dont know what they think it is but it works.

[Kolby]

Ran out of crawlers this last week, used powerbait pumpkinseed 4" grubs on a single hook spinner rig - Worked better, as I didn't have to rebait inbetween fish.

[SS2]

In regards to pulling spinners near bottom a single hook reduces snags and facilitates release if the fish are going back. Where present, I feel I end up hooking less little perch or gills which keeps my bait working longer. I always have this mental picture of a big eye being attracted by a little perch pack following my spinner:)

Seems the majority of my good fish are caught by front hook on two hook rigs anyway. Used to run single hook rigs exclusively. For no particular reason I developed the habit of using two when hungry and cutting the second off when fun fishing. I'll let the rod fall back on a bite at times, but often just let it load up in the holder.

Reading this thread made me wonder if speed could be a factor with single hook rigs getting the nod at slower speeds?

Lot of big open water guys are running one or two trebles.

Regards,
ss

[Ed F]

Fishing Slow behind a Bottom Bouncer I like a single hook.
If I'm Open water trolling 1.8-3 MPH, You can't have to many hooks.
I like a single on the front and a treble hook on the back.
Good Luck
Ed Fiore

[BabeLinder]

I`m thinking of perch in the 10"+ range. Those 4" perch are going to get a nibble no matter what. I don`t like the idea of freeloading perch that fry up so nice. :)

[chewy]

I fish with a 2 hook harness if I am being lazy and will be putting the rod in a holder. Mostely and definetally in tournaments, I'll use a 1 hook harness when I know I'll be holding the rod(s). Walleyes don't ever take bites out of bait fish. If you're getting bit off behind the hook it means you're doing something wrong. Usually the short bites can be eliminated by using a longer snell (puts some slack in the line) or by using a lighter weight sinker or bottom bouncer.

[cfwalleye]

I use 2 hooks on almost all spinners. I don't see how it can hurt so at worst, it does nothing. It affects the natural movement of the crawler? How many crawlers have walleye seen that didn't have a hook in them? 0

[Vitreum]

chewy, you have totally confused me. please explain your post. i'm lost here.

[DLF-Woods]

I always used two hooks until a few months ago when I was out with an older gentleman, who used one hook, and ran it through the crawler in about 3 places, kind of wadding it up. He did just as well or better than I did catching walleyes!

[Rob Stratton]

Open water trolling on the Great Lakes.....three hook harnesses for sure I run a #4 up front with two #6's...I prefer triple grips. You must take your time and line the crawler up straight, but I've caught too many (am I being politically correct?haha) pigs on the third hook to convince me otherwise.
Inland for smaller fish I will go to a two hook harness and space the second hook about 6 inches from the front hook, I still prefer the triple grip as the back hook, but in stumpy conditions I will go to a #2 Gammy on the rear hook. I don't think I've used a single hook harness when trolling, but have used them when rigging a small presentation along weedlines, but I always use half a crawler in these situations.
That's my two pennies worth
Rob

[mmillelacs]

i tie my own spinners and use 2 hooks about 7 inches apart, leaving a little slack between the hooks and only about 2 inches of crawler behind the second hook. just my way

[FET]

-Double treble #6 bleeding Gammy's in open water

-Double #6 or #4 bleeding Gammy oct. for all other applications.

Don't see any benefit to using 1 hook unless you want to NOT catch as many. The reason you miss fish and your worm is gone just behind the 2nd hook isn't b/c they are smart enough to bite there, they are simply grabbing the tail of the worm and thats where the worm is tearing. The second hook not only helps for those fish that just don't commit to inhaling the bait (in some cases is 12" or longer from blade to tail) but also for hooking those fish that attack it from the side as is slides over the flat or off the drop. Not every fish comes up behind eats it like it should. I catch a lot of fish on bouncers and rarely do I find both hooks in there mouth. That could be one of the only reasons I see in using 1 hook vs 2 if your interested in releasing fish, but again it doesn't happen that often and when it does it is b/c they are really on the chew and they would eat anything in there face that deep.

[Atomic Eye]

We've frequently used triple hook Cabela's worm-spinner harnesses and most often lip hook our eyes on the corner of their mouths on the 3rd hook. What does that tell us about using 1-hook vs 2-hook vs 3-hook harnesses other than the fact we haven't dragged the former through the water at the same time? Thanks.

Atomic Eye (New Mexico) -- "Gone Fission!" ~~~<}}}:>

[Cangl]

Why 2 hook when you can easily put three with a hook real close to the tail. 2hook and a canadian crawler leaves alot hanging. Open water the more hooks the merrier. About my favorite crawler spinner would be a large single hook tied looped, with the worm balled so as to keep the hook buried. Through zebra mussels this rig with a swinging hook bounces on until something "chews" the larger hook helps keep smaller fish off the hook also. When a bottom bouncer might be spooking the fish if not close enough to bottom, splitshot ahead of the lure is a little more suttle.