With so many different lure and hook options, it can become confusing deciding on the proper size treble hook when going trout fishing. While most treble hooks will work, there are a few important factors to consider when deciding on what will work best for you.
The best treble hook for trout fishing is the Gamakatsu EWG SS (Extra Wide Gap, Short Shank). The Extra Wide Gap extends the hook out from the shank, giving you better hookups on swiping trout. The shorter shank length helps to keep your hooks out of rocks, trees, and other potential snags while fishing. The “magic eye” of the hook as Gamakatsu calls it is designed to keep the hooks in an optimal location when retrieving a lure, resulting in a better action for your bait and a better hookup ratio.
The best size treble hook overall for catching trout is a size 4 treble hook. This size hook will work just fine for fishing smaller to medium-sized trout but still have the capability to sink into the mouth of a big one too. Now obviously a size 4 hook may not be the best hook for EVERY scenario. I always fish with lures that most people will think are too big for trout, but I find most people use lures that are too small to properly work the water column and target bigger trout. For most lures that are of the correct size for targeting trophy trout, a size four will work great.
A good rule of thumb for replacing treble hooks for trout lures is to find out what size treble hook came on the lure originally and bump it up one size. For instance, a size 10 Rapala Husky Jerk (4″ Body) comes with two number 5 treble hooks. Upgrading to two number 4 Gamakatsu EWG SS hooks would be an excellent option (one that I have opted for on most of my Husky Jerks).
The Eagle Claw Trokar hooks are also another excellent option for replacement treble hooks. I began testing them recently on a handful of my custom jerk baits and they are quickly becoming one of my favorites. The hook points are surgically sharpened (seriously, don’t try your luck). The TK310 pictured above has everything I love about a treble hook for trout fishing; extra-wide gaps, a short shank, and hooks that angle inward.
Best Budget Treble Hooks for Trout
VMC is a well-known manufacturer of hooks in the fishing industry. Their hooks come standard on Rapala lures, which says a lot about the quality in itself. They are also a very reasonably priced option for replacement hooks. Although I am not the biggest fan of the straight round bend (I like my treble hooks with a slight inward angle) I have caught dozens and dozens of trout (big ones too) on VMC treble hooks on Rapala Lures.
The VMC 9651 pictured above has a short shank which as I mentioned above is a big benefit when targeting trout. I also like how wide the gaps between the shaft and the hook points are. Even though their not bent inward, I find the wider gap varieties of treble hooks work much better than their narrow counterparts.
Best Treble Hooks for Powerbait / Trout Dough
The Gamakatsu Trout Treble was designed specifically for targeting trout with bait. This treble hook works excellent with power bait and live bait alike. The hooks come in either Red or Gold and feature Gamakatsu’s legendary durable build. Despite the relatively small size, these hooks are an excellent option when fishing with bait such as using power bait with a slip bobber rig.
How to Replace your Treble Hooks
Replacing treble hooks can be a huge pain if you don’t have split ring pliers. Ever heard of it? Split ring pliers are a specific type of pliers that have a unique end meant to open up split rings in order to thread your hooks onto. I have had lots of baits custom painted and have had to take the hooks off prior to shipping and put them back on when they get back.
I have had these exact same pliers from Piscifun for years now, it’s an excellent all-in-one fishing pliers. The front hook is meant for split rings (as shown in the graphic below). It also has grooves for crimping split shot, a built-in line cutter, and works great as normal pliers too! It’s very lightweight, affordable, and comes with a nice carrying case and strap.
The first step in replacing your treble hooks with a better treble hook for trout fishing is to first take them off of the lure of course. This is done by first opening up the split ring and threading it off of the lure.
The second step is to take the old treble hook off of the split ring, just like you did with the lure in the previous step.
To finish replacing your treble hooks, simply add a split ring to a new replacement treble hook, and then thread that split ring back onto the lure! Trust me, this task is incredibly frustrating without split ring pliers, so I would strongly suggest making an investment in a good pair.
